AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 34-501 OF THE AIR FORCE 16 APRIL ...

1 BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 34-501 18 AUGUST 2015 Services MORTUARY AFFAIRS PROGRAM COMPLIANCE WITH THIS PUBLICATION IS MANDATORY ACCESSIBILITY: Publications and forms are available on the e-Publishing CoP at for downloading or ordering RELEASABILITY: There are no releasability restrictions on this publication OPR: AF/A1S Supersedes: AFI 34-242, 2 APRIL 2008 Certified by: AF/A1 (Mr. Robert Corsi) Pages: 210 This INSTRUCTION implements Air FORCE Policy Directive (AFPD) 34-5, Mortuary Affairs, Joint Publication 4-06, Mortuary Affairs, DoD INSTRUCTION (DoDI) , military funeral Support, Department of Defense Directive (DoDD) , Mortuary Affairs Policy, DoDI , Interment Allowance for Deceased military Personnel, DoDI , Accounting for Personnel Lost in Past Conflicts The Armed Forces Identification Review Board (AFIRB) and DoD , Air Transportation Eligibility.

2 This INSTRUCTION provides guidance for remains disposition of Air FORCE and other eligible personnel, responsibility to ensure convening medical authorities accomplish positive identification of remains, military funeral honors , guidance and procedures for search and recovery (S&R), government cemeteries and headstones, DoD mortuary facilities, procurement of supplies, contract mortuary services, case file maintenance, records administration and disposal, and reimbursable supplies and services. In collaboration with the Chief of Air FORCE Reserve (AF/RE) and the Director of the Air National Guard (NGB/CF), the Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services (AF/A1) develops policy for the Air FORCE Mortuary Affairs Program.

3 This publication may be supplemented at any level; all MAJCOM level supplements must be approved by the Human Resource Management Strategic Board (HSB) prior to certification and approval. All Air FORCE military and civilian personnel (includes Air FORCE Reserve Command (AFRC) and Air National Guard (ANG) units and members) must comply with this publication. Tier waiver authorities as approved by the Inspector General advisory board have been included per AFI 33-360, Publications and Forms Management. Refer to AFI 33-360 for tier waiver authority definitions and procedures.

4 This INSTRUCTION does not apply to the Casualty Assistance and Civil Defense Programs. It may be supplemented. Refer recommended changes and questions about this publication to the Office of 2 AFI34-501 18 AUGUST 2015 Primary Responsibility (OPR) using the AF IMT 847, Recommendation for Change of Publication; route AF IMT 847s from the field through the appropriate functional s chain of command. Waivers to this publication may only be granted on a case-by-case basis by HHQ USAF/A1S, and consistent with federal law and DoD Policy.

5 Ensure that all records created as a result of processes prescribed in this publication are maintained in accordance with AFMAN 33-363, Management of Records, and disposed of in accordance with the Air FORCE Records Disposition Schedule (RDS) located at . Additionally, if the publication generates a report(s), alert readers in a statement and cite all applicable Reports Control Numbers (RCN) in accordance with AFI 33-324, The Information Collections and Reports Management Program, Controlling Internal, Public, and Interagency Air FORCE Information Collections.

6 SUMMARY OF CHANGES This document is substantially revised and must be completely reviewed. Paragraph establishes the Operations Officer as the primary Mortuary Officer. These duties are assigned based on position, and not on rank. Paragraph revises flag and flag case recipients as delinenated in accordance with Section 631 of Public Law 111-84, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2010 Title 37, Section 411f, United States Code is amended authorizing eligible family members to attend a Memorial Service held at the installation of the deceased member, should the service be deemed appropriate by the installation commander or senior Air FORCE officer within the joint base organizational structure who shall act as the installation commander for mortuary responsibilities.

7 Primary Next of Kin (PNOK) determination to allow Media Access to the Dignified Transfer of Airman who die in a combat theater of operation and whose remains are returned through Dover AFB, DE added in paragraph Paragraph adds the requirement for a General Officer, from the functional community of a fallen Airman, to attend the Dignified Transfer of Airmen who die in a combat theater of operation and whose remains are returned through Dover AFB, DE. Paragraph added Next of kin (NOK) Dignified Transfer Travel Entitlement.

8 Paragraph implements the use of Mil Air/Mil Contract Air to transport the remains of Airmen who die in a combat theater of operation from Dover AFB, DE. Paragraph implements the requirement for Dignified Arrival at Destination Airports for fallen Airmen. Paragraph implements the requirement for a General Officer, from the MAJCOM of a fallen Airman, to attend the funeral /interment service of Airmen who died in a combat theater of operation. Paragraph establishes the requirement for all cremations of active duty Airmen to be effected at a receiving funeral home selected by the Person Authorized to Direct Disposition (PADD) with the exception of subsequently identified remains or remains retained for extended study by the AFMES in which the PADD has directed military or medical disposition.

9 Paragraph re-defines what constitutes the requirement to effect a Group Burial/Interment and the timeline in when a Group Burial/Interment will be scheduled. Paragraph defines and provides guidance in the disposition of subsequent identified remains/portions of fallen Airmen. Paragraph defines and provides guidance in the disposition of retained organs of fallen Airman. Paragraph provides guidance in PADD relinquishment of their rights to direct disposition of the remains of a fallen Airman. Added specific language in Chapter 8, that must be followed by all Air FORCE Honor Guards, when presenting a Burial Flag.

10 Chapter 12, Mortuary Affairs in Contingency Operations, is now IAW Joint Publication 04-06. Added AFI34-501 18 AUGUST 2015 3 Chapter 13, Family Assistance Representative; all information on the Family Assistance Representative herein, relates to their support of families of deceased Airmen. Maximum secondary reimbursement entitlements are updated biennially and AFMAO will place on the AFMAO Sharepoint site, delineating current maximum reimbursement entitlements for Options 1-5 on the AF Form 970. The terms PADD, PNOK and sponsor each have a specific meaning based on a designation, most senior person with blood relationship in the family or legal standing recognized by the Air FORCE respectively.