scope:

PURPOSE. This Directive:

Establishes policy and assigns responsibilities under references (a) through (d) for personnel accounting for losses resulting from hostile acts to include those in combat theaters of operations. See reference (e) for all non-hostile losses and hostile losses during current operations.

Applies to personnel unaccounted for as a result of hostile acts in Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM, the Indochina war era, Korean Conflict, Cold War, and World War II. It also applies to personnel who become unaccounted for as a result of hostile acts in later conflicts and who the Combatant Commander has not recovered following the cessation of operations, and others as directed by the Secretary of Defense.

Distinguishes between the manner in which the United States Government (USG) shall account for personnel lost after February 10, 1996, defined in reference (a), and those who became unaccounted for prior to that date and who are not covered by reference (a).

Designates the Secretary of the Army as the Executive Agent for mortuary affairs for the Department of Defense.

APPLICABILITY. This Directive applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Military Services (including the Coast Guard when it is operating as a Military Service in the Navy), the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities in the Department of Defense (hereafter referred to collectively as "the DoD Components"). The term "Military Services," as used herein, refers to the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Marine Corps.