Casualty Assistance Checklist

It always helps to be prepared when it comes to our personal affairs.  As many of us already know, a loved one's passing is challenge enough.  Don't compound their emotional burden, a survivor checklist of important information and actions to be taken should be kept in a safe place for the benefit and peace of mind of your survivor.   A blank sample is provided to the right as an Adobe PDF document.  Be kind, provide your spouse or next of kin a completed copy of this document and let them know where your copy and other important documents are safely kept.

A localized MOAA casualty checklist is also provided to the right.  Please use it to help complete your checklist and place it in your Personal Affairs Workbook, which is contained in the “Help Your Survivors-Now!’ publication from MOAA.  If you need a copy of this booklet, please contact me. 

CAPT Daniel M. Conway, USCGR (Ret)
Immediate Past President, Arizona Chapter of MOAA

 I want to emphasize the importance of having this workbook completed. Judy and I went through our book last week, and it is really a good feeling to touch the documents your survivors will need to finish your transition into whatever awaits you in eternity (I hope you have been good!). Since we have completed our workbook, you cannot expect me to back off on you getting yours complete.

DD-214’s

The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has provided the following website for veterans to gain access to their DD-214's online: http://vetrecs.archives.gov/

This may be particularly helpful when a veteran needs a copy of his DD-214 for employment purposes. NPRC is working to make it easier for veterans with computers and Internet access to obtain copies of documents from their military files. Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members may now use a new online military personnel records system to request documents. Other individuals with a need for documents must still complete the Standard Form 180, which can be downloaded from the online web site. Because the requester will be asked to supply all information essential for NPRC to process the request, delays that normally occur when NPRC has to ask veterans for additional information will be minimized. The new web-based application was designed to provide better service on these requests by eliminating the records centers mailroom and processing time.

Obituaries

In talking to several widows, I've learned one of the most difficult and stressful things facing them at the time of death is the completion of the obituary.  I think it may be one of the kindest things you could to for your spouse or family is to write your own obituary.  You don’t have to pick a date, someone will fill that in later.  Seriously, there are numerous examples in the daily paper of good and bad obituaries. Take a look, that way you would also know what they said about you when you are gone.  Give it some thought.  I am sure your survivors would love you for doing it.

Casualty Assistance Checklist

The checklist in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF).  To read it, you need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your PC.  You may have it already installed so first click the PDF icon to the left.  It won't open if you don't have Adobe Acrobat.  But don't worry, it's easy, free and you only have to load it once.  

To get your free copy, just click this "Get Acrobat Reader" button which will take you to the Adobe website and follow the easy instructions.  

Localized MOAA casualty checklist

If you run into a problem, just email me AZ Chapter Webmaster

There is also a wealth of information available on the MOAA national website at www.moaa.org including most MO

AA publications available to download.  Just follow the the publications link and download a six page checklist.

Also, some web site addresses could be provided for other possible formats: 

1) www.azvets.com has a checklist sponsored by the Arizona Department of Veteran Services;

2) www.luke.af.mil/staff/56fwcvr/casulties/causalty%20adobe.doc is a checklist sponsored by Luke AFB Retiree Affairs office.