Pentagon Issues Press Procedures to Photograph Servicemember Remains

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2009 -- Journalists will be granted access to Dover Air Force Base, Del., to view the dignified transfer of the remains of service members returning from overseas.

This new policy is effective on April 6, 2009. Media will be notified of and permitted to view transfers when the family consents to such coverage.

Notification of dignified transfers will be sent via email as promptly as possible. Due to the expedited return of casualties from overseas and the requirement to gain family consent for media coverage, notification may often be on short notice and at all times of the day or night.

The notification email will include the date and time of the dignified transfer, the time and location media representatives will be required to meet with the AFMAO Public Affairs officer to be escorted onto Dover Air Force Base as well as the identification of the deceased service member to include name, rank, military service, home town and theater where death occured.

Dignified transfers take place at all hours and in all weather conditions. Media members will be required to transport themselves to Dover at the place and time specified in the notification email for escort onto Dover Air Force Base. News media will be required to adhere to established ground rules at Dover Air Force Base while recording the event.

Notification of dignified transfers at Dover Air Force Base will be emailed to journalists who register with the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center Public Affairs office at the following email address: AFMAO.PA@Dover.af.mil. Media representatives are required to provide the following information in their email:

• Full Name
• Media organization with which credentialed
• Email address (Note: initial and any follow up notifications will be done by e-mail)
• Name, phone number, and email of immediate supervisor for credentialing verification

Due to space and logistic constraints at the site of the dignified transfer, if a significant number of media outlets express interest in covering the dignified transfer, media members may be required to pool coverage. AFMAO Public Affairs will notify media as early as possible if pooling will be required.

For further information regarding access to coverage of a dignified transfer, media may contact the AFMAO Public Affairs office by email at AFMAO.PA@Dover.af.mil.

(Report from a U.S. Defense Depratment news release.)

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