Care and Disposition of Remains - Army Publishing Directorate ...

PADD’s choice of caskets is annotated on the DA Form 7302 and provided to the contract funeral home by the
contracting office representative. Specifications for the metal and hardwood caskets are found in appendixes C and D.
b. The CAC providing assistance to the PADD will advise the PADD that every effort will be made to honor the
desires of the PADD; however, certain conditions may preclude the use of a wood casket. A metal sealer casket is
required when—
(1) Not withstanding the best professional efforts of the preparing embalmer or the reprocessing embalmer at the
port mortuary in the United States, odors from the remains that could be detected at the funeral service are present or
likely to be present.
(2) When the remains will be transported from the United States or Outside of the United States mortuaries to a
foreign country.
c. When the PADD’s choice of casket cannot be honored, the preparing CAC will telephonically advise the PADD’s
CAO and CDR, PERSCOM (TAPC–PED–D) of the reason(s) why the PADD’s choice of casket cannot be honored.
The CAO will advise the PADD, before the remains arrive at the receiving funeral home, that the Army could not
provide a wood casket and the reason why.
d. Once the remains are shipped, the casket will not be replaced at Army expense without prior approval by CDR,
PERSCOM (TAPC–PED–D).
4–13. Explain disposition options and request disposition instructions from the PADD of eligible
soldiers
The CAC providing casualty assistance to the PADD is responsible for explaining disposition options, allowances, and
entitlements to the PADD. (See DA PAM 638–2 and obtaining disposition instructions.) The CAC will obtain
disposition instructions from the PADD as prescribed in paragraphs 4–14 and 4–15. The person briefing the PADD will
cover the subjects discussed below with the PADD.
a. The Army arranged preparation option (see para 4–10).
b. The family arranged preparation option (see para 4–11).
c. Choice of casket (see para 4–12).
d. Maximum reimbursable allowances (see para 1–13f)
e. Funeral travel entitlement and benefits (see paras 11–1 to 11–4).
4–14. Obtaining disposition instructions
The CAC obtaining the disposition instructions will expeditiously coordinate the instructions with CDR, PERSCOM
(TAPC–PED–D), and all other CACs having an action related to the disposition instructions. Instructions for completing
DA Form 7302, distribution of the form, and a sample of the completed form are found in DA PAM 638–2.
4–15. Disposition instructions
Disposition instructions will be obtained from the PADD of deceased eligible soldiers as follows:
a. As expeditiously as possible after the remains have been identified by competent authority.
b. When the death of a soldier occurs in a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facility, the CAC responsible for
the area in which the death occurred will obtain disposition instructions and arrange for preparation and shipment of
remains.
c. When several members of the same family die in a common incident, disposition instructions must be separately
obtained from the PADD of each individual. (For example, if the husband and wife are killed in the same incident,
disposition instructions must be obtained from the husband’s PADD and from the wife’s PADD.) Also, the status of
each decedent will determine the authorized mortuary benefits.
4–16. Death of pensioners (retirees), indigent persons, enemy prisoners, and aliens
a. Instructions will be issued by CDR, PERSCOM (TAPC–PED–D), for the disposition of the remains of pensioners
(retirees) and indigent persons who die on Army installations and enemy prisoners and aliens who die in Army
custody.
b. The CDR, PERSCOM (TAPC–PED–D) will make disposition of the remains of pensioners (retirees) and indigent
persons who die on Army installations when—
(1) Each known person in the priority listed in paragraph 4–4 states in writing that he or she will not provide
disposition instructions or assume responsibility for the remains.
(2) No known person listed in paragraph 4–4 is found.
(3) Local municipal authorities will not assume custody of the remains.
c. The remains will be interred in a Government cemetery.
d. Cost for preparation of remains and a suitable casket will be negotiated and obtained at the most reasonable cost
by the installation where death occurred.
AR 638–2 22 December 2000
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