JP 3-50 National Search and Rescue Manual Vol I - US Navy

1323 News and Photograph Pool
A news and photograph pool may be formed when a situation prevents
all interested media personnel from making first-hand reports. In such
cases, the media decides who will represent them and agrees to share
equally in pictures, video, or other information obtained. Wire service
or newspaper facilities may be used to speed processing and distribution
of SAR mission photographs. Where a pooling arrangement is used, the
SMIO or authorized representative should ensure constant control of the
release and distribution of the photographs. These photographs should
be impartially released and carry an official credit line.
1324 Joint Mission Releases
A joint Service agreement on news releases provides that, when only
one Service is involved in a SAR mission, release of information to news
media follows that Service's directives. When two or more Services are
involved, the policies of the joint agreement apply and should include
the following:
A. Inquiries made to one Service concerning the activities of
another Service should be referred to the joint commander.
B. In missions involving a military mishap, the first announcement
of the incident should be made by the parent Service if a representative
is available. If representatives of the parent Service are not
immediately available and certain facts are obvious, any other Service
directly involved in the incident may provide assistance to the news
media. This assistance may include a statement that an accident or
incident has occurred, the location and time, and information concerning
the queried Service's own SAR operations and accomplishments after the
incident. A statement that a board of officers may be appointed to
investigate and determine the exact cause of the incident should also be
made.
C. After an official release of information by the parent Service,
other Services participating in the SAR mission may release a full
description of their own SAR operations and accomplishments.
1325 Release of Names
A. Casualties
1. Names of military casualties should be released only by the
Service to which the casualties belong, and release should
follow Service directives. These directives are specific and
require notification of next of kin before the names are
released. Where facts of the incident are obvious to the
public, another Service participating in the mission may
release the number of deceased, the number of survivors, and
the number of injured survivors. When circumstances permit,
such queries should be referred to the parent Service.