Recently, Secretary Gates released a new policy on allowing our media circus access to the solemn ceremonies of welcoming home our fallen troops at Dover. While I’ve always leaned more towards keeping the ban, I think this policy actually makes sense. It also raises a few questions that I’ll get to later in the post.
“The core of the policy,” Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said, “is built around the desires of the family members, and it will be the families that decide whether or not media have access to any of these dignified transfers.”
The policy that goes into effect next Monday, April 6, states that reporters would be provided basic information like the name of the service member and an arrival time.
A lot of thought has gone into whether or not this policy should be changed. Thankfully, Gates didn’t work alone and enlisted the help and advice of many family members of fallen troops. Among those, according to the Thunder Run blog, is my good friend Robert Stokely, whom I met and interviewed while writing his son’s story on They Have Names.
No special concessions will be made to account for weather. According to the policy, if the remains arrive during pitch black night sky, the filming conditions will be pitch black night sky. If it is raining, they will film in the rain. No special lighting or garish tents and covers will be provided or permitted while covering repatriation ceremonies.
If a family member approves of media coverage, the Dover Air Force Base public affairs office will post to its Web site that a dignified transfer is to take place. Media will also be able to apply for email subscription service that will provide the same information. Additionally, the military will provide families with copies of the photos or video taken of ceremonies at the family’s request.
The task force worked with various service-support organizations such as the Gold Star Mothers, Gold Star Wives, veterans groups and senior enlisted advisors to come up with the new policy. You can see the full policy letter at the Thunder Run, but here are some additional actions to be taken:
– The undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness and other Pentagon elements will revise defense regulatory documents to reflect the new policy at Dover;
– Deceased service members’ remains will be transferred from the combat theater of operations to the Dover facility as soon as possible;
– The primary next of kin will make the family’s decision regarding media access to dignified transfer operations at Dover;
– Families of deceased service members will be briefed on the option to allow media coverage of the dignified transfer at the time of notification of the member’s death or as soon as possible thereafter;
– If the primary next of kin permits media access at Dover, reporters will be given the name, rank, military service and hometown of the “believed to be” casualty. A more complete identification of the deceased service member, including unit, place, date and circumstances of death, will be released following the confirmation of the casualty’s identity at the Dover mortuary, and then only 24 hours after the last of the deceased’s next of kin have been notified of the loss; and
– Primary next of kin and two other family members may travel to Dover at department expense to observe the dignified transfer operation. The services may fund the travel of additional family members on a case-by-case basis.
So, here’s my question and concern with this new policy. What if multiple remains are brought back on the same flight and not all the families approve of media coverage? How will this be handled? I am working to get Secretary Gates on our You Served Radio Show to clarify some of these issues and raise awareness of the new policy. Keep your fingers crossed.
Here in my opinion is what is terribly wrong with this policy change:
– The primary next of kin will make the family’s decision regarding media access to dignified transfer operations at Dover;
– Families of deceased service members will be briefed on the option to allow media coverage of the dignified transfer at the time of notification of the member’s death or as soon as possible thereafter;
WTF?
This should be a decision that has been made PRIOR to deployment! What CNO wants to have to ask the family literally seconds after they have been notified that their warrior has been killed in action that they have to make a decision about media presence? That is insanity, along with the literally dozens of other forms that are thrust in front of the now grieving family.
This policy is assinine and should be revoked and reworked to make the decision one that the servicemember makes PRIOR to deployment.
Gates noted in his one and only visit to Dover [www.thunderrun.us/2009/03/tell-me-mr-gateshow-can-you-lift-ban.html] that it was a very moving experience and now he wants to shred that level decorum by allowing the flash of cameras and the scrambling of paparazzi?
It’s discraceful!
Note only that, David, but when Gates went to Dover, he declined media coverage of his visit…
I agree that is should be a decision made prior to deployment by the service member. What happens when the deceased is not married, and the deceased’s parents are divorced? Who is the “primary next of kin”?
Also, I’ve had the question about the “what if” of multiple KIA returning on a single flight, and not all next of kin agree about media coverage.
David, you definitely put a good voice to my own sentiments. It is a clinical fact that the recipient of news like this goes through a state of shock. This stage will vary in length and severity depending on the person, the support they have, and their own factors of resiliency. Why in the world would anyone want to ask someone in that frame of mind to make s decision they may later regret (either for the yea or the nay!). Furthermore I also don’t think the ban should have been lifted until the military put a “check here” box on the standard forms that are filled out before deployment that express a service member’s wishes in the event of his/her death.