Affairs should be contacted for guidance and
assistance.
Commercial Air
Commercial air may be supplemented by either
rail or funeral coach transportation. An escort must
travel with the remains. If delays en route or changes in
schedule occur, the escort must notify the installation
arranging the transportation and the consignee.
Chartered Air Taxi
Chartered air taxi service may be authorized when
commercial air is not available to the destination and
the use of a funeral vehicle or rail would cause undue
delay.
Funeral Coach
The funeral coach method of transportation may
be used under any of the following circumstances:
To transfer remains from the place of preparation
to another local funeral home, to a local
cemetery, or to a common-carrier terminal
When common-carrier service is not available
When a common carrier is available only part of
the way to the place designated by the PNOK,
then funeral coach service may be used for the
remaining portion of the transportation
authorized
When the cost is not in excess of the common-
carrier cost
W h e n t h e c e m e t e r y c a n n o t p r o v i d e
transportation from the terminal to the cemetery,
a funeral coach may be used as a continuation of
common-carrier service when remains are
consigned directly to a national cemetery or a
Navy cemetery or plot
To transfer remains from the common-carrier
t e r m i n a l a t d e s t i n a t i o n t o t h e f u n e r a l
establishment, and to deliver remains to the local
cemetery or crematory
When requested by the NOK, and the family
member defrays costs in excess of the method
that would have been used by the government
When the use of a common-carrier service will
involve extended layover, and this method will
expedite the arrival
TRANSPORTATION OF CREMATED
REMAINS
Cremated remains (cremains) of active duty
personnel will be hand carried by an escort, and
transported using commercial air, rail, a funeral
directors vehicle, or other appropriate vehicle. When
an escort is not authorized, cremains may be
transported by registered mail (preferred method), air,
or surface transportation to the PNOK, or to a specified
individual designated by the PNOK.
TRANSPORTATION OF REMAINS OF
CONTAGIOUS OR COMMUNICABLE
DISEASE VICTIMS
When death is the result of a contagious or
communicable disease, remains, after embalming,
should be placed immediately in a transfer case or
casket. The transfer case or casket should be closed
immediately and a gummed 2" x 4" label, marked
CONTAGIOUS should be affixed to the outside of
the receptacle at the head end. Information concerning
diseases considered contagious may be obtained from
local or state health officials. When the remains carry
communicable or contagious disease, make sure that
the consignment message specifically states that death
was due to a contagious or communicable disease.
AUTHORIZED TRANSPORTATION TO OR
FROM CONUS
Remains of eligible decedents who die outside the
48 contiguous United States will be transported by the
most expeditious U.S. government means; normally,
government air (Air Mobility Command (AMC)
flights) are used.
If such transportation is not
available, impractical, or would cause undue delay,
commercial air may be authorized by MEDDEN
Affairs.
OUTSIDE CONUS DESTINATIONS
When persons eligible for decedent affairs benefits
are consigned to a destination outside the 48
contiguous United States, the activity responsible for
preparation and transportation will contact the nearest
consul of the country concerned to ascertain the
requirements for entry, and assure that all requirements
are met before arranging transportation of the remains.
Failure to do so could lead to serious delays. Three
certified copies of the civilian certificate of death
should accompany the remains.
16-9