Corps representative, as appropriate. Personal notification of the PNOK will normally be made between 0600 and 2200, except under unusual circumstances (e.g., the new media is expected to make a press release; or the member has been hospitalized in serious or very serious condition within CONUS, and the NOK is already aware of the prognosis). When a death occurs within CONUS, it is the responsibility of the member’s commanding officer to make sure that personal notification is made. Outside CONUS, the COMNAVMILPERSCOM will make sure that personal notification is made through the appropriate senior commander overseas. CONFIRMATION OF THE CASUALTY Notifications that are not made by telegram should be confirmed by a telegram, unless the PNOK or SNOK has specifically stated that written confir- mation is not desired. This follow-up notification should take place within 24 hours of the personal notification. See MILPERSMAN 4210100 for examples of basic telegram formats for notification and confirmation of death. The formats are presented for guidance only, and rigid adherence is not required. CONDOLENCE LETTER Commanding officers are required to write a letter to the appropriate NOK within 48 hours of a casualty. The letter, in addition to expressions of condolence, should contain appropriate details of the casualty; however, no details should be included that are likely to distress the NOK. A copy of the letter is sent to the COMNAVMILPERSCOM and Office of the Judge Advocate General (OJAG)—Investigations Division. Example formats for condolence letters can be found in the Decedent Affairs Manual. AUTOPSY LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Determine under what circumstances an autopsy should be performed. An autopsy will be performed on the remains of all persons who die on active duty or active duty for training when the commanding officer (CO) deems it necessary. The CO’s request may be self-initiated or based upon the recommendation of an investigating officer, other fact-finding body, or a medical officer. An autopsy may be necessary to determine the true cause of death, to get information for completing military records, or to protect the welfare of the military community. AIRCREW AUTOPSY The M a n u a l o f t h e M e d i c a l D e p a r t m e n t (MANMED), NAVMED P-117, states that when an aircrew member dies while serving as an aircrew member on a military aircraft, the medical officer will recommend to the CO that an autopsy be performed to determine the cause of death. The cause of death in these cases is interpreted to mean any correlation between pathological evidence and the accident cause factor. REQUESTING PERMISSION FOR AUTOPSY When an autopsy is desired but not mandatory, the following sentence will be incorporated in the casualty notification message that requests disposition instructions from the PNOK: “In the interest of medical science and to confirm medical diagnosis, it is requested that your telegram include whether or not permission is granted to accomplish mortem examination.” NONMILITARY AND RETIRED PERSONNEL AUTOPSY When an autopsy is deemed necessary for retired personnel or nonmilitary persons who die at a naval treatment facility or on a Navy installation, written authorization from the NOK must be obtained before performing the autopsy. The request for permission to perform an autopsy should be incorporated in the casualty notification message, as noted above. SEARCH, RECOVERY, AND IDENTIFICATION L E A R N I N G O B J E C T I V E : R e c a l l procedures used to search for, recover, and identify remains. The search for, recovery, and identification of remains should be accomplished as soon as possible 16-4