Frequently Asked Questions

Providing Information to the Families: Families of American missing suffer from "not knowing." It is emotionally difficult and painful, and many POW/MIA families, have had to endure such suffering for decades. The Family Support team welcomes the opportunity to provide information to assist families, the Congress and the American people in understanding the efforts of the Nation in its accounting efforts. Please contact your Service Casualty Office for a copy of the Defense booklet on "Personnel Recovery and Accounting."

Communicating Facts and Providing Answers: The Family Support team receives many different questions from family members. Every family situation is unique. Nevertheless, in many ways questions from families have similar answers. Please click the questions that interest you.

• What Defense Agencies support fullest possible accounting?
• Am I an eligible donor of mitochondrial DNA?
• What family resources are available for my use?
• What do all the personnel accounting acronyms and unique terms mean?
• How do family members learn the results of the accounting process?
• Whom should I talk to concerning a missing relative?
• May DPMO release the names or addresses of POW/MIA family members?
• What is the "Johnnie Johnson List" and how do I get a copy?
• As a family member, may I visit an excavation site?
• What is personnel recovery?
• What is personnel accounting?
• What are the different pursuit status categories and how do they pertain to the accounting process?
• Where can I find a glossary of terms?