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Laws and Directives

General

  • 10 U.S. Code Sections 1501-1513, "Missing Service Personnel Act" - tasks DPMO with responsibility for policy, control and oversight of the entire process of investigation and recovery of missing persons (including matters related to search, rescue, escape and evasion) and for coordination between DoD and other U.S. agencies on all matters concerning missing persons. The Act also establishes procedures to be followed in making determinations regarding status of missing persons covered by the Act (i.e., active duty military personnel or DoD civilians and DoD contractors who directly support or accompany the armed forces in the field under orders).
  • 37 U.S. Code Sections 551-559, "Missing Persons Act" - provides for pay, allowance and other financial benefits for military personnel in a missing status. Note: The procedures for review and determinations of missing status under Sections 556 and 557 of the Missing Persons Act do not apply to persons whose status has been determined under the Missing Service Personnel Act.
  • DoD Directive 5110.10, "Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO)," September 21, 2005 -establishes the mission, organization, responsibilities, functions, relationships and authorities of the Director, DPMO.

Personnel Accounting

Personnel Recovery

  • Executive Order 10631, "Code of Conduct for Members of the Armed Forces", August 17, 1955, as amended – the code of conduct followed by all military members threatened with capture, or held captive, by hostile forces.
  • DoD Directive 1300.7, "Training and Education to Support the Code of Conduct (CoC)", December 8, 2000 [under revision] – establishes DoD policy for ensuring DoD personnel fully understand the CoC and are trained and educated to support it. Designates DPMO as Office of Primary Responsibility for monitoring the adequacy, compliance and uniformity of the CoC training programs adopted by the military Services and serving as the central point of contact within the Office of Secretary of Defense for training and education to support the CoC. DPMO also provides policy guidance analogous to the CoC for civilian DoD personnel at risk of capture and exploitation by hostile forces.
  • DOD Directive 3002.01E, "Personnel Recovery in the Department of Defense", April 16, 2009 – establishes policies and assigns responsibilities within the Department of Defense for personnel recovery. Expressly acknowledges as one of the Department of Defense’s highest priorities, the preservation of lives and well-being of DoD personnel who are in danger of becoming, or have become, beleaguered, besieged, captured, detained, interned or otherwise missing or evading capture while participating in U.S.-sponsored activities or missions. Assigns to DASD (POW/MPA) a wide range of responsibilities to further develop and implement this DoD policy.
  • DOD Directive 3003.01, "DoD Support to Civil Search and Rescue (SAR)", January 20, 2006 - establishes DoD policy to provide assistance to persons, ships and aircraft in distress in accordance with U.S. and international law, and to support civil authorities conducting search and rescue ("Civil SAR") activities according to applicable national directives, plans, guidelines and agreements. Designates the DASD (POW/MPA) as the Office of Primary Responsibility for DoD support to Civil SAR, with broad responsibilities for oversight, representation, review and coordination on behalf of DoD, including on an interagency basis and with foreign governments.
  • DOD Instruction 2310.4, "Repatriation of Prisoners of War (POW), Hostages, Peacetime Government Detainees and Other Missing or Isolate Personnel", November 21, 2000 [under revision] – implements DoD policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures for repatriating DoD personnel (including contractors) who have been held as POWs, held as hostages by terrorists (inside or outside the United States), detained in peacetime by hostile governments, evading capture or were otherwise missing under hostile conditions. Designates DPMO as the Office of Primary Responsibility for repatriation, including policy oversight and direction and liaison within DoD and with other U.S. government agencies.
  • DOD Instruction 1300.21, "Code of Conduct Training and Education", January 8, 2001 [under revision] – implements DoD policy, assigns responsibilities and prescribes procedures to develop and execute CoC training for members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Assigns to DPMO the responsibility to review instructions for CoC training issued by the military Services to ensure they comply with the detailed guidance in the Instruction and to coordinate with the DoD General Counsel to ensure compliance with the policies of other U.S. agencies.
  • DODI 1300.23, "Isolated Personnel Training for DoD Civilian and Contractors", August 20, 2003 [under revision] – implements policy, assigns responsibilities and prescribes procedures to prepare DoD civilians, DoD contractors and other designated civilian personnel with the training necessary to copy with possible capture and return to U.S. control with honor. Tasks DASD (POW/MPA) with responsibility for assisting, and coordinating with, other offices within DoD and other U.S. agencies, to ensure that civilian personnel and contactors receive appropriate training with respect to CoC-related matters, and to ensure such training in consistent with the policies of U.S. agencies and conforms with the Instruction.
  • DOD Instruction 2310.6, "Non-Conventional Assisted Recovery in the Department of Defense", October 13, 2000 [under revision] – implements DoD policy of complementing its conventional personnel recovery capabilities with U.S.-trained and equipped foreign entities or organizations (or other non-conventional recovery mechanisms). Designates DPMO as the Office of Primary Responsibility for personnel recovery policy, including establishing uniform policies for non-conventional recovery within DoD.
  • DoD Instruction 3115.10E, "Intelligence Support to Personnel Recovery", March 24, 2006 – delineates the responsibilities for the management of intelligence functions related to personnel recovery among various agencies and activities within the DoD, including DPMO. Tasks the Director, DPMO, with the responsibility to establish clear, direct and expeditious lines of communications with the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, or his designee, with respect to recovery related matters; to evaluate applicable policies, processes and programs and identify intelligence issues within DoD intelligence community, submit intelligence requirements to DIA for validating and coordinating within the DoD intelligence community, and maintaining the capability to assume responsibility to account for personnel after cessation of operations by the applicable combatant commander.
  • Joint Publication 3-50, "Personnel Recovery", January 5, 2007 – provides doctrine for the preparation, planning, and execution of personnel recovery during joint operations. Describes the role in personnel recovery of DPMO and other agencies and activities.
  • Memorandum, "Implementation of the Personnel Recovery Strategic Communication Guidance", March 4, 2008 (with "Personnel Recovery Strategic Communication Guidance" attached) – provides a foundation for coordinating DoD efforts before, during and after U.S., allied and coalition personnel, or private citizens, are illegally detained, held hostage, or otherwise isolated from friendly control. Establishes the Personnel Recovery Strategic Communication Working Group, which is responsible to the DASD (POW/MPA) and to the Joint Chiefs of Staff J-3 Deputy Director of Special Operations (DDSO).