Department of Defense Casualty Definitions

Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) - A transitory casualty status. As such, the Next Of Kin will be kept informed of progress in determining the member's true status. Casualty assistance is not provided unless the member's true status is determined to be deceased or missing.

Missing in Action (MIA) - The casualty is a hostile casualty, other than the victim of a terrorist activity, who is not present at his or her duty location due to apparent involuntary reasons and whose location is unknown.

Prisoner of War (POW) - One who, while engaged in combat under orders of his or her government, is captured by the armed forces of the enemy.

Killed in Action (KIA) - A casualty category applicable to a hostile casualty, other than the victim of a terrorist activity, who is killed outright or who dies as a result of wounds or other injuries before reaching a medical treatment facility.

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