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last mo.

Army Orders Rapid Response When Soldiers Go Missing

The directive responds to failures seen in the Vanessa Guillén case with firm timelines for classification and notification.

The Army will bring in local law enforcement and alert family members of missing soldiers sooner under new policies.
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Overview

  • Commanders must assign an "absent-unknown" status within three hours of discovering a soldier is missing and notify Army and local law enforcement in that same period.
  • Army police must issue a BOLO and enter the case into the National Crime Information Center missing persons file to engage civilian agencies early.
  • Family members must be informed of a missing soldier’s status within eight hours of the initial report.
  • If the soldier is not found within 48 hours, commanders must determine by a preponderance of evidence whether to classify the case as AWOL or as DUSTWUN.
  • The policy requires reporting as missing any soldier who has indicated potential self-harm and remains unlocated for 48 hours, drawing praise from advocates who still urge stronger oversight.