U.S. military's uneven response to missing service members sparks concern
A new review has revealed gaps in how the U.S. military handles reports of missing service members. While the Army has updated its procedures, the Navy Federal, Air Force, and Marine Corps still lack clear guidelines. These inconsistencies raise concerns about delays in response and support for at-risk personnel.
The Army now requires commanders to act faster when a service member goes missing. They must alert local law enforcement and enter the person's name into the National Crime Information Center database. This change aims to speed up searches and improve coordination with civilian authorities.
The Navy and Air Force, however, have no standard rules on when to notify police or family members. Both branches also lack defined timelines for responding to missing-person reports. The Marine Corps has not set any formal procedures at all.
A 2022 recommendation from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) urged the Navy to update its policies. So far, no changes have been made. The review also highlighted that current military guidelines do not properly address the link between disappearances and mental health crises.
Without uniform procedures, responses to missing service members remain uneven across branches. The Army's updates provide a model, but the Navy Federal, Air Force, and Marine Corps have yet to follow. Until policies are strengthened, delays in action and support could persist.
