Nuclear Weapons

Death Gratuities for Defense Intel Officers Killed in Action

10.05.06 | 1 min read | Text by Steven Aftergood

Family members of U.S. military intelligence personnel who are killed while engaged in clandestine intelligence operations may be eligible for special monetary gratuities, according to a recently updated Defense Department Instruction (pdf).

“A gratuity shall be paid to the dependents of any member of the Armed Forces or of any employee of the Department of Defense assigned to duty with a DoD intelligence component, whose identity is disguised or concealed; or who is within a category of individuals determined by the Secretary of Defense to be engaged in clandestine intelligence activities; and who, after October 14, 1980, dies because of injuries (excluding disease) sustained outside the United States and whose death resulted from hostile or terrorist activities, or occurred in connection with an intelligence activity having a substantial element of risk.”

The new policy was issued by Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Stephen A. Cambone.

See “Payment of Death Gratuity to Survivors of Certain DoD Personnel Assigned to Intelligence Duties,” DoD Instruction 1341.08, 25 August 2006.

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