funeral arrangements, and submitting claims for
survivor’s benefits.
The program is administered by the Casualty
Assistance Branch of the Naval Military Per-
sonnel Command and is governed by BUPERS
INSTRUCTION 1770.2 series. The chaplain’s
involvement in the Casualty Assistance Calls
Program (CACP) is described in OPNAV
INSTRUCTION 1730.1 series. The Marine
Corps Casualty Assistance Program is adminis-
tered by the Casualty Section, Personal Affairs
Branch, Personal Services Division, Head-
quarters U.S. Marine Corps, and is governed by
the Marine Corps Casualty Procedures Manual,
MCO 3040.4A. The RP should maintain within
the I&R Directory, the identity of the command
representative for the Casualty Assistance Calls
Program (CACP) as well as other basic I&R
information related to the program.
RAPID COMMUNICATION
When important family messages (not neces-
sarily an emergency) must be sent to a deployed
Navy or Marine Corps member rapidly, a tele-
gram known as a class “easy” message may be
utilized. Either a regular telegram (15 words), or
a night letter (50 words) may be sent. These
messages may be sent to deployed Navy and
Marine Corps members through Western Union.
Spouses or parents having an important message
may contact a deployed member by sending a
telegram to:
THE DEPLOYED MEMBER’S NAME
AND RANK OR RATE
NAME AND HULL NUMBER OF THE
DEPLOYED MEMBER’S SHIP
C / O N A V A L C O M M U N I C A T I O N S
STATION
WASHINGTON, DC.
The Naval Communications Stations sends
the telegram to the ship. The cost of the telegram
will be the regular Western Union rate from the
place it was sent to Washington, DC.
Emergency Communications
Emergency communications intended for a
deployed Navy or Marine Corps member should
be channeled through the nearest chapter
of the American Red Cross (ARC) to ensure
expeditious handling and receipt.
SERVICES FOR SINGLE MEMBERS,
FAMILIES, AND CHILDREN
Because single persons, children, and
families have different needs, a variety of serv-
ices is necessary in any community to meet these
needs. Services for single persons, children, and
families which should be included within the
I&R Directory include:
Child care services
Department of Defense Dependent
Schools (DODDS)
Services for exceptional children
(handicapped and gifted)
Child and family advocacy programs
Family and personal enrichment pro-
grams
Personal, marital, and family counseling
services
United Service Organization (USO)
CHILD CARE PROGRAMS
Most child care centers evolve from local and
family needs. Each center usually has its own
structure and program based upon the nature of
the community it serves, its source of funding,
the building it inhabits, and the qualifications of
its staff.
The Recreation Services Division of the
Naval Military Personnel Command (N-65) is
currently responsible for the overall policy and
guidance of Navy child care centers. It is
estimated that some 35,000 children are being
cared for in military child care centers.
All projections being made for the 1980s and
beyond predict that more and more Navy and
Marine Corps families will need some kind of
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