The position of Casualty Resolution Officer (CRO) directly supports all aspects of the United States Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) operations within eight countries (Belgium, France, Iceland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, and the UK) of Western Europe (WE), and falls under the purview of the WE Multidisciplinary Team (MDT). Initially located full-time at Miesau Army Depot, Germany, the CRO will be instrumental in locating and recovering American service members who remain unaccounted for from the Second World War, in order to provide answers to their families and the nation. The CRO will perform all operational, logistics, liaison, and administrative functions required to enable DPAA investigative and recovery teams to operate in the WE MDT Area of Responsibility (AOR). The CRO will provide in-region expertise and perspective during the DPAA mission planning cycle, as well as during mission execution, and will serve as DPAA mission elements’ principal liaison with U.S. Embassy representatives and host nation entities. Additionally, the CRO will conduct post-mission assessments, provide feedback for future missions, and provide periodic written reports on the status of DPAA operations within the WE MDT AOR and the possible impact of geopolitical developments on DPAA activities.
The CRO will serve as in-region coordinator and liaison with appropriate national and local government agencies, military departments, and any other requisite agencies to obtain the necessary host nation permits and support for DPAA activities within the WE MDT AOR. The CRO will be responsible for coordinating, facilitating and tracking all phases and aspects of DPAA mission elements’ movement into/within/from the WE MDT AOR, to include customs and immigration procedures, equipment importation, and any other required processes. The CRO will ensure administrative closure with all host nation permitting authorities at the conclusion of field activities, to ensure the Agency remains in good standing, and that permitting for future field activities is not negatively impacted. The CRO also will facilitate permitting for partner missions, as time and capacity allow.
The CRO will provide primary interpretation and secondary translation support for the WE MDT. As well, the CRO will maintain timely situational awareness of local and regional political-military developments within the WE MDT AOR and inform both the Detachment and WE MDT of emerging issues likely to impact DPAA activities within the AOR.
The CRO will be responsible for day-to-day administrative tasks, such as the drafting and tracking of official correspondence, and records management. And the CRO will serve as in-region coordinator for DPAA logistics requirements, facilitating the procurement of supplies and services to support DPAA activities, and reporting on the status of contracting efforts underway. The CRO also will perform preliminary assessments and make recommendations on potential resources, as well as advise on any host nation sensitivities potentially resulting from DPAA contracting efforts. Further, the CRO will assist in determining field team locations, suitable lodging, and local procurement of goods and services.
The CRO will be responsible for attending planning and coordination events at various locations throughout the WE MDT AOR, as directed, several times per year, or as required during mission deployments. On an occasional basis, the CRO will attend planning and coordination events at DPAA Headquarters.
The CRO will conduct field investigative functions in support of the WE MDT, reporting all findings and data in DPAA case management systems. Such activities will include, but are not limited to: reviewing information provided by local sources; reviewing new leads for field investigation; following-up on leads; establishing and maintaining case information notes; conducting and documenting interviews; and conducting initial site surveys.
QUALIFICATIONS
The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc. (HJF) is a global organization dedicated to advancing military medical research. The foundation serve military, medical, academic and government clients by administering, managing and supporting preeminent scientific programs that benefit members of the armed forces and civilians alike. The not-for-profit Foundation is authorized by Congress to support research at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) and throughout military medicine. Since its founding in 1983, HJF has served as a vital link between the military medical community and its federal and private partners. The Foundation’s support and administrative capabilities allow military medical researchers and clinicians to maintain their scientific focus and to accomplish their research goals effectively and efficiently.
