Dignified transfers bring home fallen US service members, honoring their ultimate sacrifice with respect and precision every step of the way.
President Donald Trump attended a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Wednesday, meeting with the families of four US service members killed in the Middle East. The solemn proceeding is a return of a fallen service member to the US, considered one of the most solemn military rituals.
At least 18 US service members have died in the Iran conflict, which began on February 28, with an estimated 500 wounded. This is the third dignified transfer Trump has attended since the start of Operation Epic Fury and the seventh during his presidential terms.
A dignified transfer involves a carry team of military personnel from the fallen member's service, presided over by a senior ranking officer. The procedure typically starts with a stop at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, a major US airlift hub, before flying to Dover AFB, a 9-10 hour journey.
Upon arrival, a seven-member team removes the flag-draped transfer case from the aircraft and takes it to the base mortuary for identification and preparation for burial. The family of the service member makes the final burial decisions.
The Defense Department mandates that fallen service members be returned home as quickly as possible. The policy on media presence at dignified transfers was revised in 2009 by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, allowing families to decide whether to permit media coverage.
At least 18 US service members have died in the Iran conflict, which began on February 28, with an estimated 500 wounded. This is the third dignified transfer Trump has attended since the start of Operation Epic Fury and the seventh during his presidential terms.
A dignified transfer involves a carry team of military personnel from the fallen member's service, presided over by a senior ranking officer. The procedure typically starts with a stop at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, a major US airlift hub, before flying to Dover AFB, a 9-10 hour journey.
Upon arrival, a seven-member team removes the flag-draped transfer case from the aircraft and takes it to the base mortuary for identification and preparation for burial. The family of the service member makes the final burial decisions.
The Defense Department mandates that fallen service members be returned home as quickly as possible. The policy on media presence at dignified transfers was revised in 2009 by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, allowing families to decide whether to permit media coverage.
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