The Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) conducts monthly updates and annual government briefings for families of American servicemembers who are missing in action. These events are designed to keep family members informed of the U.S. government’s worldwide mission to account for those still missing and to discuss in detail the latest information available about their specific cases.

Eight times a year, government specialists meet in major metropolitan areas across the country with MIA family members who live within a 350-mile radius of the city. These meetings are designed to address the individual needs of the family members while bringing information to their communities. Government officials also meet one-on-one with family members to discuss the details of each of their cases. About 150-200 family members and 30 government officials attend each meeting.

In addition to the updates in other cities, two briefings are held annually in the Washington D.C. area. One is for Vietnam War families and the other is for Korean and Cold War families. The location of these events makes it possible for senior government officials to attend and for families to access Washington-based offices related to POW/MIA matters. At these briefings, family members have the opportunity to meet with numerous civilian and military specialists of the government whose expertise includes: foreign government negotiation, formulation of national policy, remains recovery and identification, DNA science, archival research and intelligence analysis

• Foreign Government Negotiation
• Formulation of National Policy
• Remains Recovery and Identification
• DNA Science
• Archival Research and Intelligence Analysis

At the Annual and monthly Update Meetings, Speakers include Senior officials, Experts and Scientists who work the wide range of tasks associated with the POW/MIA Mission. During the meetings, there are formal presentations, question and answer sessions and one-one-one discussions between Government Officials and Family Members.

The DPMO has conducted these update programs since 1995, reaching more than 14,000 Family Members in these face-to-face meetings.

CLICK HERE to register, or call your Service Casualty Office for more information.

CLICK HERE for hotel information for the event.

CLICK HERE to view past Family Update Schedules