A casualty status for which the United States Code provides
statutory
guidance concerning missing members of the Military Services.
Excluded
are personnel who are in an absent without leave,
deserter, or
dropped-from-the-rolls status.
A person declared missing is categorized as
follows:
- beleaguered –
The casualty is a member of an organized element that
has been
surrounded by a hostile force to prevent escape of its members.
- besieged –
The casualty is a member of an organized element that has
been surrounded by a hostile force for compelling it to surrender.
- captured –
The casualty has been seized as a result of action of an
unfriendly military or paramilitary force in a foreign country.
- detained –
The casualty is prevented from proceeding or is
restrained in
custody for alleged violation of international law or other
reason
claimed by the government or group under which the person is being
held.
- interned –
The casualty is definitely known to have been taken into
custody of a
nonbelligerent foreign power as a result of and for reasons
arising out of any
armed conflict in which the Armed Forces of the United
States are engaged.
- missing –
The casualty is not present at his or her duty location
due to
apparent involuntary reasons and whose location is unknown.
- missing in action –
The casualty is a hostile casualty, other than
the victim of a terrorist activity,
who is not present at his or her duty
location due to apparent
involuntary reasons and whose location is unknown.
Also called MIA.