The AF asked me to be a "Casualty Notification Officer" recently, which I immediately accepted. I thought that my only job would be to visit the families in the very unlikely event of an airplane crash. I found out at today's training that I was wrong.
It turns out that our base is the center for all Active Duty notifications within a several hundred mile radius. That means if an Airman kills himself overseas and his mother lives in our area, a notification is made from our office. It really seems to be just like the movies. The officer has to be in service dress and is accompanied by someone else, preferably a chaplain. They drive up to the house in an official staff car, identify themselves, ask to come in, and then share the bad news. The training video we watched showed 4 complete simulated notifications to demonstrate the different types of situations and reactions from family members. Although they were just acting, it was heart wrenching to imagine it happening for real.
With any luck we won't have any notifications during my time here in GA; the Air Force fortunately doesn't lose as many as the Army and Marines. If that call comes in, I'll be solemnly donning my best uniform so that I can tell a wife or mother or father or husband that someone they know and love won't ever be coming home again.
If you see that military staff car pull up to your house, I'm sorry; I really am.
