Planning for the unforeseen circumstances Published March 7, 2011 By Airman 1st Class Jacob Morgan 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Virtual Record of Emergency Data and Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance forms are two important documents to accomplish initially and then maintain throughout a military career. The availability and accuracy of information on these two documents plays a role in how and when family members deal with the death of a servicemember. The vRED system is used to contact the next-of-kin in the case of a debilitating injury or death. In addition, it is used to designate a beneficiary to receive certain military benefits and identify who is authorized to make decisions regarding funeral arrangements, and the final resting place of the servicemember. SGLV 8286 is the only document recognized to identify a legal beneficiary for SGLI payments should the death of a servicemember occur. Using these two documents, casualty assistance representatives and commanders are able to make decisions concerning who to notify and who will receive benefits. Outdated or missing information on the vRED or the SGLI form can significantly impact this process, leading to complicated situations for the surviving family members. Additionally, failure to maintain this critical information can lead to delays in determining rightful beneficiaries. The Air Force's casualty assistance program's sole responsibility is to provide prompt casualty reporting, humane notification, and assistance to the next-of-kin when a death occurs. Possibly one of the best things a servicemember can do for their family members is to ensure the vRED and SGLI forms are completed.