What happens when you're gone? Understanding your vRED, or Emergency Data Card Published Nov. 7, 2007 By Freda Borders 47th Force Support Squadron Casualty Assistance Representative LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Every servicemember swears or affirms an oath to lay down their life, if necessary, to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, and does so fully understanding that casualties are a potential tragic reality of war and military service. What they don't always understand is what happens when they're gone. Do you really understand the purpose of your virtual record of emergency data or emergency data card? It's probably the most important document of your military career. Your vRED provides information on your primary next-of-kin, secondary next-of-kin, and other persons to notify in case of death, injury or an emergency. It also serves as the official document required by law for designating beneficiaries for death gratuity pay and unpaid pay and allowances, and of course your person authorized to direct disposition. The death gratuity is a tax-free $100,000 benefit paid by electronic funds transmittal within 7-14 days of death. This is money your NOK would use for emergency expenses until other benefits start coming in. This is not to pay for funeral expenses. Unpaid pay and allowances include pay due since the last payday to the date of death and includes; basic pay; payment for up to 60 days accrued leave; basic allowance for housing for up to 365 days if the service member was married and had dependents; amounts due for travel, per diem expenses, transportation of eligible family members, shipment of household goods; and unpaid installments of a variable reenlistment bonus or any portion of the aviation continuation pay not paid. Any payments of bonuses or aviation continuation pay depend on a line of duty determination. The person authorized to direct disposition is an extremely important designation. In recent years, there have been a growing number of disputes between family members due to conflicts that may exist within the extended family. For example, a service member is single, has no spouse or children, and his or her parents are divorced. The member may have been raised by the mother and had no contact with the biological father. Under the law, the oldest parent became the PADD. Under these circumstances, the by-law provision would not necessarily satisfy the wishes of the servicemember. To avoid these situations and other issues that could arise within the family, Congress passed a law requiring the Department of Defense to provide servicemembers a choice in selecting a PADD among immediate family members. Making a specific PADD clarifies who you want to act as your PADD. Whoever you designate, make sure you discuss your wishes with them should something happen to you. Take the time to review your vRED card and make sure it reflects the correct information. Further information is also available at the Air Force Casualty Assistance Center at http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/library/casualty.asp and the Air Force Crossroads Casualty & Loss website http://www.afcrossroads.com/casualty/main.cfm.