The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) conducts periodic updates and annual government briefings for families of American servicemembers who are missing in action (MIA). 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.

 At the annual and monthly update meetings, speakers include senior officials, experts, and scientists who work in 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.

DoD has conducted these update programs since 1995, reaching more than 17,000 family members face-to-face.

Family Updates

Up to eight times a year, government officials meet with MIA family members who live within a 350-mile radius of major metropolitan areas across the country. 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. Because of COVID, these meetings have been held virtually during Fiscal Year 2021.

Annual Briefings

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.

Livestreams

We livestream our Family Member Updates and Government Briefings to our website and Facebook page. If you would like to watch our past Family Member Updates or Government Briefings, you can go to our Livestream archive at www.dpaa.mil/livestreams/.


Annual Attendance at Family Updates

Year   97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18  19
Annual Attendance   187 520 794 618 645 1042 803 998 946 733 961 899 821 1091 1161 1001 833 1290 1097 1276 1176 1298 1375
2021 Family Update Schedule*
Date Location
November 7 Little Rock, AR
January 23 Miami, FL **CANCELLED**
February 20 Los Angeles, CA & Honolulu, HI **Virtual**
April 17 Albuquerque, NM **Virtual**
April 17 Boston, MA **CANCELLED**
May 22 Oklahoma City, OK **VIRTUAL**
August 5-6
Washington, D.C.** 
**VIRTUAL**
September 15-16
Washington, D.C.*** 
**VIRTUAL**
October 23 Chicago, IL **POSTPONED**
* Family Member Updates are tentative and subject to change

** The Korean and Cold War Annual Government Briefings

*** The Vietnam War Annual Government Briefings held in conjunction with the National League of POW/MIA Families Annual Meeting      

  Register for the next Family Update

The Family Updates are tailored to meet the needs of attendees representing losses from all conflicts.

Please register early so that analysts may prepare to discuss your specific cases.

 

2022 Family Update Schedule*
Date Location
November 21 Norfolk, VA **POSTPONED**
January 22 Miami, FL
February 26 Dallas, TX
March 26 Spokane, WA
April 23 Minneapolis, MN
May 21 Boston, MA
June 22-25 Washington, D.C.**
August 4-5 Washington, D.C.***
September 10 Colorado Springs, CO
* Family Member Updates are tentative and subject to change

** The Korean and Cold War Annual Government Briefings

*** The Vietnam War Annual Government Briefings held in conjunction with the National League of POW/MIA Families Annual Meeting