USMC CASUALTY ASSISTANCE CALLS OFFICER (CACO) COMPLETE
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS RECENTLY UPDATED
(2026/2026) PASS GUARANTEE
1. What is the primary mission of a CACO?
A) To conduct casualty investigations
B) To provide assistance and support to the NOK of a Marine casualty ✓
C) To coordinate with JAG on legal matters
D) To process military insurance claims
2. What does the acronym CACO stand for?
A) Casualty Action Coordinator Officer
B) Casualty Administration and Coordination Officer
C) Casualty Assistance Calls Officer ✓
D) Command Assistance and Casualty Officer
3. How long must a CACO provide assistance to the family of a deceased
Marine?
A) 30 days
B) 60 days
C) 90 days
D) Until all benefits are processed and the family no longer needs
assistance ✓
4. Who assigns a CACO to a casualty case?
A) The Commandant of the Marine Corps
B) The installation commanding general
C) The commanding officer of the nearest Marine installation ✓
D) The Marine's unit CO
5. A CACO must be at minimum what pay grade?
A) E-5
B) E-7
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, C) W-2
D) O-1 ✓
6. The CACO's primary duty is to whom?
A) The Marine's commanding officer
B) The casualty's next of kin ✓
C) The installation commanding general
D) Marine Corps Headquarters
7. Who has final authority to release information to the media regarding a
Marine casualty?
A) The CACO
B) The installation PAO ✓
C) The Commandant of the Marine Corps
D) The Secretary of the Navy
8. Which of the following actions is PROHIBITED for a CACO?
A) Attending the funeral
B) Accepting gifts or money from the family ✓
C) Coordinating benefits
D) Attending memorial services
9. The CACO should make initial contact with the NOK within how many
hours of assignment?
A) 2 hours
B) 4 hours
C) 8 hours
D) 24 hours ✓
10. If a CACO is unavailable, who may serve in their absence?
A) Any senior NCO
B) A qualified alternate CACO ✓
C) The unit First Sergeant
D) The installation legal officer
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,11. The CACO must advise the family not to make any major financial
decisions for at least how long?
A) 30 days
B) 60 days
C) 1 year ✓
D) Until all benefits have been received
12. The CACO must be a US citizen and hold at minimum what security
clearance?
A) No clearance required
B) Confidential ✓
C) Secret
D) Top Secret
13. A CACO assigned to a family with special needs should do what?
A) Refer all matters to legal
B) Coordinate additional support resources ✓
C) Report directly to HQMC
D) Request a new assignment
14. Approximately how many cases may a CACO be assigned at one time?
A) One case only ✓
B) Up to 3 cases
C) Up to 5 cases
D) No limit is specified
15. The CACO must coordinate with what office to ensure remains are
shipped to the correct location?
A) DFAS
B) Mortuary Affairs Office (MAO) ✓
C) Red Cross
D) Installation PAO
16. Which of the following is NOT a function of the CACO?
A) Coordinating funeral honors
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, B) Processing claims on behalf of the family
C) Making death notifications
D) Investigating fraud against survivors ✓
17. The CACO must ensure the family is not charged for what government-
funded service?
A) Private burial
B) Mortuary affairs and transportation of remains ✓
C) Civilian medical care
D) Attorney fees
18. A CACO should NOT serve in what dual role that could create a conflict
of interest?
A) As the unit chaplain simultaneously
B) As the Summary Court Martial officer for the same case ✓
C) As the unit CO
D) As a member of the honor guard
19. The CACO must report status updates on a case to who?
A) HQMC Casualty Section only
B) The installation Casualty Assistance Officer ✓
C) Both installation and HQMC as required
D) The NOK's designated attorney
20. The CACO's role ends when?
A) The funeral is complete
B) All benefits are received and the family no longer needs assistance
C) 30 days after notification
D) The installation CG releases the CACO ✓
21. The CACO must attend what service if at all possible?
A) Memorial service only
B) Funeral and burial services ✓
C) Only the burial
D) No service attendance is required
USMC CACO Study Guide | Page 4 of 61
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS RECENTLY UPDATED
(2026/2026) PASS GUARANTEE
1. What is the primary mission of a CACO?
A) To conduct casualty investigations
B) To provide assistance and support to the NOK of a Marine casualty ✓
C) To coordinate with JAG on legal matters
D) To process military insurance claims
2. What does the acronym CACO stand for?
A) Casualty Action Coordinator Officer
B) Casualty Administration and Coordination Officer
C) Casualty Assistance Calls Officer ✓
D) Command Assistance and Casualty Officer
3. How long must a CACO provide assistance to the family of a deceased
Marine?
A) 30 days
B) 60 days
C) 90 days
D) Until all benefits are processed and the family no longer needs
assistance ✓
4. Who assigns a CACO to a casualty case?
A) The Commandant of the Marine Corps
B) The installation commanding general
C) The commanding officer of the nearest Marine installation ✓
D) The Marine's unit CO
5. A CACO must be at minimum what pay grade?
A) E-5
B) E-7
USMC CACO Study Guide | Page 1 of 61
, C) W-2
D) O-1 ✓
6. The CACO's primary duty is to whom?
A) The Marine's commanding officer
B) The casualty's next of kin ✓
C) The installation commanding general
D) Marine Corps Headquarters
7. Who has final authority to release information to the media regarding a
Marine casualty?
A) The CACO
B) The installation PAO ✓
C) The Commandant of the Marine Corps
D) The Secretary of the Navy
8. Which of the following actions is PROHIBITED for a CACO?
A) Attending the funeral
B) Accepting gifts or money from the family ✓
C) Coordinating benefits
D) Attending memorial services
9. The CACO should make initial contact with the NOK within how many
hours of assignment?
A) 2 hours
B) 4 hours
C) 8 hours
D) 24 hours ✓
10. If a CACO is unavailable, who may serve in their absence?
A) Any senior NCO
B) A qualified alternate CACO ✓
C) The unit First Sergeant
D) The installation legal officer
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,11. The CACO must advise the family not to make any major financial
decisions for at least how long?
A) 30 days
B) 60 days
C) 1 year ✓
D) Until all benefits have been received
12. The CACO must be a US citizen and hold at minimum what security
clearance?
A) No clearance required
B) Confidential ✓
C) Secret
D) Top Secret
13. A CACO assigned to a family with special needs should do what?
A) Refer all matters to legal
B) Coordinate additional support resources ✓
C) Report directly to HQMC
D) Request a new assignment
14. Approximately how many cases may a CACO be assigned at one time?
A) One case only ✓
B) Up to 3 cases
C) Up to 5 cases
D) No limit is specified
15. The CACO must coordinate with what office to ensure remains are
shipped to the correct location?
A) DFAS
B) Mortuary Affairs Office (MAO) ✓
C) Red Cross
D) Installation PAO
16. Which of the following is NOT a function of the CACO?
A) Coordinating funeral honors
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, B) Processing claims on behalf of the family
C) Making death notifications
D) Investigating fraud against survivors ✓
17. The CACO must ensure the family is not charged for what government-
funded service?
A) Private burial
B) Mortuary affairs and transportation of remains ✓
C) Civilian medical care
D) Attorney fees
18. A CACO should NOT serve in what dual role that could create a conflict
of interest?
A) As the unit chaplain simultaneously
B) As the Summary Court Martial officer for the same case ✓
C) As the unit CO
D) As a member of the honor guard
19. The CACO must report status updates on a case to who?
A) HQMC Casualty Section only
B) The installation Casualty Assistance Officer ✓
C) Both installation and HQMC as required
D) The NOK's designated attorney
20. The CACO's role ends when?
A) The funeral is complete
B) All benefits are received and the family no longer needs assistance
C) 30 days after notification
D) The installation CG releases the CACO ✓
21. The CACO must attend what service if at all possible?
A) Memorial service only
B) Funeral and burial services ✓
C) Only the burial
D) No service attendance is required
USMC CACO Study Guide | Page 4 of 61
