DUSTWUN (abbreviation for duty status—whereabouts unknown) is a transitory casualty status assigned to United States service members who are believed to be involuntarily absent but cannot be located and have not been confirmed dead or captured.
[1] Individuals are given the status following the first sign that their absence is involuntary, typically remaining in the status no more than ten days, during which time personnel recovery and fact finding efforts occur which will inform a redesignation.
[2] "A transitory casualty status used when the responsible commander suspects a member may be a casualty and whose absence is involuntary, but sufficient evidence does not exist to make a definite determination of current status, be it unauthorized absence (UA), missing, or deceased.
This applies to members presumed to be lost at sea, or absent ashore due to unknown circumstances.
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