Pentagon Breaks Convention With 'Believed to Be' Casualty Update
The DoD issued an unusually worded press release saying an Army soldier was 'believed to be' a casualty from Operation Epic Fury, later identified as Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan; this breaks with standard casualty reporting that waits for positive identification (DUSTWUN) and drew criticism from former military spokespeople who warned it could erode public trust, highlighting how casualty communications are shifting as fast-moving operations incorporate more social-media-style updates.