UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
4000 DEFENSE PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301-4000
PERSONNEL AND
READINESS
July 24, 2025
MEMORANDUM FOR SENIOR PENTAGON LEADERSHIP
DEFENSE AGENCY AND DOD FIELD ACTIVITY DIRECTORS
SUBJECT: Directive-Type Memorandum 25-004 – “DoD Suicide Postvention Response
System”
References: See Attachment 1.
Purpose. In accordance with the authority in DoD Directive 5124.02 and pursuant to
Section 740 of Public Law 117-263 (also known as the “James M. Inhofe National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023”) and DoD Instruction (DoDI) 6490.16, this directive-
type memorandum (DTM):
• Implements a coordinated, comprehensive, and tiered DoD Suicide
Postvention Response System for a suicide death of a Service member, suicide
clusters, and suicide contagions.
• Establishes a review of suicide prevention and response at Military Service
commands, including implementation of postvention activities.
• Establishes a standardized DoD definition of the term “suicide cluster” and
directs use of the term in all DoD issuances and other policy documents, as well
as all applicable Military Department (MILDEP), Military Service, and National
Guard Bureau (NGB) regulations, policies, guidance, trainings, resources, and
manuals.
• Establishes congressional notification procedures for suicide clusters.
• Is effective July 24, 2025; it must be incorporated into DoDI 6490.16. This
DTM will expire effective July 24, 2026
Applicability. This DTM applies to OSD, the MILDEPs, the Office of the Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of Inspector
General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all
other organizational entities within the DoD.
Definitions. See Glossary.
