Missing in Action

Missing in Action (MIA) refers to military personnel who are unaccounted for following a combat or mission, meaning their status—whether alive or deceased—is unknown. These individuals may have been lost during an operation, captured, or otherwise untraceable, and their whereabouts remain uncertain. The term emphasizes the ongoing effort to locate and identify them through recovery and investigation. MIA recognition underscores the importance of efforts to bring closure to families and honor military personnel by determining their fate whenever possible.