1. Prepared by CMAOC and FORSCOM G-4
FORSCOM Pre-deployment Familiarization Brief on Mortuary Affairs and the Return of Soldiers’ Personal Effects (PE)
Prepared by CMAOC
and FORSCOM G-4
In coordination with USCENTCOM, USARCENT, 1st TSC, USF-I and CJTF-82
MA officials

2. G-4
BACKGROUND
The failure to quickly and accurately return personal effects (PE) to wounded soldiers and to the families of deceased soldiers has become a major item of command interest.
Leaders do not plan for soldiers to die or become wounded. However when they do, leaders must insure all Soldiers’ PE are treated with the same level of care and respect that is given to Soldier’s Human Remains (HR).

3. The Army Family Action Plan (AFAP), FORSCOM G-4 AAR
Soldier Family Support Groups requested Mandated pre-deployment training of policies and procedures with respect to the PE/OCIE of medically evacuated Soldiers during recent AFAP working group conferences.

4. PURPOSE This briefing was designed to present essential theater
Mortuary Affairs (MA) information before deployment. The focus is on the return of the Personal Effects (PE) of KIA, MIA, and WIA Service members. It will also give an overview of the return of Human Remains (HR);
Provides critical information on MA Collection Points (MACPs) and where to find MA experts that support units while in Theater
What to do in the event of a unit death or injury;
Processing HR and PE
Processing PE only for medically evacuated Soldiers
The information provided to the Command Sergeant Major will equip the CSM with knowledge on the Mortuary Affairs capability available to augment their mission and where to locate 92M expertise within the command. So many 92M NCOs are mis-utilized throughout their careers and various commands complain of a shortage of mortuary affairs personnel. This briefing will provide an overall and relevant view for future deployments.

5. Areas of Interest Key MA Program Acronyms
Mortuary Affairs (MA) References
Soldier Killed / MIA / WIA – Now What?
Personal Effects
MACP functions
Joint Mortuary Affairs Program Flow
Theater Movement
Current Issues
Leader Responsibilities
MA POCs
These are key points addressed in the briefing.

6. Key MA Acronyms CMAOC – Casualty & Mortuary Affairs Operations Center
HR – Human Remains
IO – Inventory Official
JPED – Joint Personal Effects Depot (CONUS-APG, MD)
JSO – Joint Services Office
JMAC – Joint Mortuary Affairs Center
MACP – Mortuary Affairs Collection Point
MTF – Military Treatment Facility
PE – Personal Effects
PERE – Person Eligible to Receive Effects
PADD – Person Authorized to Direct Disposition – DD 93
SCMO – Summary Court Martial Officer
TMAO – Theater Mortuary Affairs Officer
TMAEA – Theater Mortuary Affairs Executive Agent
TMEP – Theater Mortuary Evacuation Point
Key Acronyms used in the Joint Mortuary Affairs Program. These acronyms are widely used during deployments and contingency operations.
JPED Application Software- The Joint PE Depot Management Software (This software is linked to the Summary Court Martial Officer Personal Effects processing).

7. Theater specific references: Home Station references:
MA References
Theater specific references:
ALARACT 139 / POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE HANDLING OF PERSONAL EFFECTS (PE) AND GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, DTG Z JUL 06.
ALARACT 161 / 2007 REMOVAL OF AMMUNITION AND EXPLOSIVES BY THEATER SUMMARY COURT MARTIAL OFFICERS (SCMO) Z JUL 07
ALARACT 224 / 2007 REVISED POLICIES FOR CERTIFYING AND REPORTING THEATER SUMMARY COURT MARTIAL OFFICERS (SCMO) IN THE CENTCOM AOR Z OCT 07
ALARACT 235 / 2007 SUMMARY COURT MARTIAL OFFICER (SCMO) CHECKLIST FOR CURRENT CENTCOM THEATER USE ONLY Z OCT 07
ALARACT 006 / 2009 (CORRECTED COPY) POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE HANDLING OF PERSONAL EFFECTS FOR MEDICALLY EVACUATED SOLDIERS Z JAN 09
The references listed are used to support Mortuary Affairs operations. Mortuary Affairs staff planners (92M NCOs) and personnel supporting Joint Mortuary Affairs Operations use these regulations.
Home Station references:
Joint Pub 4-06, Mortuary Affairs in Joint Operations
AR , Army Casualty Program
AR 638-2, Disposition of Remains and Personal Effects
DA PAM 638-2, Procedures for Remains and Personal Effects
CCR 638-1, (CENTCOM REG on Mortuary Affairs)

8. Soldier Killed / MIA / WIA Now What?
Collect all PE associated with the SM at the incident site and ensure that PE stays with the remains
Person who can visually identify HR should escort them to a MACP
Ensure HR moved to MACP / MTF
Report the Battlefield Loss to your chain of command
Secure ALL other PE in unit area(s) until SCMO / Inventory Official (IO) arrives
Immediately following the death of a Soldier/Marine transport the remains to a Mortuary Affairs Collection Point.
Click on the Mortuary Affairs Web Site for more information on the inventory of PE and SCMO duty.
Military Escorts will NOT travel back to Dover AFB with the Remains.

9. Personal Effects
ARE ALL privately-owned, moveable, personal property of an individual.
PE include those personal items that are normally with a person such as a watch, rings, jewelry, a wallet containing personal papers and pictures, money, etc…
PE also includes other items owned at death, missing status or at time of injury such as personal clothing, personally owned military clothing, stereos, TVs and gaming devices.
DO NOT INCLUDE Government property such as weapons, body armor, masks and other type property issued by the Government. (Note: Helmet and All IBA must stay with a deceased Soldier for evaluation.)
While in the USCENTCOM Theater, OCIE will be processed as PE because it has been found that some OCIE items have been privately purchased. (The JPED, CIF and unit will separate OCIE and clear hand receipts in CONUS.)
PERSONAL EFFECTS OF WIA/KIA SOLDIERS, LOCATED AT
THE UNIT’S BASE CAMP MUST BE INVENTORIED AND SHIPPED
PERSONAL EFFECTS ON KIA REMAINS
ARE INVENTORIED, BAGGED, SECURED
AND EVACUATED WITH REMAINS

10. Personal Effects
Ensure Personal Effects are safeguarded until SCMO / Inventory Official is appointed and begins inventory
PE is inventoried and packed per ALARACT 235 / 2007
PE is secured and escorted by the SCMO / IO to closest MACP
SCMO should inform the MACP prior to arrival
PE should be secured in a hard plastic footlocker “gorilla box” (or similar) for transportation to the MACP
PE tracked from MACP to JPED to PERE / WIA by MA personnel and CMAOC
For all Killed, MIA, and Medically Evacuated WIA, CMAOC established call centers for PE (see HRC website) Central POC for PE follow up information;
In theater, only use the ALARACT messages. Home Station uses the AR.
See ALARACT 139/2006 P210236Z JUL 06 MESSAGE, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE HANDLING F PERSONAL EFFECTS (PE) AND GOVERNMENT PROPERTY.

11. Processing Personal Effects
Find out who your Division Mortuary Affairs NCOIC/OIC is and where they’re located
Using the current SCMO / IO Checklist, conduct the inventory and deliver PE to the closest MACP
Army Mortuary Affairs Collection Points (MACPs):
OIF Tallil Biap Balad Al Asad Mosul
OEF Bagram Kandahar
If you have questions, start with your Bn/Bde S-1 (NCO) and work up to the Division Mortuary Affairs NCOIC/OIC
SCMOs / IOs have 12 hours to complete inventories, recommend using a supply representative to assist

12. MA Collection Points PERSONNEL 4-6 92Ms FUNCTIONS:
Provide Dignity, Reverence, and
Respect
Observe forensic protocols
Initiate continual chain of custody
for personal effects on remains
Establish Tentative ID (name Association)
Preserve remains in viewable
condition
Evacuate remains to Dover AFB
These are your area experts on Personal Effects procedures – Talk to them!
1. The Mortuary Affairs Collection Point (MACP) is currently the primary mission for the Mortuary Affairs Company. Current doctrine mandates MACPs be located in strategic locations in order to facilitate the receiving, processing, refrigeration and evacuation of remains, portions, and personal effects—what this means is that a MACP should be located close enough to the Engagement Area to be accessible to the most forward unit or Operating Base (FOB), but secure enough to ensure the safe evacuation of the deceased and their personal effects. MACPs performing a direct support (DS) function are required to be highly mobile to provide support to forward moving elements. General Support (GS) MACPs generally occupy a more permanent fixed facility and generally provide regional support from a location capable of sustaining major logistical operations. Even a GS level MACP must be capable of moving forward with their major command when the situation dictates. A recommended location to accommodate an MACP could be at an ASP/ATP.
2. In addition to performing the MACP functions, each Mortuary Affairs team is required to stand ready to support a secondary mission—that of Search and Recovery (S&R) operations. S&R missions will be tasked by the Theater Mortuary Affairs Office and should not interfere with the MACP’s ability to conduct 24hr operations. In certain circumstances a MACP will be required to perform interment/disinterment operations. US remains will only be interred upon the order of the Geographic Combatant Commander issued through the Joint Mortuary Affairs Officer (JAMO). Recently, during current operations overseas (Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom), enemy soldiers have died within our Area of Responsibility (AOR) and lack identification media or the ability to find and notify next of kin. These enemy combatants or insurgents have been interred by U.S. Mortuary Affairs personnel under guidance from Civil Affairs and local religious leaders who ensure that local customs and courtesies are rendered and honored.
3. Support structure and mission requirements should help decide where to place a MACP. Some primary considerations are the availability of ground and air transportation assets. How close a MACP is to an airstrip affects how easy it will be to receive and evacuate remains. Class VIII (Medical Supply) availability and support should be considered and planned for in advance, this will ensure the MACP is able to be re-supplied with medical supplies and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Also, being near to a medical treatment facility will help speed along the process of getting the SF600 signed by the attending physician in the event of an untimely death so the remains can be transported via MilAir to the CONUS Port Mortuary and for the ability to turn in bio-hazard waste.
4. Health and sanitation considerations should be factored into site selection. The MACP should not be located close to a dining facility. The MACP should also be upwind from the dining facility for obvious reasons. Running water and adequate drainage is mandatory for sanitation, hand washing, cleaning of equipment and transfer cases, and the production of ice to preserve remains. Soldiers handling remains require immediate access to shower and laundry facilities and special priorities should be made for Mortuary Affairs personnel.

13. Military Personnel Human Remains Flow
CONUS
Funeral
Home
Place of
Death
Hospital
Normal
Peacetime
Operations
Military
Mortuary
(Dover AFB)
OCONUS
Place of
Death **
MACP
TMEP
From a Theater of Operations
Listed are examples of each program in the Joint Mortuary Affairs Program.
Current Death:
Provides professional mortuary services and supplies incident to care and disposition of remains of persons who are eligible for these services by specific statute.
OCONUS – Military Mortuary Service (Korea and Germany along with Vicenza, Italy)
CONUS – Local Contract
Disposition of PE is part of this program. PE is shipped to the PERE.
Remains are shipped to a place designated by the PADD.
Operational worldwide during peacetime. It will continue outside areas of conflict during major military operations.
May continue in areas of conflict depending upon the logistical and tactical situation.
An example of this program; Beirut Bombing; USS Cole; Pentagon; Gander Crash
Graves Registration:
Examples of this program; Early Korean War; WWII, and WWI.
Provides for search, recovery, and evacuation of remains to a theater mortuary affairs activity or temporary burial site.
Temporary burial is performed only when authorized by the responsible GCC during major military operations.
Disposition of personal effects is not a part of this program. All other options exhausted
Concurrent Return:
Examples of this program are Late Korean War; Vietnam; Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom.
The Preferred Method during conflicts
Activated When:
Current Death Capabilities Exceeded
Conditions Do Not Require Temporary Interment
Provides for:
Search, Recovery, and Evacuation to Military Mortuary
Positive Identification by Armed Forces Medical Examiner’s Office (AFME)
Preparation as directed by PADD and Personal Effects Shipped to the PERE IAW New SCMO guidance
** Place of death may be either:
In the field or
at a Military Treatment Facility
** MACPs in Afghanistan act as a defacto TMEP, by requesting their own flight to Dover 13

14. Theater Movement Overview Theater Mortuary Evacuation Point (TMEP)
1. Units:
Evacuate HR
immediately and PE
when completed
to MACP.
2. Collection Points: MA Teams receive remains, Inventory associated PE on the HR, complete tentative identification and processing forms (time and situation permitting).
3. TMEP:
MA Personnel receive and prepare remains for evacuation to preparing mortuary. Personnel perform quality assurance.
4. Preparing Mortuary:
Complete processing to include: Positive Identification, autopsy, preparation, and transportation for funeral or burial.
PE sent to USAF airfield
for shipment to JPED.
UNITS MA
Collection Point
(MACP)
Theater Mortuary
Evacuation Point
(TMEP)
UNITS MA
Collection Point
(MACP)
Preparing Mortuary
(Dover) 14

15. Current Issues
Interceptor Body Armor (IBA) not being transported w/ remains
IOTV/OTV, E-SAPI, E-SBI, DAPs & ACH not arriving at MACP with all KIA
All OCIE will accompany PE to JPED except IBA (IBA stays with KIA remains)
Command emphasis required on maintaining a cadre of trained SCMOs
SCMO / IO checklist available on the Mortuary Affairs Center web site; (
Preservation of Human Remains
Evacuate remains the quickest way possible to the MACP
If possible, Refrigerate remains until evacuation (coordinate with unit 92Ms)
Departure-Ramp Ceremonies in AOR are unauthorized and can delay the movement of HR
Human remains are cared for by Mortuary Affairs personnel. Escorts from theater to Dover AFB are unauthorized
Ensure no one holds on to any PE for sentimental reasons or to personally deliver to Family
SCMO / IO must include: Appointment Orders, Memo of No Un-Exploded Ordnance (UXO), Certificate of Destruction, Memo of Delay, DD Form 1076, Custom waiver form, and Receipt Letter from MACP.
Based on the situation, the Operational Issues will vary according to the priority and the incidents.
Departure Ramp Ceremony Message
Originator: CENTCOM J4DTG: 230807Z Aug 04    Precedence: Routine    DAC: General Subject: OIF/OEF SUPPLEMENTAL GUIDANCE FOR MORTUARY AFFAIRS/CEREMONIES/TRANSPORTING REMAINS/FORENSICS INVESTIGATION
Unauthorized Escorts Message
DTG: 2/17/2006 4:19:00 PM
From: DOD, CENTCOM, ORGANIZATIONS, USCENTCOM CCJ4 (MC), USCENTCOM
CCJ4-O(MC)
Subject: USCENTCOM SOP ON MORTUARY ESCORT, SPECIAL ESCORT, UNIT AND COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE AUTHORITY

16. Leader Responsibilities
Know the status of your Soldiers!
When in a Military Treatment Facility –
Will they be Returned to Duty ?
If MEDEVAC’d, then Process Soldier’s PE!
MACP personnel will advise you!
Do NOT store Soldier PE in CONEXs
Immediately send individual Soldier PE to MACP
Use SCMO / Inventory Official checklist
Problem Areas
PE of Soldiers who are MEDEVAC’d for all battle related injuries And accidents will be routed through the nearest MACP.
PE for Non-injured MEDVAC’d soldiers should be routed through unit supply (e.g. Cancer, Dental , Pregnancy)

17. Points of Contact
The primary POC for PE Issues in CONUS is the Army Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Center (CMAOC), PE Section, DSN , COMM (703) , fax – 9058; address:
Website:
Additional POCs and SMEs for this subject include:
MAJ Candy Campbell, USF-I MA Officer, DSN: /SVOIP ,
NIPR:
MAJ Edwin Reyes, Theater MA Officer 1ST TSC, DSN: / Cell: ,
TMAO DSN: DSN /5656 / Cell: ,
MAJ Vonbartheld, 135th ESC MA OIC, RC-South & West, DSN: (2017),
SFC Lambertus, CJTF-82 MA NCOIC, RC-East & North, DSN: DSN Cell: 7811
1SG Robert Bryson, USARCENT G-4 TMAEA, DSN ,
LTC William Koehler, FORSCOM G-4, , DSN: ,
Mr. Gary Garlow, FORSCOM G-1, , DSN: ,

18. Remains Timeline (OIF/OEF) Theater of Operations
Home
Incident
Recover from incident site
Theater transportation to Dover AFB
via strategic airlift
Escort departs Dover AFB w/ remains
to receiving funeral home
Travel
1 Day
Recovery to Dover
2 days
Preparation and
arrange for shipment
3 Days
Identification
1/2 Day
Autopsy
1/2 Day
Disposition obtained from family
Remains prepared (embalmed)
Remains dressed /casketed
Escort launched to Dover
Remains arrive at Dover and
begin processing for ID
7 days = average
remains processing time