102 Mortuary Operations Flashcards
102.1 Discuss the following: a. Mortuary Affairs Collection Point
JP 4-06 IV.3. a. The MACP is the basic unit for MA support. MACPs should be located throughout the operational area. These MACPs provide receiving, refrigeration, processing, tentative ID, and evacuation of human remains and their accompanying PE. MACPs are mobile, enabling them to support combat maneuver elements, but can remain fixed to support a general area. MACPs designed to support a given area or major commands are located at large logistic bases. These points might be task-organized with increased receiving, processing, refrigeration, and evacuation capacities to serve as a transit or intermediate point for MACPs providing support to forward elements.
102.1 Discuss the following: b. Theater Mortuary Evacuation Point
JP 4-06 IV.4. TMEP primary mission is the evacuating human remains and accompanying PE to a military mortuary. The TMEP receives human remains and accompanying PE from any theater location; prepares human remains for evacuation and/or hold and refrigerate human remains until transportation out of the theater can be arranged; coordinate for aircraft and initiate all required shipping and special handling documents; loads, palletizes, and ties down transfer cases and pallets for movement by Air Mobility Command assets.
The TMEP should be adjacent to a major APOE. This arrangement will capitalize on all available aircraft and corresponding logistic support. Additional TMEPs may be established at other APOEs throughout the theater based on the size of the theater and the projected number of human remains and the availability of aircraft to evacuate them. The TMEP can operate a PE transfer point.
Transfer cases may be palletized to utilize limited airlift support for transport. If transfer cases are palletized, then draping the transfer case with the US flag is not authorized. The transfer case will be prepared for dignified transfer upon its arrival in the US prior to being transferred to the port mortuary. Transfer cases can be palletized up to 12 per pallet but must not be stacked more than four high.
102.1 Discuss the following: c. Port Mortuary
JP 4-06 VI.2. The port mortuary’s mission is to fulfill the US commitment of ensuring dignity, honor, and respect to our fallen and provide care, service, and support to their families. The port mortuary is where the AFME’s office often determines cause and manner of death and obtains positive ID of deceased personnel. The port mortuary is manned and equipped to provide for or coordinate the full spectrum of mortuary services including embalming, cosmetics, anatomical restoration, dressing, casketing, and shipping operations. Dover AFB is the only current Port Mortuary; however if necessary additional Port Mortuaries can be established based upon the recommendation of the CJMAB.
Mobile Integrated Remains Collection System (MIRCS) has the capability to store 15 remains in individual refrigeration units and may be used to support this requirement. Army MA companies have MIRCS as part of their authorized equipment.
102.2 Explain the Mortuary Evacuation Air Routes and movement process.
JP 4-06 IV.4. Air evacuation is arranged by the TMEP to the Port Mortuary. A major function of the LRC Mortuary Affairs Officer is to track the status of human remains as they move thought the transportation system. The unit, with assistance from the LRC movement control/Transportation Officer, is responsible for arranging the movement of the remains from the causality location to the MACP. The movement from the MACP to the TMEP is done via Scheduled Tactical Air Resupply (STAR) Route or channel flight. These flights are usually controlled by CCDR’s Deployment Distribution Operations Centers (DDOC). Flights from the TMEP to the Port Mortuary are most often channel flights.
102.3 Discuss the procedures for the following: a. Handling Adversary and Local National Human Remains
JP 4-06 IV.4.f. The TMEP will coordinate with the TMAO for the return of adversary and local national human remains and PE to the HN government. Enemy combatants and local national human remains will be processed with the same care and respect afforded US or partner nation human remains. Adversary and local national human remains will be stored in separate refrigerated units from those used for US or partner nation human remains. Utilization of international agencies for the coordination of HN/local national human remains repatriation into local control is encouraged (i.e., Red Crescent/International Red Cross).
USPACOMINST 0237.1 9.a.(3). Host country forces are responsible for disposition of remains of enemy personnel killed in their possession. Remains of enemy personnel killed by U.S. forces will be recovered and evacuated by U.S. forces through U.S. forces Mortuary Affairs channels for turnover to representatives of the host country government for disposition in accordance with international law. Unless the host country is unable or unwilling to accept enemy remains, U.S. forces will transfer enemy remains to host country personnel. U.S. forces should anticipate requests from the host country government for U.S. forces to effect disposition of enemy dead, or to provide logistical support to the host country for disposition of enemy dead. Enemy dead that cannot be transferred from U.S. forces custody will be interred in temporary interment sites. It is preferred that separate temporary interment sites be used for enemy deceased and U.S. and allied dead. If separate sites are not feasible, at a minimum enemy dead shall be interred in separate rows from U.S. and allied dead.
102.3 Discuss the procedures for the following: b. Handling of Contractor Human Remains and interaction with OCS
USPACOMINST 0237.1 9.a.(5). (a) Whenever possible, mortuary affairs support for military dependents or U.S. civilians and dependents accompanying or employed by U.S. forces, will be performed in a manner similar to that provided for U.S. military personnel. U.S. forces may provide assistance to dispose of host country civilian deceased who come into the possession or under control of U.S. forces. Every effort will be made to transfer custody of these deceased to local representatives
JP 4-10 V.5.g.(5). The specific nature and extent of the support is determined during the planning process and communicated to military forces and contractors through governing OPLANs/OPORDs and contractual documents.
102.3 Discuss the procedures for the following: c. Handling of Multinational Partner Human Remains
JP 4-06 IV.4.g. Handling of multinational partner human remains will be in accordance with established international agreements. If no standing agreements or policies are in place, then current US policy and procedures for handling US human remains is in effect. Multinational partner human remains will be accorded the same care and respect given to US human remains. The TMEP will coordinate through the TMAO and embassies for the repatriation of these human remains to the country of origin.
102.3 Discuss the procedures for the following: d. Handling of Detainee Human Remains
JP 4-06 IV.4.h. The US commander of the facility or US unit exercising custody over the human remains shall report the death to the responsible investigative agency and TMAO. The TMAO and investigative agency will contact the AFME to determine whether an autopsy will be performed. The investigative agency representative will accompany the detainee remains to the nearest MACP for transport and evacuation in accordance with GCC policies and procedures. Detainee human remains will not be processed by MA personnel. The detainee remains will be placed in the HRP with minimal handling, and the HRP will be sealed and prepared for shipment.
102.4 Discuss the Mission of the following: a. Port Mortuary
JP 4-06 VI.2 The port mortuary’s mission is to ensure dignity, honor, and respect to our fallen and provide care, service, and support to their families. The port mortuary is where the AFME’s office often determines cause of death and obtains positive ID of deceased personnel. The AFME determines which remains must be evacuated to the port mortuary, such as is often the case for deaths resulting from current operations, suspicious deaths, and homicides.
The Air Force established and maintains the port mortuary at Dover AFB. In accordance with DOD MA policy, the Secretary of the Air Force can also be tasked by DOD to establish additional port-of-entry mortuaries in support of all the Services.
JP 4-06 I.5.j Port-of-Entry Mortuary Facility. The Air Force Mortuary at Dover AFB, Delaware, is the designated port-of-entry mortuary facility. It handles most human remains from OCONUS to include wartime fatalities. Human remains are embalmed (as required), dressed, casketed, and prepared for shipment. Coordination is made with the Services to arrange for the disposition of the human remains as directed by the PADD. During military operations or mass casualty/fatality incidents (MC/FIs), the Air Force Mortuary at Dover AFB can be tasked to provide mortuary services to include autopsy, medical examination, positive ID, embalming, cremation, dressing, casketing, and preparation and shipment for final disposition.
102.4 Discuss the Mission of the following: b. Department of Defense Regional Mortuaries
JP 4-06 VI.3 Regional mortuaries are strategically placed to support overseas operations and provide mortuary services for a geographical region. Mortuary services include embalming, contracting for cremation, casketing, and shipment of remains to worldwide destinations for final disposition. Overseas mortuaries maintain uniforms and supplies and provide commands the ability to dress, casket, and ship human remains from overseas mortuaries on commercial or military flights to receiving funeral homes or to the Air Force Mortuary at Dover AFB as requested by the supporting Service or the PADD. When staffed with a regional medical examiner falling under the AFME or augmented by the AFMES, a regional mortuary will provide positive ID of all deceased personnel. Assigned mortuary officers and MA specialists provide invaluable tools to the overseas commands as a forward presence in support of mortuary operations in the AOR. The US Navy will transport deceased personnel from a ship to the closest regional mortuary or port mortuary for processing and disposition.
102.4 Discuss the Mission of the following: c. Installation Mortuary Support
JP 4-06 VI.4 In the US, installation establish contracts for mortuary services. Installations with concurrent jurisdiction with other state or local governments should establish formal agreements with the local ME/C in order to facilitate mortuary operations. These agreements are of paramount importance and should be considered the foundation of any MA effort. All agreements must be undertaken in consultation with the Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner (OAFME). The largest part of the MA burden will be handled at the local level. Under concurrent or proprietary jurisdiction, where the local ME/C retains jurisdiction, the local ME/C retains all decision-making authority when managing mass fatalities and signs all death certificates for the cause and manner of death.
102.5 Discuss the Roles and Responsibilities of the following with regards to Personal Effects: a. Geographic Combatant Commander
JP 4-06 V.3.a The Geographic Combatant Commander (GCC) is responsible for the control and coordination of MA support. This includes PE support for all US military personnel. When arrangements are made to transfer PE to the host country or a friendly nation, commanders will maintain accountability records and provide information for all adversary or multinational partner deceased for which they have responsibility.
102.5 Discuss the Roles and Responsibilities of the following with regards to Personal Effects: b. Theater Mortuary Affairs Officer
JP 4-06 V.3.b The Theater Mortuary Affairs Officer (TMAO) is responsible for determining the theater process for handling and evacuation of PE. The theater MA officer will determine if and when a theater personal effects depot (TPED) will be established, and will provide guidance on the flow of PE. The TMAO will coordinate to ensure a smooth flow of PE to a CONUS PE depot.
102.5 Discuss the Roles and Responsibilities of the following with regards to Personal Effects: c. Mortuary Affairs Collection Point
JP 4-06 V.3.c The Mortuary Affairs Collection Point Responsibilities (MACP) is responsible for inventorying, recording, safeguarding, and evacuating all PE. MACP personnel will advise unit personnel on correct handling procedures for inventorying, recording, safeguarding, packaging, and evacuating PE for members of their unit. When required, the MACP will assist the unit in evacuating PE to the theater mortuary evacuation point/TPED or CONUS PE depot as appropriate.
102.5 Discuss the Roles and Responsibilities of the following with regards to Personal Effects: d. Deployed Unit
JP 4-06 V.3.d Each deployed unit is responsible to appoint a personal effects inventory officer (PEIO). The unit is responsible for the collection, inventory, safeguarding, packaging, and evacuation of PE for the unit member. The unit commander is responsible for ensuring inventory officer duties are completed. The unit appointed inventory officer in theater will not contact or ship PE directly to the family.
