Joint Publication 4-06 Mortuary Affairs 12 October 2011 Intentionally Blank PREFACE 1. Scope This publication provides joint doctrine for mortuary affairs support in joint operations. It outlines procedures for the search, recovery, evacuation (to include tracking of human remains), tentative identification, processing, and/or temporary interment of remains. This publication addresses both the Department of Defense’s mortuary affairs responsibilities in regards to civil support duties under United States Northern Command and to the other geographic combatant commanders. It further addresses decontamination procedures for handling contaminated human remains and provides for the handling of personal effects of deceased and missing personnel. 2. Purpose This publication has been prepared under the direction of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It sets forth joint doctrine to govern the activities and performance of the Armed Forces of the United States in joint operations and provides the doctrinal basis for interagency coordination and for US military involvement in multinational operations. It provides military guidance for the exercise of authority by combatant commanders and other joint force commanders (JFCs) and prescribes joint doctrine for operations, education, and training. It provides military guidance for use by the Armed Forces in preparing their appropriate plans. It is not the intent of this publication to restrict the authority of the JFC from organizing the force and executing the mission in a manner the JFC deems most appropriate to ensure unity of effort in the accomplishment of the overall objective. 3. Application a. Joint doctrine established in this publication applies to the Joint Staff, commanders of combatant commands, subunified commands, joint task forces, subordinate components of these commands, and the Services. b. The guidance in this publication is authoritative; as such, this doctrine will be followed except when, in the judgment of the commander, exceptional circumstances dictate otherwise. If conflicts arise between the contents of this publication and the contents of Service publications, this publication will take precedence unless the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, normally in coordination with the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has provided more current and specific guidance. Commanders of forces operating as part of a multinational (alliance or coalition) military command should follow multinational doctrine and procedures ratified by the United States. For doctrine and procedures not ratified by the i Preface United States, commanders should evaluate and follow the multinational command’s doctrine and procedures, where applicable and consistent with US law, regulations, and doctrine. For the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: WILLIAM E. GORTNEY VADM, USN Director, Joint Staff ii JP 4-06 SUMMARY OF CHANGES REVISION OF JOINT PUBLICATION 4-06 DATED 05 JUNE 2006 • Changes the publication title from Mortuary Affairs in Joint Operations to Mortuary Affairs. • Expands on the role of mortuary affairs support for homeland defense and civil support operations and changes the chapter title from Mortuary Affairs Support in the United States to Homeland Defense and Defense Support of Civil Authorities. • Removes the tactics, techniques, and procedures for decontamination of human remains and personal effects. • Adds a chapter on Mortuary Operations. • Removes chapter on Procedures for the Search and Recovery of Human Remains and placed the information in appropriate chapter locations. • Removes chapter on Evacuation and Tentative Identification of Human Remains and placed the information in appropriate chapter locations. • Adds a chapter on Mortuary Affairs Battlefield Operations. • Replaces the term decontamination with contamination mitigation. • Changes the name of the mortuary affairs decontamination collection point to mortuary affairs contaminated remains mitigation site. • Removes appendix on International Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding. • Removes appendix on Common Forms Used in Mortuary Affairs and placed the forms in the appropriate chapter locations. • Adds appendix on Transportation of Contaminated Remains. • Adds appendix on Mortuary Affairs Assets and Capabilities. • Adds appendix on Foreign Humanitarian Assistance. iii Summary of Changes • Provides additional guidance on the recovery, handling, processing, and evacuation of portions to reflect current Armed Forces Medical Examiner guidance and Department of Defense (DOD) policy. • Provides additional guidance on the recovery, handling, processing, and evacuation of US contractor remains to reflect current DOD policy. • Provides updated guidance on the joint personal effects depot and its procedures and operations. • Provides guidance on inventory officer responsibilities for the collection, inventory, and shipment of personal effects. iv JP 4-06 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................... ix CHAPTER I MORTUARY AFFAIRS PROGRAM Introduction ................................................................................................................ I-1 Mortuary Affairs Policy ............................................................................................. I-2 Joint Mortuary Affairs Program ................................................................................ I-3 Military Mortuary Affairs Support ............................................................................ I-4 Roles and Responsibilities ......................................................................................... I-5 CHAPTER II MORTUARY AFFAIRS SUPPORT IN A THEATER OF OPERATIONS Joint Mortuary Affairs Office ...................................................................................II-1 Operational Mortuary Affairs Support .....................................................................II-3 Command and Control of Army Mortuary Affairs Assets .......................................II-4 Temporary Storage, Interment, and Disinterment Operations ..................................II-5 Mortuary Affairs Support to Non-United States Personnel ......................................II-8 Strategic Implications of Mortuary Affairs Interaction with the Death of Non-United States Civilians and Noncombatants .....................................II-9 Mass Casualty/Fatality Incident Considerations ......................................................II-9 Legal Considerations ..............................................................................................II-10 Special Considerations ............................................................................................II-11 CHAPTER III MORTUARY AFFAIRS PLANNING Introduction ............................................................................................................. III-1 Planning Guidance .................................................................................................. III-1 Planning Considerations ......................................................................................... III-2 Religious Considerations ........................................................................................ III-6 Mortuary Affairs Facilities ..................................................................................... III-6 Environmental, Safety, and Occupational Health Considerations .......................... III-6 Communications and Interoperability .................................................................... III-8 Public Affairs .......................................................................................................... III-9 Training ................................................................................................................... III-9 CHAPTER IV MORTUARY AFFAIRS BATTLEFIELD OPERATIONS Unit-Level Operations ............................................................................................ IV-1 Search and Recovery of Human Remains .............................................................. IV-1 v Table of Contents Mortuary Affairs Collection Point Operations ..................................................... IV-18 Theater Mortuary Evacuation Point Operations ................................................... IV-37 CHAPTER V PERSONAL EFFECTS Introduction .............................................................................................................. V-1 General Guidance .................................................................................................... V-1 Roles and Responsibilities ....................................................................................... V-1 Unit Tasks ................................................................................................................ V-3 Personal Effects in a Theater of Operations ............................................................ V-4 Theater Personal Effects Depot Operations ............................................................. V-5 Joint Personal Effects Depot Operations in the Continental United States ........... V-11 CHAPTER VI MORTUARY OPERATIONS Overview ................................................................................................................. VI-1 Port Mortuary .........................................................................................................