Care and Disposition of Remains - Army Publishing Directorate ...

j. Heads of other organizations having specialized responsibilities for the care and disposition of remains or the
disposition of personal effects.
(1) The Central Joint Mortuary Affairs Office (CJMAO), during periods of prolonged military operations, will
provide mortuary affairs operational direction to all the Services, including the disposition of personal effects.
(2) A Joint Mortuary Affairs Office (JMAO) will be established in theaters of operation to provide control and
coordination of mortuary affairs support, including the disposition of personal effects.
(3) A PE depot may be established when the Concurrent Return Program is in operation to accomplish the
centralized disposition of personal effects of Army and Army-sponsored personnel.
Section II
Mortuary Affairs Program
1–5. Structure of the Mortuary Affairs Program
a. The Army Mortuary Affairs Program is divided into three distinct programs as listed below. (These programs are
further discussed in paras 1–7 through 1–9.)
(1) Current Death Program.
(2) Concurrent Return Program.
(3) Graves Registration Program.
b. These three programs may coexist.
1–6. Programs related to the Mortuary Affairs Program
Although the Casualty Notification, Casualty Assistance, Medical, Transportation, Legal Assistance, and Civil Defense
programs are not parts of the Army Mortuary Affairs Program, they are closely related to it.
1–7. Current Death Program
a. The Current Death Program provides professional mortuary services and supplies (see para 5–1) incident to care
and disposition of remains of persons who are eligible for these services by specific statute.
b. Disposition of personal effects is part of this program. The decedent’s PE are shipped to the PERE (see chap 17).
c. Under this program remains are shipped to a place designated by the PADD.
d. The program is operational worldwide during peacetime. It will continue outside areas of conflict during major
military operations.
e. The program also may continue in areas of conflict depending upon the logistical and tactical situation.
1–8. Concurrent Return Program
a. The Concurrent Return Program is a combination of the Current Death Program and the Graves Registration
Program. This program may be activated during emergencies or major military operations when conditions and
capabilities permit. This program—
(1) Begins with the initial phase of the Graves Registration Program, and provides for search, recovery, and
evacuation of remains.
(2) Ends with the Current Death Program, which provides for identification and preparation of remains in a
mortuary or central identification laboratory and shipment to destination, as directed by the PADD.
b. Disposition of personal effects is part of this program. The decedent’s personal effects are shipped to the PERE
(see chap 17).
c. The Concurrent Return Program may be phased into either the Current Death Program or the Graves Registration
Program, as the situation dictates.
d. Remains buried temporarily will be disinterred and evacuated under the Concurrent Return Program as conditions
and capabilities permit.
1–9. Graves Registration Program
The Graves Registration Program (see AR 638–30) provides for search, recovery, tentative identification, and evacuation
of remains to a theater mortuary affairs activity or temporary burial site. Temporary burial is performed only when
authorized by the responsible commander during major military operations. Disposition of personal effects is not a part
of this program.
1–10. Care of remains
a. Remains of personnel for which the Department of the Army (DA) is responsible will be cared for with utmost
respect in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.
b. Photographing of remains under jurisdiction of the Army is prohibited unless authorized for official use such as
criminal investigations, autopsy, and identification processing. Photographs taken for official use will not be used for
AR 638–2 22 December 2000
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