Mortuary Affairs Center

Mortuary Affairs Center
Unit name	Mortuary Affairs Center
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Role	Mortuary Affairs
Garrison	Fort Moore, Georgia

Mortuary Affairs Center. The Mortuary Affairs Center is the United States Department of the Army's proponent for all mortuary affairs activities within the United States Armed Forces. Located at Fort Moore in Georgia, it serves as the central manager for doctrine, training, and force development related to the dignified recovery, identification, and care of deceased personnel. The center ensures compliance with Department of Defense directives and provides critical support during both peacetime and contingency operations worldwide.

History

The lineage of modern United States Army mortuary affairs can be traced to efforts following the American Civil War and was formally organized during World War II. Significant evolution occurred after the Vietnam War, leading to the establishment of the U.S. Army Quartermaster School's Mortuary Affairs Division. The Gulf War and subsequent operations in Somalia and the Balkans highlighted the need for a dedicated proponent, culminating in the center's creation. Its relocation to Fort Lee (now Fort Gregg-Adams) and subsequent move to Fort Moore consolidated its role as the Department of Defense's lead for mortuary affairs policy and joint interoperability.

Mission and functions

The primary mission is to develop, integrate, and manage the Total Army's mortuary affairs program. Core functions include establishing doctrine through publications like ATP 4-46, managing the Department of Defense's personal effects program, and overseeing the graves registration process. The center provides technical advice to USCENTCOM, USEUCOM, and other combatant commands, and supports the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in personnel accounting. It also maintains liaison with the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System and the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Organization and structure

The center is a direct reporting unit under the United States Army Combined Arms Support Command and the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. Its internal structure typically includes divisions for doctrine and training, force development, and current operations. It exercises technical supervision over Active Component, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard mortuary affairs units, such as the 54th Quartermaster Company. The organization works in close coordination with the U.S. Army Quartermaster School and aligns its efforts with higher-level policies from the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4.

Facilities and operations

The center operates from dedicated facilities at Fort Moore, which include classrooms, a mortuary affairs laboratory, and simulation areas for field training. Its global operations involve deploying technical escort teams and supporting port mortuaries like the Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs at Dover Air Force Base. During contingencies, it establishes collection points and works with theater evacuation points to process remains through the Department of Defense's seamless mortuary evacuation system.

Training and personnel

The center conducts the Mortuary Affairs Specialist course (MOS 92M) and provides advanced training for NCOs and officers. Personnel are trained in forensic procedures, personal effects accountability, and operations in accordance with the Geneva Conventions. Training often involves collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Homeland Security agencies for mass fatality incident response. Instructors are typically seasoned veterans with experience from operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other GWOT theaters.

Related units and agencies

Key related military units include the 54th Quartermaker Company, the 111th Quartermaster Company, and the 246th Quartermaster Battalion. The center coordinates extensively with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, and the United States Navy's Mortuary Affairs branch. Other critical interagency partners are the Department of Veterans Affairs, the American Red Cross, and the Department of State, particularly during repatriation operations and responses to domestic incidents like Hurricane Katrina.

Category:United States Army Category:Military logistics of the United States Category:Fort Moore