Directives, Instructions and Pamphlets

The following is a library of policy directives and instructions regarding mortuary affairs.

 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

DOD Policy Memorandum, Media Access to Dignified Transfers
Policy issued by Secretary of Defense governing media access to the dignified transfer of fallen service members at Dover Air Force Base.

Enhanced Honors for Deceased Service Members
This document includes the following: memo reaffirming OSD's commitment to fallen service member's families; memo on providing honors for deceased military members at final destination airports; operations directive for military escorts for human remains

DoD Instruction 1300.18, DoD Personnel Casualty Matters, Policies and Procedures
Establishes uniform personnel policies and procedures for reporting, recording, notifying, and assisting the next of kin whenever DoD casualties are sustained. Establishes the central DoD repository for casualty information and provides uniform official casualty terms and definitions. Establishes uniform guidelines for obtaining and maintaining emergency notification information.

DoD Directive 1300.22, Mortuary Affairs Policy
Establishes the Central Joint Mortuary Affairs Office as a permanent standing DoD board to develop recommendations for DoD mortuary affairs policy, procedures, mobilization planning, and mortuary services. Provides overarching policy for DoD's development of tactics, techniques, and procedures for mortuary affairs, including for joint operations.

Under Secretary of Defense Policy, Enhanced Honors for Deceased Service Members; Transportation Security Administration Operations Directive on Military Escorts for Human Remains 
Current TSA policy allows military members providing honors escorted access to the tarmac and secured storage area(s). Detail members will follow local TSA procedures for screening prior to admittance and will be escorted by a TSA or airline-badged person at all times.

Disposition of Remains Election Statement
This form records disposition of remains desired by the person authorized to direct disposition of remains.
 
Wounded, Ill, and/or Injured Compensation and Benefits Handbook. 
The purpose of this handbook is to provide Service members and their support networks with a reference guide to answer some of the most pressing questions that arise for wounded, ill, and/ or injured Service members.
 
Joint Publication 4-06, Mortuary Affairs in Joint Operations
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 the handling of personal effects of deceased and missing personnel.
 
Under Secretary of Defense Memorandum, DoD (internal) coverage of Dignified Transfers
Memorandum establishing policy guidance authorizing Department of Defense to provide internal coverage of dignified transfers at Dover AFB when primary next of kin has not authorized external media but wishes to receive a recording of their loved one's dignified transfer.

DD Form 1076, Record of Personal Effects of Believed to Be (BTB) Deceased
NOTE: Joint Personal effects Depot Personnel handles all personal effects retrieved at Dover AFB.
U.S. AIR FORCE
AFI 34-501, Mortuary Affairs Program
This instruction supersedes AFI 34-242 Mortuary Affairs Program. It provides guidance for remains disposition of Air Force and other eligible personnel, identification of remains, military funeral honors, guidance and procedures for search and recovery, government cemeteries and headstones, government mortuary facilities, procurement of supplies, contract mortuary services, case file maintenance, records administration and disposal and reimbursable supplies and services.
 
AFI 34-501, Chapter 13, Disposition of Personal Property and Effects
The Air Force collects, safeguards, and promptly disposes of property and effects belonging to deceased military personnel and other eligible individuals, which is located at a place under Air Force jurisdiction, or when there is no legal representative or surviving spouse present to act on behalf of the member.
 
Air Force Pamphlet 34-504, Escorting Deceased Air Force Military Personnel
This pamphlet provides instruction and guidance for military escorts of deceased active duty Air Force personnel.​ This pamphlet provides essential information and basic instruction and guidelines to help military personnel and other Air Force representatives perform required escort duties. Review the pamphlet thoroughly and keep it readily available for easy reference while performing escort duties. Air Force mortuary policy is contained in AFI 34-501, Mortuary Affairs Program.
 
Air Force Pamphlet 34-505, Mortuary Services Entitlements for Retired Air Force Members
This pamphlet is provided for the retiree to assist you in explaining to your next of kin the various mortuary entitlements you may be eligible for upon death. It also includes a mortuary planning sheet for items to be considered in making funeral arrangements.
 
This instruction providesfor the disposition of personal property and effects of deceased persons under Air Force jurisdiction.
 
AFI 34-1101, Warrior and Survivor Care
This publication prescribes the operational framework for the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program to include the Air Force Recovery Coordination Program and provides operational guidance for Recovery Care Coordinators and Non- Medical Care Managers.

Family Assistance Representative Toolkit
This checklist will assist you with your assignment as a Family Assistance Representative (FAR). This guide will not cover every possible situation that may arise, but should serve to cover the basics.
 
General Officer Presence at Dignified Transfers and Funerals
Memorandum from Gen. Norton Schwartz, U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff,announcing a general officer will attend all dignified transfers and funerals for fallen Airmen.

Media Ground Rules
Explains ground rules for media documenting a dignified transfer.

Base Honor Guard Information
Information for the Base Honor Guards is available on the AFMAO Honor Guard website. 

 

U.S. ARMY
Mortuary Affairs Operations, FM 4-20.64
This manual serves as a planning and operations guide for all personnel involved in mortuary affairs within a theater of operations.
 
This regulation prescribes policies and mandated tasks governing U.S. Army casualty operations, to include casualty reporting, casualty notification, and casualty assistance. It provides policy guidance and information to Casualty Assistance Centers and to Soldiers designated to perform the duties of a casualty notification officer or casualty assistance officer.
U.S. Navy

OPNAV Instruction 1770.1B, Casualty Assistance and Funeral Honors Support Program
Assigns responsibilities, establish business process ownership, and provide procedural guidance for the Casualty Assistance and Funeral Honors Support Programs

OPNAV Instruction 1770.2B, Flag Officer Support of Navy Honors for Combat, Combat-related, and Theater of Combat Casualties
Updates policy and responsibilities for flag officer support of Navy honors for combat, combat-related, and theater of combat casualties

SECNAV Instruction 5360.3, Human Remains Associated with Sunken Military Craft
Establishes policy for human remains associated with sunken military craft

U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND

USCENTCOM Mortuary Affairs Policy Awareness
This memorandum emphasizes USCENTCOM policy regarding human remains movement and use of escorts in the USCENTCOM Area of Responsibility.

USCENTCOM CCJ4-0-JMAO
This memorandum outlines the standard operating procedure for requesting formal approval to move civilian US and non-US human remains on US military aircraft.