Department of Defense
DIRECTIVE
NUMBER 1300.22
October 30, 2015
USD(P&R)
SUBJECT: Mortuary Affairs Policy
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. This directive:
a. Reissues DoD Directive (DoDD) 1300.22E (Reference (a)) to establish policy and assign
responsibilities for DoD mortuary affairs.
b. Cancels the Secretary of the Army designation as the DoD Executive Agent for the
Contingency Fatality Operations portion of Mortuary Affairs, in accordance with the criteria
established for designation of an Executive Agent in DoDD 5101.1 (Reference (b)).
c. Establishes the Central Joint Mortuary Affairs Board (CJMAB) as a permanent standing
DoD board to develop recommendations for DoD mortuary affairs policy, procedures,
mobilization planning, and mortuary services.
d. Provides overarching policy for DoD’s development of tactics, techniques, and
procedures for mortuary affairs, including for joint operations.
2. APPLICABILITY. This directive applies to OSD, the Military Departments (including the
Coast Guard at all times, including when it is a Service in the Department of Homeland Security
by agreement with that Department), the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
(CJCS) and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the
Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other
organizational entities within the DoD (referred to collectively in this directive as the
“DoD Components”).
3. POLICY. It is DoD policy that:
a. The remains of deceased DoD-affiliated or -covered persons, consistent with applicable
laws and regulations, who die in military operations, training accidents, or other DoD-related
fatality incidents will be recovered, identified, and returned to their families as expeditiously as
