September 26, 2025
Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress Supports DOD Mortuary Affairs Units
An HJF team from the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress met with members of the Joint Mortuary Affairs Center in August to consult on recent activities in the Mortuary Affairs/Fatality Management community. The team included Dr. Quinn Biggs, Dr. Lucian Tatsa-Laur, Ms. Rehana Naik Olson, and Ms. Tanya Yahouedeou.
The Joint Mortuary Affairs Center is responsible for training U.S. Army and Marine Corps personnel to perform a wide range of related duties. These duties include the operation of human remains collection points, search for and recover of fallen personnel, tentative identification and documentation, and evacuation of remains and personal effects from the theater of war for expeditious return to the family.
Prior research has shown that exposure to human remains has been associated with increased risk for psychological distress and psychiatric disorders. The meeting focused on preparations for large-scale combat operations, identification of personnel in need of behavioral health support, and trainings to increase resilience in exposures to human remains.
Discussions on training addressed the new and existing and methods used in the Joint Mortuary Affairs Center’s advanced individual training course. In addition, new training programs such Unit Recovery Team training and Fostering Resilience and Managing Emotions, which were developed for military personnel who may be required to handle human remains but are not specially trained for these duties, were also discussed.