Marine Escorts in Support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom
This MARADMIN establishes procedures for escorting fallen Marines from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Marines from MCB Quantico and surrounding National Capitol Region units will serve as escorts from Dover Port Mortuary to the final place of disposition, ensuring all fallen Marines are handled with dignity and returned home in a professional and timely manner.
Issued: February 10, 2004
1. AS WE DEPLOY MARINES WORLDWIDE IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM AND OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, THE POTENTIAL FOR CASUALTIES WILL INCREASE. ANY OF OUR MARINES THAT MAKE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE WILL RETURN THROUGH THE DOVER PORT MORTUARY, DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, DE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MARADMIN IS TO DEFINE THE PROCEDURES BY WHICH ALL MARINES ARE ESCORTED HOME TO THEIR FINAL PLACE OF DISPOSITION. 2. NAVY AND MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL WILL BE ASSIGNED TO THE DOVER PORT MORTUARY THROUGHOUT THE UPCOMING DEPLOYMENTS. THEIR MISSION WILL ENSURE THAT NAVY AND MARINE PERSONNEL ARE HANDLED WITH DIGNITY AND HONOR AND THAT THEY ARE RETURNED HOME IN A PROFESSIONAL AND TIMELY MANNER. 3. PER THE REF, USCENTCOM HAS DIRECTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER WILL SERVE AS THE OFFICIAL ESCORT FROM THE CENTCOM AOR TO THE DOVER PORT MORTUARY. COMPONENT SERVICES ARE NOT AUTHORIZED ADDITIONAL ESCORTS FROM WITHIN THEATER. COMPONENT SERVICE ESCORTS WILL PROVIDE ESCORTS FROM THE DOVER PORT MORTUARY TO FINAL PLACE OF DISPOSITION. 4. THE NAVY PROVIDES FUNDING FOR ONE MARINE ESCORT. THE ESCORT WILL ACCOMPANY THE MARINE TO THE FINAL PLACE OF DISPOSITION. ONCE AT THE FINAL PLACE OF DISPOSITION, RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MARINE IS PASSED TO THE ASSIGNED CASUALTY ASSISTANCE CALLS OFFICER (CACO) AND SERVICING FUNERAL HOME. PRIOR TO PASSING RESPONSIBILITY, THE ESCORT AND CACO WILL INVENTORY ANY PERSONAL EFFECTS THAT MAY HAVE ACCOMPANIED THE MARINE. THE ESCORT SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH THE COMMAND REPRESENTATIVE WHO MAY BE SENT TO THE FUNERAL BY THE COMMAND, AT THE COMMAND'S EXPENSE. 5. THE DOVER PORT MORTUARY WILL REQUIRE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 2-17 DAYS TO COMPLETE THEIR MISSION. THIS TIMEFRAME IS DEPENDENT UPON MANY FACTORS AND THE TIMEFRAMES VARY GREATLY FROM CASE TO CASE. AS A RESULT, MCB QUANTICO WILL ASSIGN MARINES FROM MCB QUANTICO AND SURROUNDING UNITS IN THE NATIONAL CAPITOL REGION TO SERVE AS ESCORTS. QUANTICO'S PROXIMITY TO DOVER, TWO HOURS, WILL GREATLY ENHANCE OUR CAPABILITY TO RESPOND QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY. MCB QUANTICO WILL HAVE TRAINED ESCORTS PREPARED AND READY TO SUPPORT THE MISSION. 6. CMC (MRC) IS THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR ALL ISSUES RELATED TO SHIPMENT OF REMAINS. THE DOVER PORT MORTUARY IS NOT STAFFED TO HANDLE THE NUMEROUS CALLS FROM VARIOUS AGENCIES. ALL CALLS MADE TO THE DOVER PORT MORTUARY WILL BE PROMPTLY REFERRED TO THE APPROPRIATE SERVICE CASUALTY OFFICE FOR ACTION.