“Garita Warriors” training in Joint Mortuary Affairs Exercise

Photo By Spc. Anthony Martinez | Soldiers assigned to the 597th Quartermaster Company prepare dinner for all soldiers in training during Joint Mortuary Affairs Exercise 2017 at Ft. Pickett, VA. August 22nd.  

FORT PICKETT, VA, UNITED STATES

08.22.2017

Story by Spc. Anthony Martinez 

1st Mission Support Command

Soldiers assigned to the 1st Mission Support Command participated in Joint Mortuary Affairs Exercise (JMAX) 2017. These “Garita Warriors” represented different units, the 311th Quartermaster Company from Aguadilla, 246th Quartermaster Company from Mayaguez and the 597th Quartermaster Company from Puerto Nuevo, all three units are based in Puerto Rico. Soldiers had the opportunity to train along with their counter parts from the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps, performing different missions out in the woods and mock villages across Fort Pickett, Virginia.

JMAX trains mortuary affairs collective tasks to include search and recovery missions, operating both Mortuary Affairs Collection Points, or MACP, and a Theater Mortuary Evacuation Point, also known as a TMEP.

Collecting simulated human remains, accounting for personal effects, processing paperwork, keeping a chain of custody through the MACP to the TMEP, and preparing the flag-draped transfer case for the return to the U.S. are just a few of the many steps to return America’s fallen heroes with dignity, reverence, and respect.

The 166th Regional Support Group was also part of JMAX 2017, in fact, they made sure all the Soldiers were receiving the proper training. The 166th RSG was in charge of planning all the scenarios and missions with the purpose of challenging all the Mortuary Affairs Specialists and prepare them for real life situations.

”JMAX intends to provide the U.S. Army Reserve a ready and resilient force for when they are needed,” said 1st Lt. Jose Santos Santos, the exercise planning officer for the 166th RSG. “This is one of the most dignified jobs in the Army, we are dealing with our fallen heroes, and we take our training very seriously.”

The 311th and 246th Mortuary Affairs units are the only two mortuary affairs units in the U.S. Army Reserve and are headquartered in Puerto Rico. These two units find themselves working together often and going back and forth to support missions and training requirements.

“This training helps us in a lot of ways,” said Spc. Raddy De Leon, mortuary affairs specialist, assigned to the 246th Quartermaster Company. “We get to train with the forms used in different cases and scenarios. The training walks us through the whole process, from search and recovery all the way to the shipping of our fallen heroes.”

Soldiers, like Spc. De Leon, are great mentors to others using their experience gained during deployments to guide others to succeed in JMAX and be ready for future deployments and missions as mortuary affairs specialists. Even though he is not a part of the 311th MA Company, De Leon is still able to mentor Soldiers like Pv2 Jeff Rojas and lead him to success.

“My unit and the 246th soldiers have been helpful to me,” said Rojas. “Since they have more experience, they know how to deal with these stressful situations. Every question I ask, they answer with honesty and provide examples. They are very good at their jobs and very good with mentorship.”

Mortuary affairs have the difficult task of recovering, processing and sending deceased hero’s home from the battlefield. Their mission is to ensure the remains, and personal possessions of these service members remain intact until the Families take possession. U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers consist of most of the mortuary affairs assets in the U.S. Army.

• Date Taken: 08.22.2017
• Date Posted: 08.28.2017 15:35
• Story ID: 246298
• Location: FORT PICKETT, VA, US