CENTAF ENGINEERING AND SERVICES PERSONAL HISTORY

File: 110196_aacoz_10.txt
Page: 10
Total Pages: 29
 to CONUS, should we exhaust our supply to transfer cases. While
 the Air Force position was to rely on milvans as a last resort,  the
 Army wanted a higher priority in bringing approximately 100 milvans
to the AOR.  Hq AFESC/SC also finished developing the mortuary mass
 fatality software program. Working with the communications
 squadrons, we were able to complete a data-link transfer directly
 with the Dover port mortuary. The capability now exists should we
 need to pass a large amount of remains information to Dover.
 
 g. When hostilities started, the mortuary staff found itself
 handling the first two deceased enemy remains. After two days in
 our storage facility, we were able to transfer the remains to the
 Saudi MODA hospital. Following this, the Saudis quickly developed
 internal procedures for accepting remains direct from the
 battlefield. The Saudis also formed their own GRREG units and
 deployed them among forward units.  The staff also handled the
 processing of 11 USMC remains as a result of the first ground
 offensive with the Iraqi army.  These, and other search and
 recovery operations were handled in a truly professional manner.
 By January, the purpose and capabilities of the Dhahran mortuary
 operation were well-known by the field units. This was especially
 important as we prepared for the worst case scenario of a ground
 offensive.
 

h. Ration support to the sites remained strong.  Sealift of
 B-rations and MRE's  continued to arrive,  while we kept the
 requisitions flowing to CONUS.  Of special note,  was an initiative
 to secure an alternate warehouse at Seeb,  Oman.  Should the Ad
 Damman port facility, our central distribution center (CDC) come
 under attack, the availability of ration support might be
 interrupted.  During early February our first eight 40' van made
 their way to Oman.  By  4  February 91, our days of sustainability
 were: 47 for B-rations,. 38 for MRE's.
 
 I. In late January, procurement of the New Generation Mobile
 Kitchen (NGMK) neared completion. Due to decreased feeding needs
 at the A1 Kharj WSA, we made a decision to deploy and test the NGMK
 system at Riyadh instead.  We also agreed to accept a Test Manager
 to work with the cooks in the initial set-up and operational
 testing of the NGMK.  We expect the system in late March 91.
  LIMITING FACTORS:
  A. Mortuary Affairs Personal Effects (PE) Processing. CJAMO
 Policy #4 regarding PE handling requires the APOE's to receipt,
 store and move follow-on personal effects of deceased members to
 Dover AFB, DE.  Handling the PE's by this policy duplicates and
 hinders the rapid movement of PE to the next of kin (NOK). It also
 burdens the APOE. The US Navy and USMC want to continue their
 normal method of returning PE to the NOK. The AF also wants to
 ship PE directly from the deceased deployed location to the
 member's home station. Only the Army was out of step.
 Unfortunately, the Army influence prevailed. After Desert Storm,
 The policy of handling PE should be reviewed.