AR 638-2: ARMY MORTUARY AFFAIRS PROGRAM

AR 638-2 — index record

Number	AR 638-2
Title	ARMY MORTUARY AFFAIRS PROGRAM
Published	March 3, 2023
Latest change	Change 001, March 11, 2025
Office of primary responsibility	G-1
Issued by	Headquarters, Department of the Army
Status on the index	Active
Unit of issue	PDF P
Source index	Army Publishing Directorate
Index last read	October 20, 2026

Copied from Army Publishing Directorate (index). The publication itself is the authority; this page does not summarize or interpret it. Verify the current edition on the index before acting.

From the publication itself

Text below is lifted mechanically from the official PDF (73 pages, read October 20, 2026) with no editing or interpretation. Quote the document, not this page.

Purpose, in the publication’s words

This regulation prescribes Army policy and assigns responsibilities for operating the Army Mortuary Af- fairs Program worldwide; covers preparation, and disposition of remains (DOR) and assistance to eligible Family members of persons for whom the Army is responsible by statutes and executive orders; and sets policies and responsibilities for the disposition of personal effects (PE).

Summary of changes, as printed

Army Mortuary Affairs Program This administrative revision, dated 11 March 2025— • Updates history statement (title page). • Updates language per EO 14168 (para 2–22a). This mandated revision, dated 3 March 2023— • Defines criteria for government-funded travel to observe the dignified transfer of remains directed to Dover Port Mortuary by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner from an overseas location (para 9–5). • Provides for reimbursement for transportation of the remains to the second place when that second place is a national cemetery (para 9–12). • Provides for military escort and plane-side honor guard only for the first of the two places if two places are selected (para 9–12). • Adds a requirement for an unadorned hardwood flag case to be provided (paras 13–5, 13–6, and 13– 10). • Defines criteria for presentation of U.S. flag for Department of the Army Civilian deaths (para 13–10).

Chapter 1 Introductionp. 1
Chapter 2 Eligible Decedents and Scope of Mortuary Benefitsp. 9
Chapter 3 Disposition of Remainsp. 16
Chapter 4 Contracted Mortuary Servicesp. 20
Chapter 6 Reprocessing Remains at Port Mortuaries in the Continental United Statesp. 24
Chapter 7 Cremation and Urnsp. 26
Chapter 8 Group Remains and Group Interments for Current Deathsp. 27
Chapter 9 Transportation and Travelp. 28
Chapter 10 Escortsp. 31
Chapter 11 Interment and Interment Allowancesp. 33
Chapter 12 Non-Recovered Remainsp. 35
Chapter 13 Interment Flag and United States Flagp. 36
Chapter 14 U.S. Government Headstones, Markers, and Medallionsp. 37
Chapter 15 Personal Effectsp. 38
Chapter 16 Summary Courts-Martial Officerp. 39
Chapter 17 Person Eligible to Receive Effectsp. 41
Chapter 18 Care and Disposition of Personal Effectsp. 43
Chapter 20 Past Conflicts and Repatriationp. 48

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AR 638-2

AR 638-2 — index record

From the publication itself

Purpose, in the publication’s words

Summary of changes, as printed

Contents

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