Division of Operations
Medical - Legal Investigations Mission:
Functioning under the authority granted by U.S. Code Title 10, Section 1471, the Armed Forces Medical Examiners Systems (AFMES) is the central medical examiner system for the Department of Defense. We are a tri-service organization subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs). Working closely with the investigative arms of each of the branches of Service (CID, NCIS, and OSI), forensic investigation of crime scenes can be conducted upon request. The AFMES also has memorandums of understanding with other federal and civilian agencies. Operational deployment can be accomplished worldwide in 12-48 hours, depending on location. Board certified forensic pathologists, board certified forensic investigators and highly trained forensic photographers are the personnel of the Division of Operations. Equipment is on hand and available for recovery efforts in any environmental conditions. Forensic pathologists, photographers and investigators deploy as a team to provide a complete, multi-faceted forensic investigation for most missions. Positive identification of an individual is made in nearly 100% of cases investigated. Where indicated, a forensic odontologist augments the deploying team to provide dental identification of deceased individuals.
Special Operations (Anthropology) Mission:
Board certified forensic anthropologists are an integral part of the Division of Operations. They provide expert consultation when remains are decomposed or skeletonized, as well as re-associating fragmented remains. Post-mortem interval estimates are made also.
Aerospace Pathology and Air Mishap Investigations Mission:
The Armed Forces Medical Examiner System is the acknowledged expert in the area of military aircraft mishaps. A team consisting of a forensic pathologist, investigator, dentist and photographer can deploy to the mishap site and assist the local authorities with recovery, identification, re-association and return of remains to the families of the dead.
