https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN44180-ALARACT_0712025-000-WEB-1.pdf
ALARACT 071/2025
DTG: R 031914Z JUL 2025
UNCLAS
SUBJ/ALARACT 071/2025 – PROCESSING OF PERSONAL EFFECTS BY THE JOINT
PERSONAL EFFECTS DEPOT
THIS ALARACT MESSAGE HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED BY JSP ON BEHALF OF
HQDA, DCS, G–1
1. (U) REFERENCES:
1.A. (U) DODD 1300.22, MORTUARY AFFAIRS POLICY (AVAILABLE AT
HTTPS://WWW.ESD.WHS.MIL/)
1.B. (U) DODI 1300.29, MORTUARY AFFAIRS PROGRAM (AVAILABLE AT
HTTPS://WWW.ESD.WHS.MIL/)
1.C. (U) DODI 5505.03, INITIATION OF INVESTIGATIONS BY DEFENSE CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATIVE ORGANIZATIONS (AVAILABLE AT HTTPS://WWW.ESD.WHS.MIL/)
1.D. (U) DODM 5200.01, VOLUME 3, DOD INFORMATION SECURITY PROGRAM:
PROTECTION OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION (AVAILABLE AT
HTTPS://WWW.ESD.WHS.MIL/)
1.E. (U) JOINT PUBLICATION 3–12, JOINT CYBERSPACE OPERATIONS
(AVAILABLE AT HTTPS://WWW.JCS.MIL/DOCTRINE/)
1.F. (U) AR 190–45, LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTING
1.G. (U) AR 195–2, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION ACTIVITIES
1.H. (U) AR 380–5, ARMY INFORMATION SECURITY PROGRAM
1.I. (U) AR 638–2, ARMY MORTUARY AFFAIRS PROGRAM
1.J. (U) ARMY DIRECTIVE 2023–13, PROCESSING OF PERSONAL EFFECTS BY
THE JOINT PERSONAL EFFECTS DEPOT, 7 JULY 2023
2. (U) PURPOSE: TO OUTLINE POLICY CHANGES AND CORRESPONDING
PROCEDURAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE JOINT PERSONAL EFFECTS DEPOT
(JPED) FOR THE SCREENING OF PERSONAL EFFECTS (PE) OF DECEASED
SERVICEMEMBERS.
3. (U) APPLICABILITY: THIS APPLIES TO THE REGULAR ARMY, ARMY NATIONAL
GUARD/ARMY NATIONAL GUARD OF THE UNITED STATES, AND U.S. ARMY
RESERVE AND PERSONNEL WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESSING OF PE
THROUGH THE JPED. APPLICABLE COORDINATION WILL BE EFFECTED VIA
SERVICE CASUALTY OFFICES SINCE PROCEDURES WILL APPLY TO ALL PE OF
DECEDENTS PROCESSING THROUGH THE JPED AS OUTLINED HEREIN.
4. (U) EFFECTIVE DATE: THE POLICY IS EFFECTIVE RETROACTIVE TO THE
DATE OF REFERENCE 1.J. (7 JULY 2023).
5. (U) POLICY:
5.A. (U) THE JPED WILL SCREEN THE PE OF DECEDENTS RETURNING
THROUGH MORTUARY AFFAIRS CHANNELS FROM A THEATER OF OPERATIONS
OR A SPECIFIED NAMED OPERATION. SCREENING IS DEFINED AS A REVIEW OF
THE DECEDENT'S PE, INCLUDING DATA RESIDING ON PERSONAL ELECTRONIC
DEVICES (PEDS), TO DETERMINE WHETHER U.S. GOVERNMENT OR MILITARY-
OWNED INFORMATION (CLASSIFIED, CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED
INFORMATION (CUI), OR OPERATIONAL SECURITY (OPSEC) MATERIAL) IS
PRESENT.
5.B. (U) THE JPED WILL NOT SCREEN THE PE OF LIVING PERSONNEL
DEPARTING THE OPERATIONAL AREA OF THEATER (SUCH AS MEDICALLY
EVACUATED PERSONNEL OR PERSONNEL RETURNING TO STATION OF
ASSIGNMENT AT THE END OF DEPLOYMENT) OR PERSONNEL WITH DUTY
STATUS CATEGORIZED AS WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN OR MISSING. THE JPED
WILL ALSO NOT SCREEN PEDS OF CURRENT DAY DECEDENTS DIRECTED TO
DOVER BY THE ARMED FORCES MEDICAL EXAMINER SYSTEM FOR AUTOPSY
PURPOSES. A CURRENT DAY DECEDENT IS A DECEDENT WHO IS NOT
RETURNING FROM A THEATER OF OPERATIONS OR A SPECIFIED NAMED
OPERATION THROUGH MORTUARY AFFAIRS CHANNELS.
5.C. (U) THE JPED WILL MAKE REASONABLE ATTEMPTS TO BYPASS
ENCRYPTION ON PEDS USING JPED OPERATED FORENSIC SOFTWARE AND
HARDWARE. IF ENCRYPTION CANNOT BE BYPASSED, THE SUMMARY COURT-
MARTIAL OFFICER (SCMO) WILL CONDUCT A HOLISTIC RISK ASSESSMENT ON
THE ENTIRETY OF THE CASE. IF THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY AND HIGH RISK
OF CLASSIFIED, CUI, OPSEC, PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION (PII),
OR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION (PHI) (OTHER THAN THE DECEDENT’S)
TO BE ON THE DEVICE, THE SCMO MAY REQUEST SUPPORT FROM AN
EXTERNAL AGENCY TO ATTEMPT TO BYPASS THE ENCRYPTION. IF THE
DEVICE IS DAMAGED TO A POINT THAT DATA IS INACCESSIBLE OR
ENCRYPTION CANNOT BE BYPASSED THROUGH AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGICAL
CAPABILITIES AND SOFTWARE, JPED WILL TRANSFER THE UNSCREENED
DEVICES TO THE PERSON ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE EFFECTS (PERE) IN
ACCORDANCE WITH REFERENCE 1.I.
5.D. (U) THE JPED WILL LIMIT SCREENING ACTIVITIES TO WHAT IS PHYSICALLY
ON A PED AND WILL NOT SCREEN CLOUD OR EQUIVALENT INTERNET-BASED
SERVER SYSTEMS. IF THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT SUGGESTS THE
SERVICEMEMBER SAVED CLASSIFIED MATERIAL TO THE CLOUD, JPED WILL
CONTACT THE APPROPRIATE INVESTIGATING AGENCY.
5.E. (U) IF THE JPED DISCOVERS CONTENT THAT MAY POTENTIALLY CAUSE
ADDED SORROW TO THE PERE ON PEDS, IT WILL NOT REMOVE THE CONTENT.
JPED WILL COORDINATE WITH THE CASUALTY OFFICE OR CASE MANAGER TO
ENSURE THAT THE CASUALTY ASSISTANCE OFFICER OR CASUALTY
ASSISTANCE CALL OFFICER DISCUSSES THE NATURE OF THE CONTENT WITH
THE PERE TO DETERMINE PREFERENCES. THE PERE WILL DECIDE WHETHER
JPED IS AUTHORIZED TO DESTROY THE CONTENT OR WILL SHIP THE
CONTENT WITH THE PE. IF THE PERE WISHES TO RECEIVE THE CONTENT, IT
WILL BE SEALED AND WILL INCLUDE A WARNING LABEL INDICATING THE
PRESENCE OF SENSITIVE OR POTENTIALLY UPSETTING INFORMATION. JPED
WILL ASSESS POTENTIALLY HARMFUL INFORMATION BASED ON AN
ASSESSMENT OF THE TOTALITY OF THE CASE.
5.F. (U) IF THE JPED DISCOVERS PROHIBITED OR POTENTIALLY CRIMINAL
MATERIAL WITHIN A DECEDENT'S PE, INCLUDING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION,
CUI (SUCH AS EXTERNAL PII OR PHI), OR OPSEC WHILE SCREENING, IT WILL
FOLLOW THE DISPOSITION GUIDELINES OUTLINED IN PARAGRAPH 5.G.
5.G. (U) CLASSIFIED INFORMATION:
5.G.1. (U) IF JPED DISCOVERS INFORMATION THAT APPEARS TO BE
CLASSIFIED IN PE, INCLUDING PEDS, IT WILL NOTIFY THE COMBATANT
COMMAND OR SERVICE COMPONENT THAT TRANSFERRED THE PE OF THE
POTENTIAL CLASSIFIED INFORMATION DISCOVERED, THE APPARENT LEVEL
OF CLASSIFICATION, AND THE CONTACT INFORMATION OF THE
ORGANIZATION OR ACTIVITY THAT WILL EXECUTE A DETAILED FORENSIC
INVESTIGATION.
5.G.2. (U) JPED WILL TRANSFER THE DEVICE BELIEVED TO CONTAIN
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION TO THE U.S. ARMY INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY
COMMAND FOR DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY (DA) PERSONNEL OR
APPROPRIATE SERVICE COMPONENT FOR NON-DA PERSONNEL. PENDING
TRANSFER, JPED WILL SECURE THE CLASSIFIED INFORMATION AND
ASSOCIATED DEVICES AND APPLY SAFEGUARDS APPROPRIATE TO THE
HIGHEST LEVEL OF CLASSIFICATION OF ANY INFORMATION DETECTED
AMONG THE APPARENT CLASSIFIED MATERIALS, AS PRESCRIBED IN
REFERENCE 1.H., CHAPTER 6, AND MAINTAIN THE PROPER CHAIN OF
CUSTODY.
5.H. (U) CUI AND OPSEC: JPED WILL EXTRACT FROM THE PE (INCLUDING FROM
PEDS) ANY CONTENT IDENTIFIED AS CUI OR THAT VIOLATES OPSEC
PRINCIPLES.
5.I. (U) SUSPECTED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY:
5.I.1. (U) DA PERSONNEL: JPED WILL TRANSFER THE PE OF DA PERSONNEL TO
THE U.S. ARMY CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION (USACID) IF IT DISCOVERS
CONTENT CONTAINING SUSPECTED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY PURSUANT TO
REFERENCE 1.F., CHAPTER 8, AND REFERENCE 1.G., TABLE B–1, THAT MAY
REASONABLY BE BELIEVED TO INCLUDE DATA PERTAINING TO WAR CRIMES,
INCIDENTS INVOLVING CHILDREN OR DETAINEES, SIGNIFICANT THEFT,
ILLEGAL DRUGS, VIOLENT CRIMES, OR OTHER CRIMINAL MATTERS. PENDING
RELEASE TO USACID, JPED WILL SECURE THE INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE
WITH REFERENCE 1.H.
5.I.2. (U) NON-DA PERSONNEL: IF JPED DISCOVERS SUSPECTED CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY WITHIN PE FOR DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY (INCLUDING UNITED
STATES MARINE CORPS) OR DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE PERSONNEL
(INCLUDING SPACE FORCE), IT WILL TRANSFER THE PE TO EITHER THE NAVAL
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE SERVICE (NCIS) OR THE AIR FORCE OFFICE OF
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS (AFOSI), AS APPROPRIATE, FOR FOLLOW-ON
INVESTIGATION. PENDING TRANSFER TO NCIS OR AFOSI, JPED WILL SECURE
THE INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REFERENCE 1.H.
5.J. (U) THE JPED WILL REMOVE ALL INFORMATION OR DATA FROM PE
(INCLUDING PEDS) THAT CONTAINS PII OR PHI OTHER THAN THAT OF THE
DECEDENT.
5.K. (U) THE JPED SCMO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THE INITIAL
DISPOSITION DETERMINATION OF DATA TO BE EXTRACTED FROM PE OR TO
BE CONSIDERED FOR TRANSFER TO THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY TO
ENSURE THAT ALL INFORMATION BELONGING TO THE GOVERNMENT IS
REMOVED BEFORE PROVIDING THE PE TO THE PERE. THE JPED COMMANDER
WILL VALIDATE THE DISPOSITION DETERMINATION OF ALL PE MARKED FOR
OR RECOMMENDED FOR REMOVAL.
5.L. (U) CRITICAL CAPACITY CONSIDERATIONS. DURING LARGE-SCALE
COMBAT OPERATIONS OR OTHER EVENTS WHERE PROCESSING THE
CASELOAD WILL CAUSE THE JPED TO EXCEED ESTABLISHED PROCESSING
STANDARDS, THE JPED MAY TRANSFER LOW-RISK PEDS TO THE PERE
WITHOUT SCREENING THE DIGITAL MATERIAL. JPED WILL ASSESS PEDS BY
APPLYING A HOLISTIC RISK ASSESSMENT OF THE TOTALITY OF THE CASE. IF
THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY AND HIGH RISK OF CLASSIFIED, CUI, OPSEC, PII
OR PHI (OTHER THAN THE DECEDENT’S) TO BE ON THE DEVICE, THESE HIGH
RISK PEDS WILL BE RETAINED UNTIL SCREENED WHEREAS LOW-RISK PEDS
WILL BE RETURNED TO THE PERE WITH THE REMAINING PE.
6. (U) POINTS OF CONTACT: MS. BROOKE GUREVICH,
BROOKE.M.GUREVICH.CIV@ARMY.MIL, (502) 378–8036 OR CPT NICHOLAS
GAXIOLA, NICHOLAS.A.GAXIOLA.MIL@ARMY.MIL, (302) 346–7972.
7. (U) THIS ALARACT MESSAGE EXPIRES ON 2 JULY 2026.