Is the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in over their heads with more than 88,000 MIA service members?

SFC Mark Merino — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 21:42:10 -0400

Leave No One Behind.

The government spends some $100 million annually (as of 2012) in their mission to repatriate the fallen back to American soil. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (formerly JPAC) staffers deploy wherever remains are turned up — in Vietnam, Korea, even Europe. They recover bone fragments and pore over them, using the latest technological analysis to determine who it is.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency is staffed by 400 people, including archaeologists and anthropologists and military historians. And they're hiring, following the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act's mandate that by 2015 the agency be capable of 200 identifications a year, or more than twice its current level.

There's considerable work to do. More than 83,000 Americans are unaccounted for from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and earlier conflicts, according to the Department of Defense.

Already under fire for identifying the remains of an average of only 75 MIA’s per year – far short of the congressionally mandated 200 identifications per year – their output dropped to only 55 identifications last year, down from 70 in 2013.

Of the 2014 recoveries JPAC has only found 2 soldiers on their own.

Of the 2014 recoveries JPAC has only participated in the recovery of 5 soldiers.

Of the 2014 identifications, only 7 of them were recovered in the last 10 years.

JPAC's motto was 'Until They Are Home'. But at this rate, the newly formed Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency will have their mission accomplished in 1,510 years. This is by no means an attempt to bash those doing their best in these recovery efforts, but it is meant to show that we have to do more to step up our promise. When I was medically retired, I felt as if I could no longer accomplish my 'mission.' I believe I have found my next calling. Hitomi and I will leave for Guam/Saipan early next year and set up residency. I'm not physically at 100%, but I will give 100% of what I can muster to assist in any way possible.
Respectfully, Uncle Mark.

Sources:
Honolulu Advertiser | Feb 02, 2015 | by William Cole

DPAA website (official). http://www.dpaa.mil/Home.aspx

Return to the Phillipines (2015).Documentary. Steven C. Barber. Narrated by Ed Harris.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/02/02/jpac-folded-into-new-pow-mia-agency.html

JPAC Folded Into New POW/MIA Agency

The beleaguered Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command in Hawaii has a new name -- the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2015 10:37 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 22:37:11 -0400

I just finished a tour as a Recovery Team Leader with DPAA, formerly JPAC. I could talk for days about the the mission, but I will leave you with this.

We as a nation owe it to each of those 83,000 to do our best to locate, recover, identify, repatriate and ultimately, reunite the remains with families who have been waiting for decades, some more than 70 years. The transition to a defense agency has not been easy, and it is still daunting on those who are still working it. They have been building the aircraft while flying it so to speak.

A lot of people question the amount of money spent to accomplish the mission. It's a lot, but when you understand what goes into each investigation, each recovery and the scientific lab work, not to mention access to all the countries DPAA operates in, it adds up, and adds up quickly. In the end, and in my opinion, you cannot put a price tag on this mission. DPAA does what it needs to do to bring our missing home with the budget they have.

DPAA is trying to get to 200 identifications per year, and when you put that up against the 83k, it really puts it all into perspective, and how long this mission will take. You do have to consider though that a large number of the mission will perhaps never be recovered (deep sea losses etc) while current technology prevents it or reliable information, especially from first hand witnesses diminishes over time. DPAA is also is limited to the number of investigations and recoveries conducted each year by budget, and the availability of deployers.

It is difficult work. From planning to execution, it demands hard work and some long hours while deployed and without a doubt, the most rewarding and honorable assignment in my 27 years so far on active duty.

Until They Are Home!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2015 10:47 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 22:47:54 -0400

I don't think the writer from the Honolulu Advertiser has their numbers correct either. Poorly written in my opinion.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jun 25 at 2015 11:33 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 23:33:04 -0400

Wow, great post here!

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jun 25 at 2015 11:37 PM

COL Charles Williams — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 23:37:32 -0400

Yes SFC Mark Merino Yes

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Jun 26 at 2015 12:30 AM

Capt Brandon Charters — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 00:30:58 -0400

I don't envy the decision makers who have to put a price tag or resource budget around this mission. My prayers go out to the families waiting and those who are doing the work on a daily basis to bring our military family members home.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 26 at 2015 5:41 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 17:41:18 -0400

I heard the budget is $100,000,000 and they are as well oiled machine as a herd of dogs and cats.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jun 27 at 2015 4:43 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 04:43:06 -0400

Again, I'm on a fact-finding mission and have no intention of singling out any individual. The first report was from a local paper in Hawaii so I continued to dig.....

http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/internal-memo-alleges-jpac-ethics-violations-mishandling-of-military-remains-1.264355

Internal memo alleges JPAC ethics violations, mishandling of military remains

Joint Prisoners of War, Missing in Action Accounting Command personnel may have desecrated remains and excavated incorrect sites, internal documents obtained by Stars and Stripes allege.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jun 27 at 2015 4:54 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 04:54:56 -0400

God Bless, Sir. Now, if I can just land LTG Linnington on RallyPoint.....

http://www.stripes.com/news/us/pentagon-names-1st-permanent-director-of-new-pow-mia-accounting-agency-1.353435

Pentagon names 1st permanent director of new POW/MIA accounting agency

Army Lt. Gen. Michael S. Linnington has been named the first permanent director of the new Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2015 8:00 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 08:00:09 -0400

The sad reality (to me) is when we live up to our end of our Oath of Enlistment Uncle Sam feels like he can change the conditions constantly. Fallen warriors do deserve to come home. Families deserve to have closure and say goodbye to their loved ones.

Anytime the Federal Government gets involved in a process it becomes slower and less efficient and effective.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 27 at 2015 2:17 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 14:17:17 -0400

You will live in Guam?