JPAC: The Dream Assignment Story by Tech. Sgt. Cohen Young DMA-Hawaii
When the average military member hears the acronym JPAC, chances are high that they don’t know that it stands for Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, but if you asked a 92Mike or Mortuary Affairs Specialist in the U.S. Army, that person will know instantly what JPAC is. For most, it is the dream job of their career field.
“For me personally as a mortuary affairs specialist, JPAC is the assignment that you want to get as a 92Mike,” said East Liverpool, Ohio, native Army Staff Sgt. Tyler Green, the Recovery NCO for the Oscar Team of JPAC.
“Everyone dreams of coming to JPAC to do their job,” added Green.
JPAC is based at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, and responsible for recovering the remains of fallen or missing military members from past conflicts. The organization has several teams that travel to Laos, Vietnam, Korea, France, Germany and many other places yearly to recover the remains of their fallen brothers so they can be identified and help bring closure to their families.
As the recovery NCO, Green is responsible for a lot of various tasks to include working closely with the Team Leader and the Anthropologist.
The Recovery NCO is leaned on heavily according to Capt. Ernest Nordman, the Oscar Team Leader.
“The Recovery NCO pretty much does anything I need him to do, from communication to supplies, said Nordman.
Tarawa is Green’s second mission since arriving at JPAC and the assignment has far exceeded his expectations.
“This assignment to JPAC has been what I’ve expected and much more,” said Green. “It’s very exciting to go out and actually find remains and to even be searching for remains so that we can get our brethren back home and bring some closure back home to those families that are still waiting."
Green has only been with JPAC since February 2010 and has already found the job to be greatly satisfying because of the work ethic and commitment involved by the organization.
The entire mission in general at JPAC is very honorable and getting our fallen brothers back to their families is the biggest thing I can do, said Green.
Along with handling communication and supply issues, Green is afforded the opportunity to work with the archeology leader, Dr. Gregory Fox whom is responsible for the sites that they dig at and the main person that deals with the remains. As a mortuary affairs specialist, Green is a second pair of hands for Dr. Fox to utilize when handling human remains.
“I’ve been trying to stay in Dr. Fox’s hip pocket because other anthropologists look up to him and with that I know I can learn a lot from him as well to do my job efficiently,” said Green.
For the seven-year Army veteran, JPAC has made such impression on him in a short time that he is already thinking that this may be the pinnacle of his career.
“This is only my second assignment, but by far, I think this is going to be my best assignment because as a mortuary affairs specialist, this is the cream of the crop.”
As the recovery NCO, Green is responsible for a lot of various tasks to include working closely with the Team Leader and the Anthropologist.
The Recovery NCO is leaned on heavily according to Capt. Ernest Nordman, the Oscar Team Leader.
“The Recovery NCO pretty much does anything I need him to do, from communication to supplies, said Nordman.
Tarawa is Green’s second mission since arriving at JPAC and the assignment has far exceeded his expectations.
“This assignment to JPAC has been what I’ve expected and much more,” said Green. “It’s very exciting to go out and actually find remains and to even be searching for remains so that we can get our brethren back home and bring some closure back home to those families that are still waiting."
Green has only been with JPAC since February 2010 and has already found the job to be greatly satisfying because of the work ethic and commitment involved by the organization.
The entire mission in general at JPAC is very honorable and getting our fallen brothers back to their families is the biggest thing I can do, said Green.
Along with handling communication and supply issues, Green is afforded the opportunity to work with the archeology leader, Dr. Gregory Fox whom is responsible for the sites that they dig at and the main person that deals with the remains. As a mortuary affairs specialist, Green is a second pair of hands for Dr. Fox to utilize when handling human remains.
“I’ve been trying to stay in Dr. Fox’s hip pocket because other anthropologists look up to him and with that I know I can learn a lot from him as well to do my job efficiently,” said Green.
For the seven-year Army veteran, JPAC has made such impression on him in a short time that he is already thinking that this may be the pinnacle of his career.
“This is only my second assignment, but by far, I think this is going to be my best assignment because as a mortuary affairs specialist, this is the cream of the crop.”
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