The Armed Forces Medical Examiner System is committed to being the Department of Defense’s leader in providing medicolegal services and emerging technologies essential for the readiness, sustainability and survivability of our service members. AFMES provides the DOD and other federal agencies comprehensive forensic investigative services, to include forensic pathology, DNA Forensics, forensic toxicology, and medical mortality surveillance. AFMES is not only the single worldwide medical examiner system, but it also supports the entire U.S. federal government.
Mission
Investigate deaths, Identify the fallen, Improve readiness
Vision
Be the global leader in comprehensive and innovative medicolegal services enhancing the readiness, sustainability, and survivability of those we serve.
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Fact Sheet
4/5/2023
The AFMES-DOD DNA Ops is DOD’s sole DNA testing laboratory tasked with current and past conflicts human identification efforts and is comprised of the Armed Forces Repository of Specimen Samples for the Identification of Remains and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory.
Publication
1/27/2023
The AFMES is the only medical examiner system authorized to support DOD and other federal agencies' missions. It also works closely with the investigative arms of all military branches, to conduct forensic investigations of crime scenes upon request. Download this booklet to learn more about the AFMES and its mission.
Fact Sheet
12/16/2022
This Fact Sheet describes the purpose of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System.
Form/Template
6/10/2021
Use this form to obtain information/specimens needed for histology tissue processing and/or specimen storage.
Video
11/3/2020
This month we celebrate two important "firsts" at Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, and one very special anniversary at Defense Health Agency!
Go to https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/AFMES to see more photos from the only worldwide medical examiner system, AFMES!
DHA Celebrates Seven Years of Service: https://health.mil/News/Articles/2020/10/01/Defense-Health-Agency-celebrates-seven-years-of-service
Article
8/27/2020
The samples that Johnson receives are to identify missing service members through the use of DNA analysis.
Form/Template
2/12/2020
Fill out this request to place and order with the Armed Forces Repository of Specimen Sample for the Identification of Human Remains
Form/Template
5/22/2019
Medical information received is considered during the consultative process and is used to form a database for education and research in pathology.
Policy
This instruction establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides direction for forensic medicine activities throughout DoD In accordance with the authority in DoD Directive (DoDD) 5124.02, and provides for the continued operation and governance of AFMES, a component of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) under DoDD 5136.13, in carrying out assigned functions, including those under Section 1471 of Title 10, United States Code (U.S.C.).
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Last Updated: May 23, 2023