In large scale combat operations, the U.S. Army must be prepared to manage casualties with the utmost dignity, speed, and precision. Historically, the process of identifying fallen personnel, securing their personal effects, and coordinating with the medical examiner required extensive time and effort.

With the rollout of the Mortuary Affairs Reporting and Tracking System Version 2 (MARTS-V2), the Army G-4 is overhauling how we execute this sacred mission. By digitizing the mortuary affairs process nested in the Army’s command and control systems, MARTS-V2 ensures that even in the most austere and contested environments, the Army can fulfill its promise to never leave a fallen comrade behind.

Bridging the Gap at the Tactical Edge

For our mortuary affairs specialists (92M) operating in-theater, communicating critical data back to the armed forces medical examiner (AFME) has traditionally presented significant challenges. MARTS-V2 eliminates these hurdles by establishing a secure, real-time digital bridge between the tactical edge and the strategic support area.

Instead of waiting days or weeks for physical forensic teams to arrive in a contested theater, the system allows 92Ms to conduct tasks in support of the AFME process entirely remotely. By leveraging secure digital data and high-resolution site documentation uploaded directly by 92Ms, the AFME can rapidly determine forensic requirements, and process evidence from thousands of miles away.

Establishing In-Country PID and Streamlining Dignified Transfers

The most profound operational impact of MARTS-V2 is its ability to empower 92M Soldiers to establish positive identification (PID) of U.S. military causalities in-country, without requiring the immediate physical presence of the AFME.

By using MARTS-V2 to legally confirm PID before transport, the system completely resolves the historical friction surrounding dignified transfers. Commanders and sustainment leaders can now execute these transfers with certainty and speed, honoring the fallen without the bureaucratic delays of the past.

End-to-End Visibility and Accountability

The modernization of MARTS-V2 goes beyond initial identification; it creates an unbroken, auditable chain of custody from the point of recovery to the transfer back to the U.S.

In previous conflicts, tracking casualties and personal effects through various operational nodes from the initial mortuary affairs collection point to the theater mortuary evacuation point / theater personal effects depot, was a fragmented process.

MARTS-V2 provides real-time, end-to-end visibility across the Joint Force. This ensures that HR and PE are perfectly synchronized as they are evacuated to the port mortuary at Dover Air Force Base and the joint personal effects depot, eliminating administrative blind spots.

Accelerating Support to Gold Star Families

Beyond the operational battlefield, the true value of MARTS-V2 lies in its direct impact on families. The administrative gap between a casualty event and the official confirmation of positive identification is a period of significant stress for loved ones.

By securing identification significantly earlier in the evacuation chain, MARTS-V2 immediately triggers the administrative processes that support the family. This rapid identification ensures that critical survivor benefits, life insurance payouts, and final pay are processed and delivered without unnecessary delay, providing crucial stability when families need it most.

The Path Forward

As the Army Sustainment enterprise prepares for the realities of 2030 and beyond, modernizing our data systems is a non-negotiable warfighting requirement. MARTS-V2 proves that digital transformation is not just about moving cargo or repairing vehicles; rather, it is about taking care of our people.

Through this system, the Army ensures that we will return our fallen heroes with the speed, dignity, and profound honor they have earned.