During the exercise, Soldiers from the 962nd Quartermaster Company are training to establish and operate a Mortuary Affairs Collection Point on the island of Makemo in response to a simulated cyclone scenario.

These Soldiers, known as the "Gatekeepers," are mortuary affairs specialists and represent one of only six mortuary affairs units in the U.S. Army Reserve. Their mission is to recover, process and care for human remains with respect and reverence for the fallen and their families.
The training will provide an opportunity for Soldiers to refine procedures alongside the French Armed Forces in French Polynesia and develop collaborative processes that are both effective and culturally considerate.

“Mortuary affairs is a very small MOS, but it is one of the most honorable MOS,” stated SSG Byron Castro, a mortuary affairs non-commissioned officer with the 962 QM Co. “Why I’m so passionate about mortuary affairs is just having that honor of taking care of our fallen heroes, who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country, for their families, and for our families."

Marara 26, led by the French Armed Forces in French Polynesia, brings together military and civilian partners from across the region to improve coordination and interoperability during humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.

Of the nation’s participating in Marara 26, the U.S. Army maintains a unique capability to rapidly deploy mortuary affairs personnel in support of disaster response operations, providing immediate recovery, processing and evacuation capabilities when requested.

For the Soldiers of the 962nd Quartermaster Company, the exercise serves as an opportunity to strengthen technical proficiency while preparing for one of the Army's most demanding and sensitive missions.

By training in a realistic multinational environment, the "Gatekeepers" are improving their ability to support future humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations while ensuring they remain prepared to care for the fallen with professionalism, dignity and respect.