The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command conducts search, recovery, and laboratory operations to identify unaccounted-for Americans from past conflicts in order to support the Department of Defense’s personnel accounting efforts.

 The command is located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii and was activated Oct. 1, 2003. Employing more than 400 joint military and civilian personnel, JPAC continues its search for the more than 83,000 Americans still missing from past conflicts. The laboratory portion of JPAC, referred to as the Central Identification Laboratory, is the largest and most diverse forensic skeletal laboratory in the world.

 The command maintains four permanent detachments to assist with command and control, logistics and in-country support during investigation and recovery operations. Detachment One is located in Bangkok, Thailand; Detachment Two in Hanoi, Vietnam; Detachment Three in Vientiane, Laos; and Detachment Four in Honolulu, Hawaii. In order to facilitate logistical support to teams, JPAC maintains storage facilities in Hawaii, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Europe and Papua New Guinea. Having these facilities strategically placed around the world minimizes costs and provides quick access to supplies for teams in remote locations.