20150824-AJP 4 10 Med SPT Uk

NATO STANDARD
AJP-4.10
ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE FOR MEDICAL SUPPORT
Edition B Version 1
WITH UK NATIONAL ELEMENTS
MAY 2015
NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION
ALLIED JOINT PUBLICATION
Published by the
NATO STANDARDIZATION OFFICE (NSO)
© NATO/OTAN
.
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NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION (NATO)
NATO STANDARDIZATION OFFICE (NSO)
NATO LETTER OF PROMULGATION
28 May 2015
1. The enclosed Allied Joint Publication AJP-4.10, Edition B, Version 1,

ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE FOR MEDICAL SUPPORT, which has been
approved by the nations in the Military Committee Medical Standardization
Board, is promulgated herewith. The agreement of nations to use this
publication is recorded in STANAG 2228.
2. AJP-4.10, Edition B, Version 1, is effective upon receipt and

supersedes AJP 4.10, Edition A, which shall be destroyed in accordance with
the local procedure for the destruction of documents.
3. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval

system, used commercially, adapted, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photo-copying, recording or otherwise,
without the prior permission of the publisher. With the exception of
commercial sales, this does not apply to member or partner nations, or NATO
commands and bodies.
4. This publication shall be handled in accordance with C-M(2002)60.
Edvardas MAŽEIKIS
Major General, LTUAF
Director, NATO Standardization Office
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Allied Joint Publication-4.10
Allied Joint Doctrine for Medical Support
Allied Joint Publication-4.10 (AJP-4.10), dated May 2015,

is promulgated in the United Kingdom in accordance with
the UK national comment
as directed by the Chiefs of Staff
Director Concepts and Doctrine

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AJP-4.10
Adopting NATO Doctrine
NATO underpins the defence of the UK and our allies, while also providing
deployable, expeditionary capabilities to support and defend our interests
further afield. In addition, the European Security and Defence Policy
specifies that European Union-led military operations should also use NATO
doctrine. DCDC plays a leading role in producing NATO doctrine; the UK
holds custodianship for several NATO Allied Joint Publications (AJPs) and
participates actively in producing all others.
The need to achieve maximum coherence and interoperability within, and

between, our closest allies and partners is vital. NATO is the institution best
placed to help us achieve this. In July 2012, the Chief of the Defence Staff
and the Permanent Under Secretary issued clear direction on how the UK’s
contribution to NATO could be further improved, stating that:
‘We should use NATO doctrine wherever we can, and ensure

coherence of UK doctrine with NATO wherever we cannot.’
In response, DCDC revised the UK doctrine architecture. Our doctrine now

comprises:
• NATO AJPs (may have directly replaced a JDP equivalent);

• NATO AJPs with UK caveats or supplements are necessary in the
form of ‘green pages’;
• national doctrine (JDPs).
Where an AJP is adopted in lieu of a UK JDP the latter document will be

withdrawn from extant UK doctrine architecture. Where necessary, the
publication will also include UK text, diagrams, vignettes and photographs, all
with a green background or border to distinguish the content. Such a hybrid
document has a split cover with both NATO and DCDC livery. These
additions will be made when appropriate to explain a particular UK approach
to operations, to aid understanding or to increase appeal/interest. No NATO
text (against a white background) will be altered or removed. UK green
pages take precedence over NATO doctrine where competing terms and
concepts differ. This move re-enforces the UK’s commitment to NATO and
gives our Armed Forces greater interoperability within the coalition than
before.
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Edition B Version 1 + UK national elements
AJP-4.10
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AJP-4.10
RECORD OF RESERVATIONS
CHAPTER RECORD OF RESERVATION BY NATIONS
General NLD
Note: The reservations listed on this page include only those that were
recorded at time of promulgation and may not be complete. Refer to the
NATO Standardization Document Database for the complete list of existing
reservations.
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RECORD OF SPECIFIC RESERVATIONS
[nation] [detail of reservation]
CAN Page 9-4 para 2 cannot be implemented by Canada.
Although Canadian military dentists deployed on missions

and trained in forensic odontology can perform forensic
examinations and therefore play a significant role towards
helping with the identification of fatalities, forensic
odontologists do not have the jurisdiction to "identify".
Identification requires the legal authority which in Canada

rests with a provincial coroner or medical examiner;
ESP Spain will not implement Par.1.2.12 item 7d).
FRA Regarding Medical intelligence, the French doctrine

separates the assessment of health risks from intelligence
of a medical nature. French health professionals contribute
to medical intelligence in compliance with the ethical
principles of international humanitarian law (including the
Geneva Conventions), the law of armed conflict and
professional secrecy, and for the sole purpose of enabling
the optimal prevention and management of medical
problems in the forces that they support, and not with the
aim of helping forces to dominate the enemy.
Regarding paragraph 5.8.4, to date, environmental
analyses, except for water intended for human
consumption, are not the responsibility of the Armed
Forces medical services’ deployable capabilities. To date,
the Armed Forces medical services (SSA, service de santé
des armées) do not have a deployable laboratory capability
to carry out all the analyses required in this paragraph.
GBR • The UK uses the 10.1.2(+2) medical planning guideline

and not 10-1-2 to highlight the requirement for patient
access to in-theatre surgery.
• The UK uses the term in-theatre surgery (vice primary

surgery) to describe the surgical procedures that are
conducted in theatre beyond damage control surgery.
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• The UK describes a Major Medical Incident (MMI) is an

incident where the number, severity, or type of live
casualties, or by its location, requires extraordinary
resources resources. A MMI is declared ‘bottom up’, with
each level of command considering whether it also needs
to make the same declaration. A Mass Casualty Incident
(MASCAL) is an MMI which, despite the use of
extraordinary measures, has or will result in an over
whelming of the available medical capability and/or
capacity. This is declared ‘top down’ by the Theatre
Commander Medical and is cascaded down the chain-of
command. This definition is not included in AJP 4-10(B).
• UK medical rules of eligibility use the term ‘life, limb and

eyesight’ as an eligibility description v the NATO ‘eye and
limb’.
• UK joint medical doctrine uses the term prolonged care to

describe the application of additional techniques in order to
sustain the casualty if any component of the 10.1.2(+2)
medical planning guideline is likely to be exceeded.
Delivery of prolonged care will require the medical
techniques, skills and capabilities required to hold a patient
for a protracted period of time. Prolonged care includes
the sub-categories: prolonged pre-hospital care (covering
those techniques suitable for use in the pre-hospital
emergency care clinical phase) and prolonged hospital
care (covering those techniques suitable for use in the
deployed hospital care clinical phase). This concept is not
included in AJP 4-10(B).
• The UK uses the term pre-hospital care to describe all
aspects of health service support forward of deployed
hospital care. This includes: core functions of primary
health care; pre-hospital emergency care and forward
medical evacuation; and force health protection. The use
of this definition differs from that used in AJP 4-10(B).
• The UK views damage control surgery as a component of
damage control resuscitation, this procedure is not a
separate function to resuscitation as described in AJP 4-
10(B).
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NLD Chapter 8,8.4.1.2.: The Netherlands will add separate

decontamination facilities to their MTF.
Chapter 9, 9.5.4.: The Netherlands will not use the Medical

Warning Tag in accordance with STANAG 2347 / AMEDP-
34
USA The US ratifies AJP-4.10(NB) with the following

reservations:
(1) Page 2-5, 2-6, para. 2.3.2, sub-para 7.a-c: The U.S.
does not concur to a specific clinical timelines indicated.
This reservation may be removed if the para is revised.
(2) Page 1-5, para. 1.1.5, sub-para. 6: The U.S. does not
routinely provide damage control surgery in Role 2 care.
This reservation may be removed if the second line in the
para is revised to read “repair may be sacrificed”.
(3) Page 1-6, para. 1.1.6, sub-para. 2.a-c. The U.S. does
not concur with, nor subscribe to, specific timeframes for
the indicated care. This reservation may be removed if the
sub-para 2.a-c is revised as follows:
(a). 2.a: Change “10 minutes” to “as soon as practical.”
(b). 2.b: Change “1 hour” to “as soon as practical.

(c). 2.c: Change “within 1 hour, but no later than 2 hours of
wounding” to “as soon as practical.”
(4) Page 1-17, para. 1.2.8, sub-para. 5: This reservation
may be removed if “must provide a surgical capability” is
removed from line one. U.S. does not have this capability.
The USA does not provide a surgical capability unless the
unit is augmented by a forward surgical team. The USA
does not routinely provide damage control surgery in Role
2 units (damage control surgery is limited to Role 2+ units).
Note: The reservations listed on this page include only those that were
recorded at time of promulgation and may not be complete. Refer to the
NATO Standardization Document Database for the complete list of existing
reservations.
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PREFACE
1. Character of Doctrine. Doctrine is defined by the North Atlantic

Treaty Organization (NATO) as fundamental principles by which the military
forces guide their actions in support of objectives. It is authoritative but
requires judgement in application. The clear understanding and acceptance
of doctrine by allied joint forces is a prerequisite for the successful conduct of
operations. It evolves as its political and strategic foundation changes and in
the light of new technology, lessons identified and the insights of operational
analysis.
2. Scope. NATO doctrine for medical support is primarily intended for

NATO forces. It could also be applied multinationally within the framework of
an allied joint force. This can include, with adaptations agreed by
participating nations where necessary, its utilization for operations under
other international mandates, or as part of a coalition of NATO and non-NATO
nations, when such utilization would not be against NATO’s interests.
Interoperability between NATO nations in these instances will be based upon
NATO standardization agreements, other policy documents and publications.
Allied Joint Publication (AJP) 4.10 focuses on the fundamental principles of
medical support to operations. It builds on the key themes set out in AJP-
01(D) Allied Joint Doctrine and provides an authoritative basis for medical
support to NATO operations.
3. Meeting the Security Challenge. The Alliance continues to adapt to

the security situation it faces. The security environment contains a broad and
evolving set of challenges for NATO, the territory of its Nations and their
populations. Alliance security strategy remains focused on three core tasks:
collective defence; crisis Management, and; cooperative security. Today, the
Euro-Atlantic area is at peace and the threat of a conventional attack against
NATO territory is low. However, the conventional threat cannot be ignored.
Many regions and countries around the world are witnessing the acquisition
of substantial, modern military capabilities with consequences for
international stability and Euro-Atlantic security that are difficult to predict.
The proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction,
and their means of delivery, threatens incalculable consequences for global
stability and prosperity. Terrorism poses a direct threat to the security of the
citizens of NATO countries, and to international stability and prosperity more
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broadly. Extremist groups continue to spread to, and in, areas of strategic
importance to the Alliance, and modern technology increases the threat and
potential impact of terrorist attacks, in particular if terrorists were to acquire
nuclear, chemical, biological or radiological capabilities. Instability or conflict
beyond NATO borders can directly threaten Alliance security, including by
fostering extremism, terrorism, and transnational illegal activities such as
trafficking in arms, narcotics and people. All countries are increasingly reliant
on the vital communication, transport and transit routes on which international
trade, energy security and prosperity depend. They require greater
international efforts to ensure their resilience against attack or disruption.
Thus, Operations are likely to be conducted at some distance from the allies’
home bases, and the demands of expeditionary operations will continue to be
a significant cause of change. Key environmental and resource constraints,
including health risks, climate change, water scarcity and increasing energy
needs will further shape the future security environment in areas of concern
to NATO and have the potential to significantly affect NATO planning and
operations.
4. Transforming NATO Medical Support. This edition of Allied Joint

Doctrine for Medical Support takes account of the changes that have taken
place in NATO since the last edition was published in March 2006. It reflects
developments in the area of medical support, taking into account the key role
that medical support plays in the conduct of joint operations and draws upon
the hard won experience gained on recent NATO deployments. It also looks
to the future and this edition includes a number of key developments. Most
notably, the clinical timelines for medical planning, multinational healthcare
provision and modular medical support capability.
5. Purpose. This publication sets out the fundamental principles

required to plan and conduct medical support to NATO operations in all its
aspects. Medical support remains a national responsibility, but in practise
NATO commanders have come to share this responsibility during recent
operations. This brings with it a range of additional responsibilities ranging
from the treatment of casualties in different operating environments to the
implementation of force health protection measures, interactions with civil
organizations providing health services to affected populations, and the
increased public expectations of high quality outcomes in the treatment of
casualties.
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6. Target Audience. AJP-4.10 is intended primarily for use by

commanders and their staffs at the operational level. It also serves a wider
audience including senior officers, junior officers and senior non-
commissioned officers, employed in headquarters, formations and units
assigned to them. In addition it provides an essential introduction on medical
support to medical personnel.
7. Doctrine Hierarchy. This publication is one of the supporting joint

doctrine publications of AJP-4 Allied Joint Logistic Doctrine and is the major
joint doctrine publication covering medical support in NATO. Subordinated
and supplement to AJP-4.10 are the publications of the Allied Joint Medical
Publication (AJMedP) series, which provide a greater level of detail on the
different aspects of joint medical support. As such, the AJMedP series is
intended for an audience of medical staff officers and subject matter experts
(see Annex A Medical Doctrine Architecture). The structure of AJP-4.10(B)
reflects the subjects covered by these AJMedPs, with a separate chapter
dedicated to each. The aim being to provide non-medical personnel with the
key information from each area. Bracketing these chapters within AJP-4.10
are an opening chapter on the fundamental principles of medical support and
a closing chapter on the complex challenges of the multinational medical
support environment.
8. Application. NATO medical support doctrine is deliberately written to

allow considerable flexibility in its application. It does not deliberately reflect
or exclude any particular nation’s approach to medical support. It does,
however, constitute a basic framework upon which to base Alliance
operational medical support should be based. Fundamentally, it encourages
close cooperation to be undertaken between member Nations, even if some
differences in national doctrines exist.
9. Amendment. AJP-4.10 is subject to regular review and can be

amended and reissued as required. Guided by the tasking authority of the
Committee of the Chiefs of Military Medical Services in NATO (COMEDS),
the Allied Command Transformation (ACT) Medical Branch, with project
management by the Military Medical Structures, Operations and Procedures
(MMSOP) Working Group, will review the contents of AJP-4.10 in order to
reflect changes in NATO policy or to carry out urgent amendment to
published doctrine. Therefore any recommended changes or development
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proposals are always welcome and should be directed to the Medical Branch
of ACT.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1 – Foundations of Medical Support 1-1
1.1. The Nature of Medical Support 1-8

1.1.1. Purpose of Medical Support 1-8
1.1.2. Responsibility for the Health of the Forces 1-8
1.1.3. Fundamental Principles of Medical Support 1-9
1.1.4. Standards of Care 1-12
1.1.5. Casualty Response 1-14
1.1.6. Clinical Timelines 1-17
1.1.7. Continuous Improvement in Healthcare Support on
Operations 1-20
1.2. Components of Deployed Health Care 1-22
1.2.1. Medical Command, Control and Communication and
Information Systems 1-28
1.2.2. Medical Intelligence 1-31
1.2.3. Force Health Protection 1-31
1.2.4. Medical Capabilities 1-32
1.2.5. Modular Approach to Medical Support 1-34
1.2.6. Medical Treatment Facilities 1-38
1.2.7. Role 1 MTF - Medical Response Capability 1-39
1.2.8. Role 2 MTF - Initial Surgery Response Capability 1-40
1.2.9. Role 3 MTF - Hospital Response Capability 1-42
1.2.10. Role 4 MTF - Definitive Hospital Response Capability 1-43
1.2.11. Medical Evacuation 1-44
1.2.12. Medical Logistics 1-46
1.3. Component Medical Support and Specific Military Situations 1-49
1.3.1. Land Operations 1-49
1.3.2. Air Operations 1-50
1.3.3. Maritime Operations 1-51
1.3.4. Special Operations 1-57
1.3.5. Theatre Support Operations 1-64
1.3.6. Persons Deprived of their Liberty 1-72
1.3.7. International Disaster Relief Operations 1-74
1.4. Interface between Medical and other Staff Functions 1-78
1.4.1. J1 – Personnel and Administration 1-78
1.4.2. J2 – Intelligence 1-79
1.4.3. J3 – Operations 1-79
1.4.4. J4 – Logistics 1-80
1.4.5. J5 – Plans & Policy 1-81
1.4.6. J6 – Communications 1-82
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1.4.7. J7 – Exercise Planning 1-83

1.4.8. J8 – Resources & Finance 1-83
1.4.9. J9 – Civil-Military Cooperation 1-83
1.4.10. Legal 1-84
1.4.11. Public Information Operations 1-85
Chapter 2 – Medical Planning 2-1
2.1. General 2-1

2.2. Defence Planning 2-1
2.2.1. NATO Defence Planning Process 2-1
2.2.2. Medical Specific Issues in the Defence Planning
Process 2-4
2.3. Operational Planning 2-6
2.3.1. Operational Planning Process 2-6
2.3.2. The Medical Contribution to the Operational Planning
Process 2-7
2.3.3. Casualty Estimates 2-10
2.3.4. MASCAL Planning 2-14
2.4. Conducting Operations and Exercises 2-19
2.4.1. Operations 2-19
2.4.2. Exercises 2-22
2.4.3. Lessons Learned 2-22
Chapter 3 – Medical Evacuation 3-1
3.1. Basic Principles of Medical Evacuation 3-1

3.1.1. Medical Evacuation Assets 3-2
3.1.2. Interdependence of Evacuation and Treatment 3-3
3.1.3. Evacuation Priorities 3-5
3.1.4. Medical Regulation 3-5
3.1.5. Patient Tracking 3-6
3.2. Ground Evacuation 3-7
3.3. Maritime Evacuation 3-8
3.4. Aeromedical Evacuation 3-9
Chapter 4 – Medical Intelligence 4-1
4.1. General 4-1

4.2. Intelligence Requirements and Requests for Information 4-2
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Chapter 5 – Force Health Protection 5-1
5.1. General 5-1

5.2. Force Health Protection Cell 5-2
5.3. Force Health Protection Assessment 5-2
5.4. Pre-Deployment Medical Readiness Preparation and
Baseline Assessment 5-3
5.5. Deployment Phase Medical Readiness Support Functions 5-4
5.6. Post-Deployment Phase Medical Status Monitoring
Functions 5-5
5.7. Preventive Medicine and Veterinary Service in Force
Health Protection 5-6
5.8. Preventive Medicine and Veterinary Service Requirements 5-8
5.9. Veterinary Animal Care Requirements 5-9
5.10. Deployment Health Surveillance and Casualty Reporting 5-10
5.11. Civil Labour 5-11
5.12. Critical Incident Management 5-12
5.13. Consequence Management 5-12
Chapter 6 – Medical Communication and Information Systems 6-1
6.1. General 6-1

6.2. Medical CIS Requirements 6-1
6.3. Medical Records 6-3
6.4. Medical Reporting 6-4
Chapter 7 – Civil-Military Medical Interface 7-1
7.1. Principles for the Civil-Military Medical Interface 7-1

7.2. Operations at the Civil-Military Medical Interface 7-3
7.3. Civil-Military Aspects of the Medical Contribution to the
Operational Planning Process 7-5
7.4. Humanitarian Assistance, Reconstruction and Development 7-7
7.5. Command, Control and Coordination 7-12
Chapter 8 – Medical Support in the CBRN Environment 8-1
8.1. Challenges of the CBRN Environment 8-1

8.2. Medical Planning in the CBRN Environment 8-3
8.2.1. Phased Planning for Medical Support to CBRN
Defence Operations 8-3
8.2.2. Casualty Management and the Scale of CBRN Incidents 8-5
8.2.3. Situational Awareness and Command and Control 8-6
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8.2.4. CBRN Casualty Estimation 8-7

8.3. Force Health Protection 8-8
8.3.1. Physical Protection 8-8
8.3.2. Medical Protection 8-9
8.3.3. Operational Contamination Control 8-9
8.3.4. Combat and Operational Stress Control 8-10
8.4. Patient Management 8-11
8.4.1. Patient Decontamination 8-11
8.4.2. Patient Treatment 8-12
8.4.3. CBRN Mass Casualty 8-12
8.5. Medical Evacuation 8-13
8.5.1. Medical Evacuation Policy and Operations in a
CBRN Environment 8-13
8.5.2. Medical Evacuation Assets in a CBRN Environment 8-14
8.5.3. Aeromedical Evacuation of CBRN Casualties 8-15
8.6. Sustainment of Medical Operations 8-16
8.6.1. Non-Article 5 Crisis Response Operations and Civilian
Support 8-16
Chapter 9 – Military Health Care 9-1
9.1. Overview of Allied Joint Military Healthcare 9-1

9.2. Medical Training of Military and Healthcare Personnel 9-1
9.3. Clinical Guidelines 9-3
9.3.1. Surgical Care 9-3
9.3.2. Care of Women in Joint/Combined Operations 9-4
9.3.3. Dental Care and Dental Forensic Examination 9-4
9.3.4. Deployed Laboratory Capabilities 9-5
9.3.5. Mental Healthcare 9-5
9.3.6. Post-Exposure Prophylaxis 9-7
9.3.7. Veterinary Care 9-8
9.4. Medical Equipment and Supplies 9-8
9.5. Administrative Aspects of Military Healthcare 9-9
Chapter 10 – Multinationality and Medical Support Structures 10-1
10.1. Aspects of Multinationality 10-1

10.1.1. Multinational Medical Support 10-1
10.1.2. Barriers to Achieving Multinational Cooperation 10-2
10.2. Multinational Medical Support Options 10-4
10.2.1. Role of Nations 10-5
10.2.2. Mutual Support Agreements 10-7
10.2.3. Multinational Medical Units 10-8
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10.2.4. Host Nation Support 10-9

10.3. Authority and Responsibility 10-11
10.3.1. The Medical Responsibility of the Commander 10-11
10.3.2. The Authority and Responsibility of the Force
Commander 10-12
10.3.3. Coordinating Authority 10-13
10.3.4. Evaluation and Assessment Authority 10-14
10.3.5. Medical Responsibilities of the NATO Strategic
Commands 10-15
10.3.6. Medical Responsibilities of Joint Commands and
Combined Joint Task Forces 10-16
10.3.7. Medical Responsibilities of Component Commands 10-18
10.3.8. The Commander’s Medical Staff 10-18
10.3.9. Responsibilities of Contributing Nations 10-19
10.4. Multinational Medical Command and Control Architecture 10-20
10.4.1. Multinational Medical Command and Control 10-20
10.4.2. Allied Command Operations Medical Advisor 10-22
10.4.3. Medical Director 10-22
10.4.4. Combined Joint Medical Branch 10-23
10.4.5. Liaison with the HN and Civil Agencies and
Organizations 10-24
10.4.6. Medical Coordination Cell 10-25
ANNEX A – MEDICAL DOCTRINE ARCHITECTURE A-1

ANNEX B – GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND DEFINITIONS B-1
ANNEX C – GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS C-1
ANNEX D – LIST OF REFERENCES D-1
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Chapter 1 – Foundations of Medical Support
This Chapter provides an overview of key principles within NATO Medical

Support. These will form the basis for the chapters that follow.
Introduction
UK 1.1. This hybrid publication includes those elements of UK joint

medical doctrine that differ from NATO as green pages. This publication
replaces Joint Doctrine Publication (JDP) 4-03, Joint Medical Doctrine to
form the capstone medical doctrine applicable to all Permanent Joint
Headquarters, single-Service and Defence Medical Services operational
and tactical medical doctrine. Its purpose is to provide guidance to all
levels of joint command (including the Joint Task Force Commander and
staff). It also informs superior and subordinate levels of command. This
publication contains the fundamental principles by which medical
capability should be delivered, both within the wider strategic context and
on operations.
The UK chain of care
UK 1.2. The UK chain of care (summarised at UK Figure 1.1) describes

the clinical outcomes required from the operational patient care pathway.
The chain of command and the Defence Medical Services collectively
contribute to applying health protection measures to the Defence
population at risk. If health protection fails, operational patients may
become sick or injured; this maybe as a result of trauma, acute
conditions or illness. First aid measures are subsequently essential to
save life, limb and eyesight. The chain of command (supported by
technical training assistance from the Defence Medical Services) is
responsible for training all personnel in essential first aid and a
proportion of military personnel in extended first aid.
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AJP-4.10
UK 1.3. The Defence

Medical Services trains Force health protection
clinical personnel to
provide pre-hospital Protection fails Save
life
emergency care to take
clinical responsibility from Restore
physiological
non-professional function
healthcare providers and
give life-saving Promote
healing
measures. Progressive
resuscitation extends
Rehabilitate
these emergency
Return to duty Discharge from
measures from the pre- Service
Defence population at risk
hospital care
Legend
environment to the Defence Medical Services responsibility
Command responsibility
capabilities of deployed
hospital care. As the UK Figure 1.1 – The chain of care
patient stabilises, the
clinical focus shifts to restoring physiological function through clinical
care and medical evacuation. Once the patient is physiologically stable,
care shifts to promoting healing through wound care, nutrition and
psychological support. Finally, the patient leaves hospital care.
UK 1.4. The Defence Medical Services and the chain of command

support the patient in their rehabilitation and return to physical,
psychological and social function, enabling them to return to duty or
prepare for discharge from Service on medical grounds. The size of the
ovals in Figure 1.1 are indicative of the scale of organisational effort
(including, but not solely limited to, numbers of personnel involved,
proportion of command effort and financial cost) needed to provide the
clinical outcomes at each stage in the chain of care.
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The UK healthcare cycle
UK 1.5. The UK healthcare cycle (summarised at UK Figure 1.2) is the

‘patient-centred’ provision of health service support to the Defence
population at risk by the Defence Medical Services throughout their
career. The Defence medical operational capability includes those
activities carried out by medical force elements to provide health service
support on operations.
Medical operations and Firm base medical activity

operational capability and capability
RRUs
RAMP PRCs
DMRC
RCDM DCMHs
Veterans
DHC
Society
Recruits
Med C4I, Med log
PHEC Defence population at

MEDEVAC risk in the firm base
Determinants of health,
PHC Breakdown of for example:
Casualty on physical and/or • lifestyle
operations psychological and/or • environment
social health • employment
Influenced by:
FHP • individual
Service person Personnel unfit • chain of command
deployed on to deploy • health services
operations
Remediable Non-remediable
Defence Primary Health Care, Defence Dental Services, Defence healthcare commissioning
Legend
DCMH Department Community Mental Health Med log Medical logistics
DHC Deployed hospital care PHC Primary Health Care
DMRC Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre PRC Personnel recovery capabilities
FHP Force health protection PHEC Pre hospital emergency care
Med C4I Medical command control computers RAMP Reception arrangements for military patients
communication and information RCDM Royal Centre for Defence Medicine
MEDEVAC Medical evacuation RRU Regional Recovery Units
UK Figure 1.2 – UK healthcare cycle
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UK 1.6. Medical force elements are routinely force generated by the

single-Service commands and controlled by the Chief of Joint Operations
through the operational chain of command. Surgeon General is the
Defence authority for the whole healthcare cycle and is responsible for
assuring the quality of healthcare delivered to Service and other entitled
personnel. Shaded in purple in UK Figure 1.2 is the Defence medical
operational capability element.
UK 1.7. Prior to, and during deployment, the Defence Medical Services
help provide force health protection measures to Service personnel.
Service personnel who become operational patients are supported by the
ten instruments of military medical care (defined under paragraph 1.2)
and, if necessary, are medically evacuated from the theatre of
operations.
UK 1.8. Patients are accepted into the National Health Service under
the reception arrangements for military patients and are usually admitted
to the clinical unit of the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine. Those who
require specialist rehabilitation are transferred to the Defence Medical
Rehabilitation Centre. Those patients requiring less specialised
rehabilitation will be managed at regional rehabilitation units within the
Defence Primary Healthcare organisation. Mental health support is
provided by Departments of Community Mental Health.
UK 1.9. In all cases, after completing their care within the Defence
medical operational capability, Service personnel return to the Defence
population at risk under the purview of Defence Medical Services firm
base medical activities and capability. Administration is undertaken by
their own unit, through personnel recovery units or centres that form the
Defence recovery capability. Firm base clinical services are provided on
a joint basis through Defence Primary Healthcare, Defence Dental
Services and Defence Healthcare Commissioning. A detailed description
of the UK Defence medical organisation is at UK Annex 1A.
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AJP-4.10
UK 1.10. The operational patient care pathway (summarised at UK

Figure 1.3) combines models used in incident management for patients
suffering from injuries caused by trauma and chemical, biological,
radiological and nuclear weapons and links these to the clinical
capabilities described in the ten instruments of military medical care.
The concept illustrates the continuous, seamless, escalatory increase in
clinical care provided to the operational patient. The key to successfully
delivering the operational patient care pathway is to continuously and
incrementally provide clinical care to meet the needs of the patient,
independent of organisational boundaries.
UK 1.11. The principles described in the operational patient care pathway

also apply to clinical support to the Defence population at risk conducting
training and other military activities. It does not, however, encompass
extra clinical capabilities that the firm base health services support
provide (even if delivered outside the UK). The operational patient care
pathway is applicable to casualties requiring both trauma and acute care.
UK Figure 1.3 – Operational patient care pathway care1
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AJP-4.10
UK 1.12 There are two zones of care in the operational patient care
pathway.
• Hot ‘non-permissive’ zone. The hot zone is a non-

permissive environment representing an immediate threat
to personnel from direct fire or a known environmental
threat. Clinical care is limited to care under fire covering
only those techniques necessary to provide immediate
life-saving interventions while the patient is being
extracted. This is likely to be self-administered or buddy-
buddy first aid.
• Warm ‘semi-permissive’ zone. The warm zone is a

semi-permissive environment representing a specific
secondary threat to personnel from indirect fire or other
threats. There is not likely to be a demonstrable ‘hard
edge’ to the warm zone. Clinical care is described as
tactical field care covering those interventions necessary
to save/stabilise life and prepare the patient for medical
evacuation. The casualty collection point is likely to be
within the warm zone. Conceptually, the clean/dirty line
for handing over casualties from the casualty
decontamination area is the edge of the warm zone. The
casualty clearing station is outside the warm zone.
UK 1.13. The area outside the warm zone has explicitly not been
labelled. There may be potential threats to the health service support
system but these are not sufficiently specific to extend the radius of the
warm zone.
UK 1.14. Care of the casualty starts at the point of injury in the hot zone.
The casualty receives care under fire during extraction from the hot
zone, which extends to the remainder of the tactical field care capability.
Casualties are grouped together at the casualty collection point. After
initial triage, casualties are transported to a casualty decontamination
area where they are sanitised to remove any threats to their own health
or that of their carers. If it is not possible to medically evacuate them
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AJP-4.10
directly to deployed hospital care, casualties are transported to a critical

care station for emergency team care pending medical evacuation to
deployed hospital care. Deployed hospital care may be organised in
echelons of care, illustrated schematically as forward and rear.
UK 1.15. Pre-hospital care2 encompasses all aspects of health service

support forward of deployed hospital care. It includes:
• core functions of primary health care;
• pre-hospital emergency care and forward medical

evacuation; and
• force health protection.
All aspects are enabled by medical logistics and medical command,

control, communication, computers and information – organised as a
networked, agile, integrated and layered healthcare system. As such,
the system is configured to ensure that specific healthcare needs are
supported and accessed within accepted timelines.
UK 1.16. Prolonged care is provided to casualties if there is likely to be

a delay in meeting the 10.1.2(2)+2 medical planning guideline.3 Moving
operational patients between deployed hospital care facilities is referred
to as tactical medical evacuation, while moving them from the joint
operations area to Role 44 in the firm base, is called strategic medical
evacuation. The Defence Medical Services Inspector General is
responsible for Defence Medical Services assurance of the operational
patient care pathway under the direction of Surgeon General.
1. The operational patient care pathway provides a template to support medical planning for the
provision of health service support on deployed operations.
2. The term ‘pre-hospital care’ should be used synonymously with the NATO descriptor ‘role 1’.
3. The 10.1.2(2)+2 medical planning guideline is the UK guideline for the location of clinical
capabilities by time in the operational patient care pathway detailed in paragraph UK 1.24.
4. Role 4 medical treatment facilities normally provide definitive care in the firm base.
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AJP-4.10
1.1. The Nature of Medical Support
1.1.1. Purpose of Medical Support
1. The ultimate purpose of medical support is to support the troops in

performing their tasks by preserving and restoring their health and fighting
strength. Health is a key force multiplier of fighting power. Only a healthy
force can function at maximum effort and sustain it. Health in principle is not
merely the absence of injury or disease. In its widest sense it includes
physical and mental well-being. Thus, in an operational context, health is the
ability to carry out duties unimpeded by physical or psychological problems.
2. Appropriate medical support makes a major contribution to both force

protection (FP) and morale by the prevention of disease, rapid evacuation
and treatment of the sick, wounded and injured and the return to duty of as
many individuals as possible.
1.1.2. Responsibility for the Health of the Forces
1. Responsibilities of the Nations. At all times, nations remain the risk

owners. Therefore they retain their legal duty of care as an employer of their
military. However, upon Transfer of Authority (TOA), the NATO commander
shares that responsibility. Increasingly, due to national capability shortfalls,
medical support is delivered via multinational solutions, potentially
transferring a greater responsibility to the NATO commander.1 Coupled with
this is the requirement to ensure the ability of the Alliance to generate forces
and their support capabilities for operations. Multinational solutions in this
area are based on common risk and burden sharing and on acceptance of
the Alliance's defence planning targets by the nations. Acceptance of these
capability requirements results in appropriate national medical capability
development plans and resource allocation in support of the Alliance's Level
of Ambition. The medical personnel will advise on health matters and nations
deliver the medical care required, but only the Commander can balance the
health and medical risks involved in his plan and decide if they are
acceptable.
1
The level of responsibility held by the NATO commander will be governed by the agreements made by the nations
establishing the units concerned. Even when a Multinational Medical Unit is not under NATO command, the NATO staff
may exercise a coordinating and mediating function between the nations.
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AJP-4.10
2. Responsibilities of the Commander. Whilst shared with the nations,

the duty of care for all personnel within a command rests with the Operational
Commander. This encompasses the full spectrum of health and medical
issues (including clear and tailored mechanisms of activation and use of
national Medical Evacuation (MedEvac) assets, Medical Treatment Facilities
(MTFs) and the medical lessons learned process). Consequently,
commanders need to be advised by medical staff in order to ensure their
decisions and the actions of their subordinates, which may affect the health
of personnel, are based on proper information. An appropriately sized
medical staff element needs to be present within the operational
headquarters, in order to be fully aware of the operational situation and to be
able to respond in a timely manner to ensure optimal health and treatment
outcome. Direct access of the Medical Advisor to the Commander is
essential to ensure timely intervention in all health and medical support
matters that require the Commander`s attention, decision or action.
1.1.3. Fundamental Principles of Medical Support
Medical support should provide the best possible standard of care to the
force it supports. However, the environment in which medical support to
NATO operations has to be provided differs significantly from those within the
national home base. Thus, whilst medical support will strive to fulfil the laws,
rules and requirements set out in national systems or by international
organisations, operational circumstances may necessitate the implementation
of changes in order to achieve the most appropriate level of care for a
deployed force. The Committee of the Chiefs of Military Medical Services in
NATO (COMEDS) has established the following set of fundamental principles
to deal with this challenge inherent in such situations:
1. Compliance with the Law of Armed Conflict (LoAC) and

Humanitarian Conventions. The conduct of medical activities will comply
with the rules and spirit laid down by the LoAC. 2 In circumstances where
specific provisions of these conventions may not be directly applicable, the
2
In this context, law of armed conflict includes the provisions of the Hague and Geneva Conventions that
are in force, as well as other applicable conventions. The Geneva Conventions of 1949 are widely accepted
as customary international law. Not all NATO Member States have accepted the Additional Protocols to the
Geneva Conventions of 1977. However, a number of Articles in both Additional Protocols are considered to
be customary international law binding on all nations regardless of ratification of Protocols I and II. NATO
personnel must follow their respective national law in determining the applicable international law binding on
their actions.
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AJP-4.10
principles expressed in the LoAC nevertheless define the minimum

acceptable standard. Primarily, within the framework of established mission
population at risk, 3 without discrimination, all sick, injured, shipwrecked or
wounded shall be treated solely on the basis of clinical need and the
availability of medical resources. 4
UK 1.17. International Humanitarian Law (sometimes referred to as the

Law of Armed Conflict) has implications for health service support.
Examples include the restrictions on the arming of medical personnel and
the use of ambulances. UK Annex 1B outlines these implications and
highlights areas that we need to consider specifically.
2. Medical Ethics and Legal Constraints. Whilst all military personnel

are bound by military laws and regulations, medical personnel also have
additional individual responsibilities to the ethical and national legal
requirements of their own clinical profession. Coordinated national and
NATO Standing Operating Procedures will outline the legal framework for the
safe and secure activity of medical personnel on operations in accordance
with all applicable law.
3. Best Medical Practice. The standards of care available can have a

permanent effect upon the outcome of treatment for the patient and the
effects of poor quality can rarely be reversed later. Every effort should be
made to ensure that medical care is based on internationally accepted best
medical practice. Compliance with this principle has to be ensured by a
quality assurance system in order to achieve Continuous Improvement in
Healthcare Support on Operations (CIHSO). 5 A valuable tool in defining,
distributing and implementing improved medical practice is the medical
lessons learned process.
3
This military interpretation/application of the general guideline assures mission oriented effective use of the
available medical capabilities, and reflects the military restraints that no dedicated military assets are for
purely civilian purposes.
4
This military interpretation/application of the general guideline assures mission oriented effective use of the
available medical capabilities, and reflects the military restraints that no dedicated military assets are for
purely civilian purposes.
5
Continuous improvement is the process by which best practice is shared, and challenges acknowledged
and reflected upon, in order to learn from experience and so optimize healthcare support on deployed
operations (see Paragraph 1.1.7. ff.).
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AJP-4.10
4. Patient Welfare. Medical care is important but it is not the only

element of health care. In addition to physical well-being the general welfare
of patients is almost equally as important. Other military staff functions such
as J1, J3 and J4 also have important responsibilities. For example,
communication with command staff and relatives, for the management of
personal affairs and provision of, psychological support, social and spiritual
welfare.
5. Timeliness of Treatment. Time is a fundamental factor in the

effectiveness of medical care. The time taken until the receipt of appropriate
medical intervention will affect the general outcome of medical care, including
the risk of death, the speed of recovery and the level of residual disability.
Therefore, the allocation of medical resources has to ensure the timely
provision of medical care. Trained non-medical first responders, capable of
providing emergency life saving procedures as soon as possible within ten
minutes after injury, will help to improve treatment outcomes and save lives.
Clinical treatment and evacuation time-lines in operations have been
incorporated as the basis for medical doctrine (see also paragraph 1.1.6. ff.).
Their implementation needs to be ensured by clear command and control
(C2) over MedEvac assets and the appropriate placement MTFs.
6. Continuity of Care. A casualty’s recovery will depend on the

continuance of appropriate care. Continuity of care means uninterrupted and
appropriate medical attention and response to the needs of casualties
throughout the chain of their medical treatment and evacuation. Patients
passing through the medical system must be given continuous and relevant
care. Casualties must be managed continually until they reach definitive
care. Care must be available when patients are in transit during medical
evacuation and the clinical condition of the individual is the key factor
governing the timing, means and destination of the patient’s evacuation.
Medical care is normally provided in a progressive manner through the
different response capabilities during the continuum of care – from point of
injury or sickness through evacuation to specialized care and eventually to
definitive treatment and rehabilitation. However, specific injuries or diseases
as well as limited treatment capacity might require bypassing the nearest
medical treatment facility.
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AJP-4.10
7. Compatibility of the Medical System. Adequate medical support is

a fundamental element of any force development/generation process and
medical elements need to be as well prepared, equipped, trained, and readily
available for deployment as the forces they support.
8. Multinationality. Multinational medical solutions have considerable

potential to reduce the burden of medical capability provision upon individual
nations. However, the existence of national differences such as varying
clinical protocols, different languages and legal restrictions, means that
achieving multinational cooperation in practice can be complex and
challenging. Joint multinational training with a high degree of reality will pay
many dividends for NATO operations by improving medical competencies
supporting operational requirements and enhancing the interoperability of
material, personnel and procedures of contributing nations. Multinational
solutions may be extended to certain medical capabilities contracted from
civilian providers to support operations for which military capabilities are
either not available or not appropriate for the circumstances.
1.1.4. Standards of care
1. Military medicine is highly specialised. Due to the environment and

conditions in which it is frequently practised, the procedures will not always
be the same as those in home base locations. The standards of care
available can have a permanent effect upon outcome and the effects of poor
quality can rarely be reversed later.
2. The Primacy of Clinical Need. Clinical need is to be the principal

factor governing the priority, timing and means of medical care and
evacuation afforded to a patient. The resulting requirements then need to be
balanced with the operational objectives and their possible impact on the
accomplishment of the mission.
3. The Universal Provision of Acute Emergency Care. Although the

Operational Commander has the authority to limit the availability of military
medical support to third parties, acute emergency treatment of life
threatening conditions must not normally be denied within the
capability/capacity of the medical resources deployed.
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AJP-4.10
4. Medical Confidentiality. The confidentiality of the care provider-

patient relationship is essential for the trust of patients in their care provider.
It is often protected by national laws and thus should be respected in the
military as it is in civil life. Therefore, sensitive clinical information is not to be
communicated to any individual or organisation that does not have a
legitimate need-to-know.
UK 1.18. Defence Medical Service’s approach. The standard of

healthcare delivered by the Defence Medical Services in Afghanistan
(and resultant patient outcomes) provide the baseline that the UK
aspires to deliver on future operations. Any risks identified by medical
planners, that may compromise this standard, must be highlighted to
operational commanders so that they can be properly mitigated, or a
decision taken to manage the risk.
UK 1.19. Medical care standards for UK military personnel. Military

medicine is highly specialised. The standards of care available may
have a permanent effect on clinical outcomes – and the effects of poor
care can rarely be reversed. Patients should receive the highest
practicable level of medical care in suitable clinical environments. The
Defence Medical Services (whether deployed or in the firm base) is
expected to deliver a standard of healthcare to our Armed Forces that
will be at least equal to the care provided by the National Health
Service. Effective healthcare governance is necessary to support this.
It is essential that military planners factor into the campaign plan such
structures and processes to enable governance and assurance to take
place.
UK 1.20. Healthcare governance. Providing medical support is

actively managed through a healthcare governance process. This is a
system through which medical organisations are accountable for
continuously improving the quality of their services and safeguarding
high standards of care by creating an environment in which clinical
excellence will flourish. Basic components are a coherent approach to
improving clinical effectiveness, continually using auditing, ongoing
professional development and establishing effective processes for
identifying and managing risk and addressing poor performance.
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AJP-4.10
Healthcare governance is fundamental to health service support since it

governs how, and to what extent, medical capability is delivered.
Healthcare governance demands a qualitative approach, based upon
best practice and delivered through organisations, training, clinical
environment and equipment. We can only show that quality
improvement has been achieved if systems and processes exist to
collect and exploit healthcare information. Maintaining and improving
our standards must then be confirmed through a robust assurance
process using the common assurance framework. Joint Service
Publication 950, leaflet 5-1-4, Healthcare Governance and Assurance in
the Defence Medical Services, provides detailed direction.
1.1.5. Casualty Response
1. In order to achieve the best possible outcome after injury or wounding,

a continuous and flexible system of casualty response needs to be
established in allied operations. This comprehensive system needs to
incorporate all necessary components of medical support (as described in
1.2.), but will usually be focused on providing emergency care and surgery.
2. Emergency care (resuscitation and stabilization) including surgery

when necessary render the casualty transportable to a suitable MTF for
further treatment.
3. Damage Control Resuscitation (DCR). DCR is a systematic

approach to dealing with major trauma combining the catastrophic bleeding,
airway, breathing and circulation paradigm with a series of clinical techniques
from immediate life-saving measures up to surgical interventions in order to
minimise blood loss, maximise tissue oxygenation and optimise outcome.
4. Surgery is normally performed at Role 2 and Role 3 MTFs.

Whenever the patient’s condition permits, it should be started ideally within
the first hour of trauma management, as the delay to the initiation of surgery
may lead to an increase in mortality, 6 morbidity7 and residual disability. 8
6
Number of deaths in a given area or period, or from a particular cause.
7
Rate at which an illness occurs in a particular area or population.
8
Inability to function normally, physically or mentally.
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AJP-4.10
5. Surgery at a medical treatment facility will always be fitted to the

specific pattern of injury and general condition of the patient. Therefore it may
not be definitive surgical treatment, rather it may be the initial effort required
to save life and limb and preserve function to the greatest extent possible.
UK 1.21. Within the Defence Medical Services, damage control

resuscitation is a component of progressive resuscitation – both are
described below.
• Progressive resuscitation. Progressive resuscitation is

the use of multiple techniques in clinical care to restore
physiological function for critically ill or injured patients.
Progressive resuscitation incorporates damage control
resuscitation for care of the trauma patient.
• Damage control resuscitation. Damage control

resuscitation uses hybrid resuscitation techniques; for
example the use of sufficient intravenous fluids to
maintain a radial pulse plus a combination of blood
replacement therapies for trauma.
6. Damage Control Surgery (DCS). DCS is a surgical intervention

where the completeness of the immediate surgical repair is sacrificed to
achieve haemorrhage and contamination control, in order to avoid a
deterioration of the patient’s condition. 9 It consists of emergency surgical
procedures and treatment to stabilize casualties, in order to save life, limb or
function, including rapid initial control of haemorrhage and contamination,
temporary closure, and resuscitation. These procedures depend largely on
the ability to provide advanced intensive care and are therefore an inter-
disciplinary effort rather than a surgical challenge. They call for proper pre-
operative planning as well as good perioperative coordination between the
various involved specialists. DCS should be followed later on by further
surgical interventions, which are delayed until the various physiological and
other relevant parameters have been restored to as close to normal as
possible.
9
The deterioration of a patient’s condition is the result of the initial trauma combined with possible
physiological consequences of surgery.
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AJP-4.10
7. A patient may therefore require a series of surgical interventions in

different MTFs with different and generally increasing medical capabilities.
This concept of a staged casualty response allows forward medical facilities
to be more mobile and concentrate specialized and resource-intensive
casualty care in more secure areas where MTFs are not subject to frequent
changes in location in accordance with the tactical situation. However, it also
places a strong emphasis on continuity and quality of care during MedEvac,
particularly between MTF Role 2 and Role 3.
In-theatre surgery
UK 1.22. Damage control surgery should be followed later by further

surgery, which should be delayed until the various physiological and
other relevant parameters have been restored to as close to normal as
possible. This type of treatment is called in-theatre surgery and can only
occur within a deployed hospital care unit. This usually requires a
combination of vascular, gastrointestinal or orthopaedic surgery and
should include burns and plastic surgery wherever possible.
UK 1.23. In-theatre surgery may consist of several surgical procedures

spread over a period of time. It may also require moving patients
between medical treatment facilities within a theatre of operations.
When assessing a patient’s condition to move, medical staff need to
consider:
• the need to halt physiological deterioration and adequate

debridement;
• anatomical repair and therapeutic intervention to allow
safe evacuation to a definitive care facility where
necessary;
• extended evacuation timelines that demand further
definitive surgical interventions for patient safety;
• appropriate definitive surgery to permit deliberate
retention in-theatre; and
• appropriate definitive surgery for patients ineligible for
evacuation out of theatre.
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AJP-4.10
1.1.6. Clinical Timelines
1. Clinical evidence shows that the risk of death or permanent

impairment is significantly reduced if injured or wounded personnel are
treated as soon as possible after injury or wounding.
2. Based on this evidence NATO aims to provide appropriate life, limb

and functions10 saving treatment within specific clinical timelines. This has
become known as the 10-1-2 Timeline It consists of:
a. Enhanced first aid. Immediate life saving measures applied by

personnel trained in tactical combat casualty care. Bleeding and
airway control for the most severely injured casualties is to be
achieved within 10 minutes of wounding.
b. Damage control resuscitation. Measures 11 commenced by

emergency medical personnel within 1 hour of wounding.
c. Damage control surgery. Depending on the specific and

individual requirement the aim is to be able to provide damage
control surgery (DCS) within 1 hour, but no later than 2 hours of
wounding.
3. The 10-1-2 Timeline emphasises the crucial importance of initial

response at point of injury. The provision of bleeding and airway control for
the most seriously injured must take place within 10 minutes of injury. To
achieve this, sufficient NATO force personnel need to be trained and
competent to deliver enhanced first aid, principally to stop bleeding and
secure the airway. Medical service personnel skilled in pre-hospital care12
need to be placed in support of troops at risk and be able to sustain
casualties until the arrival of medical evacuation.
However, for the planning of operational medical support, clinical
requirements need to be set within the operational context of the specific
10
Including functions such as eye-sight, use of extremities etc.
11
Advanced skilled medical aid that is provided by the military medical services (e.g. doctors, nurses or
paramedics), using personnel with competences that include awareness and experience of the pre-hospital
environment and the equipment needed to apply those skills.
12
The level of pre-hospital emergency care skills required should be determined during the medical planning
process, taking into account factors such as threat, likely nature of injuries, climate and environment.
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AJP-4.10
mission. For that reason, specific medical planning timelines are described in
Chapter 2 (2.3.2.7).
UK 1.24. 10.1.2(2)+2 medical planning guideline. The 10.1.2(2)+2

medical planning guideline (UK Figure 1.4) is the UK guideline for the
location of clinical capabilities, by time, in the operational patient care
pathway. It is the default for medical operational planning and the
operational commander must own the responsibility for any deviations
from this guideline. The speed and quality of medical care can reduce
the mortality and morbidity of operational patients. The ideal is always to
deliver expert care as soon as possible after wounding. Evacuation
should be to the most appropriate facility to treat the casualty, noting that
the most appropriate facility may not necessarily be the closest. A
detailed description of the planning guideline is below.
• 10 minutes – enhanced first aid. Enhanced first aid is

those immediate life saving measures that are given to the
casualty by personnel trained in enhanced first aid. Bleeding,
airway control and administering personal medical
countermeasures for the most severely injured patients must be
done within ten minutes of wounding (the so-called platinum ten
minutes). For the UK, this treatment is usually done by the
qualified team medic, although personnel from the Defence
Medical Services may also be tactically located to support this
need.
• 1 hour – enhanced field care.5 Defence Medical Services

personnel must start enhanced field care measures within one
hour of wounding in an appropriate clinical working
environment.6
• 2 hours – damage control surgery and acute medicine.

Patients needing surgery should receive treatment in a facility
manned and equipped for damage control surgery (noting the
complexity of injuries on operations). Depending on the specific
operational circumstances, the aim should be to provide
damage control surgery within one hour, but no later than two
hours of wounding. Acute medicine is the equivalent clinical
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AJP-4.10
capability for non-surgical emergencies. Both damage control

surgery and acute medicine should always be supported by a
critical care unit. These interventions are designed to stabilise
the patient pending further medical evacuation.
• (2) – damage control surgery planning timeline. A

patient will routinely take a minimum period of 2 hours to
receive damage control surgery. This figure should be used as
a planning guideline.
• +2 hours – in-theatre surgery. Further in-theatre surgery

and enhanced diagnostics should be available within two hours
of tactical evacuation from damage control surgery/acute
medicine for the severely injured. If strategic medical
evacuation timelines prevent this guideline being met7 deploying
in-theatre specialist capabilities may be required.
Forward MEDEVAC
Warm zone Clean/dirty line

Casualty Deployed
Hot zon10
e collection hospital STRATEVAC Role 4
point Casualty care
Point of 1 Casualty
decontamination clearing (forward)
injury 2area (2) +2
station
TACEVAC
Pre-hospital emergency care Deployed

hospital
care
Tactical field care Enhanced (rear)
Care field care
under fire
Damage control surgery
Progressive resuscitation (including damage control resuscitation)
Prolonged field care Prolonged hospital care
Defence Medical Services assurance
Legend
MEDEVAC Medical evacuation STRATEVAC Strategic evacuation TACEVAC Tactical evacuation
UK Figure 1.4 – UK medical planning guidelines
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AJP-4.10
UK 1.25. The first phase of the medical planning guideline 10.1.2 is

cumulative in nature with a limit of 2 hours from point of injury to damage
control surgery. A figure of (2) is used as a minimum planning timeline for
a patient to receive damage control surgery. The ‘+2’ describes the
maximum time for the tactical evacuation of a patient from damage
control surgery to in-theatre surgery/enhanced diagnostics within a joint
area of operations. The planning time for a patient to receive in-
theatre surgery/enhanced diagnostics is 6 hours. The total time of 6
hours consists of the cumulative 10.1.2 added to the (2) for damage
control surgery and the +2 hours for transport to in-theatre
surgery/enhanced diagnostics.
UK 1.26. All time delays carry clinical risk for patients. It is for
commanders, advised by their medical staff, to balance these risks with
operational and other factors and to determine whether or not the risks
are acceptable. To achieve this in practice, the 10.1.2(2)+2 medical
planning guideline informs decision-making regarding the configuration
and location of the medical evacuation and treatment assets needed to
provide appropriate medical coverage to the supported force. While
primarily expressed as time for trauma patients, the principles also apply
to non-trauma patients. Evidence from accumulated experience in lraq,
Afghanistan and earlier campaigns, shows that there are three key
timelines from point of injury to first surgical intervention and a fourth for
in-theatre specialist clinical care (specific terms are defined in the section
on deployed hospital care).
5. Enhanced field care is defined under pre-hospital emergency care at paragraph UK 1.27 (3).
6. An appropriate clinical working environment is defined as having environmental control, adequate
lighting and fully (ideally 360 degree) access to patient.
7. Defence Science & Technological Laboratories (Dstl) is examining the specific time upon which to
set this threshold. If changed, an amendment to this publication will be published.
1.1.7. Continuous improvement in Healthcare support on operations
1. Lessons identified and lessons learnt from exercises and operations

are of the utmost importance for the future development of medical
structures, capabilities, organizations and procedures. Medical units and
headquarters medical staffs have a key role to play by clearly identifying
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AJP-4.10
lessons within their routine reports and the chain of command must ensure all
potential lessons are correctly staffed and contribute to the analysis process.
2. Continuous Improvement in Healthcare Support on Operations

(CIHSO) is the process by which best practice is shared, and challenges
acknowledged and reflected upon, in order to learn from experience and so
optimize healthcare support on deployed operations. It provides assurance
that the healthcare provided is meeting the standards expected.13
3. CIHSO provides assurance in four ways:
a. Risk management. Identifying and reporting risks and issues in

order to communicate them and take corrective or mitigating
action where necessary.
b. Sharing best practice. Providing the opportunity to learn from the

experiences of others, in order to continually improve the
standard of healthcare provided.
c. Sustaining a learning organization. Facilitating the learning of its

members and continuously transforms itself. This requires co-
operation between individuals and groups, free and reliable
communication, and a culture of trust.
d. Building capacity. Long term sustainability of medical support to

operations essentially requires that capabilities and capacity
within all the NATO nations and their partners are sustained and
developed.
13
As mandated by MC 326/3 ‘NATO Principles and Policies of Medical Support’ and COMEDS (see
th
COMEDS [Chair] L [2008]0011 minutes of 30 COMEDS Plenary, 26 – 28 November 2008).
1-21
AJP-4.10
1.2. Components of Deployed Health Care
The ten instruments of military medical care
UK 1.27. The ten instruments of military medical care incorporate the

seven capabilities of operational care8 which form the UK components of
deployed healthcare. We need to consider these essential capabilities to
deliver effective health service support on operations. The Defence
Medical Services must be able to generate medical force elements
against these instruments, mission-tailored to the scale and complexity of
a specific operation. The ten instruments of military medical care are
described below.
1. Medical command, control, communication, computers

and information. Medical command, control, communication,
computers and information are the authority, processes,
communications architecture and information management
resources employed in managing the Defence medical
operational capability system.
2. Force health protection. Force health protection is

described as the conservation of the fighting potential of a force
so that it is healthy, fully combat effective and can be applied at
the decisive time and place. It consists of actions taken to
counter the debilitating effects of environment, disease and
selected special weapon systems through preventive measures
for personnel, systems and operational formations. It considers
force preparation measures, environmental health advice, in-
theatre preventive measures, post-exposure measures and
rehabilitating the force. Force health protection must include
competent medical advice in force health protection for
chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. Force
health protection incorporates medical intelligence. Medical
intelligence is information derived from the analysis of medical,
bio-scientific, epidemiological, environmental and other
information related to human or animal health.
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AJP-4.10
3. Pre-hospital emergency care. Pre-hospital emergency

care is the system of emergency care provided to a casualty (by
individuals or teams) from first clinical intervention at point of
injury through to reception of the operational patient at deployed
hospital care. The primary clinical output is progressive
resuscitation. Pre-hospital emergency care comprises of four
clinical phases, one non-clinical node and two clinical nodes of
care.
• Tactical field care. Tactical field care covers those

interventions needed to save/stabilise life and prepare
the casualty for medical evacuation. It can be
provided by any extended-trained individual (for
example, team medic). Tactical field care incorporates
care under fire.
• Care under fire. Care under fire covers those

techniques needed to give immediate life-saving
interventions to the casualty in the hot zone while the
patient is being extracted. Care under fire is the basis
of all first aid training taught to our Armed Forces.
• Enhanced field care. Enhanced field care is

emergency clinical care usually provided by a clinical
team in a more permissive environment using
battlefield advanced trauma life support, chemical,
biological, radiological and nuclear emergency medical
treatment and other progressive clinical techniques.
• Prolonged care. Prolonged care applies extra

techniques to sustain the casualty if any component of
the 10.1.2(2)+2 medical planning guideline is likely to
be exceeded.9 Delivering prolonged care will require
the medical techniques, skills and capabilities required
to hold a patient for a protracted period of time.
Prolonged care includes the sub-categories:
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AJP-4.10
o prolonged field care (covering those techniques

suitable for use in the pre-hospital emergency care
clinical phase); and
o prolonged hospital care (covering those

techniques suitable for use in the deployed hospital
care clinical phase).
• Prolonged field care techniques may be adapted to

meet a specific tactical situation. The quality of
prolonged field care provided in non-permissive
environments, where there is a threat to security, may
require to be compromised. Similarly, improvised
methods of prolonged care may be important in semi-
permissive environments where conditions are
austere. However, permissive situations should be
used as an opportunity to adopt a controlled response,
optimising the standard of prolonged care.
• Casualty decontamination area. The casualty

decontamination area is the location where any threat
of contamination is removed from a casualty to prevent
any future threat to the patient’s health or the
operational patient care system. This is not a clinical
node of care and may be performed by non-medical
personnel trained for this role, especially in a chemical,
biological, radiological and nuclear threat environment.
• Casualty collection point. The casualty collection

point is the first location where operational casualties
from an incident are collected after evacuation from
the hot zone and where tactical field care is
undertaken. It is likely to be in the warm zone and
manned by one or more designated Defence Medical
Services individuals. In the land environment, the
equivalent is a company aid post, while the maritime
equivalent it is the first aid post afloat.
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AJP-4.10
• Casualty clearing station. The casualty clearing

station is where medical force elements deliver
enhanced field care to its patients, usually supervised
by an independent practitioner. The environment
specific force elements are likely to be a unit aid post
(Army), medical reception station (Army), sick bay or
first aid post (Royal Navy), role 1(5) (Royal Air Force).
4. Primary health care. Primary health care covers those

comprehensive community medical services that contribute to
protecting, maintaining and restoring the health of the Defence
population at risk. It is often provided by medical forces
elements within the casualty clearing station function.
5. Deployed hospital care. Deployed hospital care covers

those clinical services provided by clinical personnel usually
employed within hospitals. Access to deployed hospital care
within the 10.1.2(2)+2 medical planning guideline is an essential
component of the operational patient care pathway. Where
time/distance precludes providing a single deployed hospital
care facility, it may be echeloned into deployed hospital care
facilities illustrated as forward and rear facilities, though an
individual may be treated in more than two deployed hospital
care facilities. For example, a patient may initially receive
damage control surgery in a role 2 light manoeuvre unit, have
general in-theatre surgery in a role 2 enhanced facility and then
be transferred to a role 3 facility for sub-specialist care
(including ophthalmology or neurosurgery) prior to strategic
evacuation. This includes established facilities in the maritime
environment. Deployed hospital care forward facilities are likely
to be mobile to provide progressive resuscitation and damage
control surgery within two hours. Deployed hospital care rear
facilities in the land environment are likely to be static with more
mobile assets in the maritime environment. Deployed hospital
care will be focused on providing in-theatre surgery and
extended diagnostics within two hours of damage control
surgery. Deployed hospital care covers damage control surgery
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AJP-4.10
and in-theatre surgery, as defined earlier, and the following

specific clinical concepts.
• Enhanced diagnostics. Enhanced diagnostics are

those clinical support activities (for example, a
computerised tomography scan if not available as part
of damage control surgery, interventional radiology
and specialist laboratory support including
biochemistry, haematology and microbiology testing)
that enable clinical therapies to address the specific
cause of injury or illness that are additional to generic
stabilising therapies.
• Mission-specific clinical capabilities. Mission-

specific clinical capabilities are those clinical and
clinical support capabilities that are mission-tailored for
each specific operation dependent on the threat and
medical rules of eligibility. For example, care of
captured personnel, emergency care for paediatric
patients, tropical medicine or genito-urinary medicine.
6. Medical evacuation. Medical evacuation10 is moving

casualties under medical supervision in a designated transport
platform equipped for role. Medical evacuation is controlled by
a patient evacuation coordination cell that operates under the
authority of the battlespace owner to ensure that medical
evacuation platforms conform to the tactical environment. The
patient evacuation coordination cell is responsible for ensuring
the right patient is collected from the right pick-up point,
transported to the right destination in the right platform, with the
right medical escort in the right time frame. There are three
categories of medical evacuation.
• Forward medical evacuation moves patients from

point of injury/illness up to deployed hospital care,
under medical supervision in a designated transport
platform equipped for role (including to/from the critical
care station).11
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AJP-4.10
• Tactical medical evacuation is moving patients

between deployed hospital care facilities within a
theatre of operations.
• Strategic medical evacuation is moving patients

from the theatre of operations to usually role 4 in the
UK or a facility with standards equivalent to the
National Health Service.
7. Medical logistics. Medical logistics is the process of

procuring, storing, moving, distributing, maintaining and
positioning medical material and pharmaceuticals, including
blood, blood components and medical gases, to provide
effective medical support.
8. Firm base. The firm base includes those capabilities that

provide health service support to the Defence population at risk
within the strategic base, less the Royal Centre for Defence
Medicine and Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre which are
role 4 operational. The firm base plays a vital role in
maintaining business as usual including:
• personnel force generation to deploy on operations;

• maintaining force elements at readiness;
• providing a manning and training margin for
commitments; and
• supporting resilience in the UK.
9. The medical contribution to security and stabilisation.

The medical contribution to security and stabilisation is where
health service support can play a definitive role in delivering
operational effect as well as the operational patient care
pathway. These include humanitarian assistance and disaster
relief operations, security sector reform and civilian health
sector development. Medical force elements may need to
provide capability to support such areas.
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AJP-4.10
10. Research and innovation. Research and innovation is

used to develop concepts and practical applications that can
contribute to sustaining health on operations. This is delivered
by Medical Directorate and is supported through the operational
healthcare cycle. Perpetual research and innovation enables
us to deliver world leading health service support.
8. Medical command, control, communication, computers and information, force health protection,
pre-hospital emergency care, primary healthcare, deployed hospital care, medical evacuation and
medical logistics.
9. The preferred course of action is always to move the casualty to the next level of care at the
earliest opportunity.
10. Medical evacuation must be considered as a tactical activity controlled by the battle space owner
at all levels and intimately supported by the function of casualty regulation linked to allied and host
nation healthcare networks.
11. Moving casualties in a non-designated vehicle without a medical escort is termed casualty
evacuation (CASEVAC).
UK 1.28. Medical lexicon. The UK, NATO and US use many of the
terms described in the ten instruments of military health care. However,
the supporting definitions are often different. UK Annex 1C shows the
UK definitions against the NATO and US terms or equivalent
descriptions.
1.2.1 Medical Command, Control and Communication and Information

Systems 14
1. Medical Command and Control. A dedicated and structured

command and control system is the essential foundation of an efficient
medical support structure. This system, supported by a reliable and secure
communications and information management system must be capable of
planning, executing, controlling, supporting and auditing the full spectrum of
medical support functions. The medical command system should seamlessly
provide all resources required to support treatment, evacuation and flow of
information from initial point of wounding, injury or sickness through
evacuation to definitive treatment and final disposition.
14
Chapter 5 of this publication and AJMedP-5 Allied Joint Medical Doctrine for Medical Communications and
Information Systems deal with Communications and Medical Information Management in further detail.
Chapter 10 provides further detail on Medical Command and Control with special regard to multinational
aspects.
1-28
AJP-4.10
2. Medical Command and Control Responsibilities. MC326/3 NATO

Principles and Policies of Medical Support specifically recognises two key
roles in the provision of medical command and control:
a. Medical Advisor. The Medical Advisor (MEDAD) is responsible

for providing appropriate medical advice to their commanders,
ensuring that the commander and the commander’s staff are
properly aware of the health and medical implications of their
actions as well as any force health issues connected to the
operation. Direct access of Medical Advisors to their commander
and other key command staff elements is a prerequisite for
ensuring effective medical support. Structural or organizational
arrangements that separate medical staff from the commander
and the commander’s staff create potential obstacles to the
provision of dedicated medical advice and carry the risk of
adverse casualty or health outcomes for a force deployed on
operations. Medical personnel must be fully integrated into the
staff and operational planning processes and appropriately
represented on reconnaissance teams. The medical staff
supporting the Medical Advisor must be adequate in size,
equipment, training and experience, with clear and tailored
authority to undertake appropriate and timely actions, including
medical planning.
b. Medical Director. The Medical Director (MEDDIR) is the head of

the medical organization in a formation or a theatre of operations
and thus responsible for timely medical planning and co-
ordination. Usually the Medical Advisor to the joint force
commander will be appointed as the Medical Director of that
particular Joint Force. On behalf of the joint force commander,
the MEDDIR will define the necessary medical support system,
determining the appropriate medical requirements to be met by
the attached forces for this particular operation. Further details on
the role and responsibilities of the MEDDIR are stated in
paragraph 10.4.3. ff.
3. Casualty Regulation. There are two main aspects to casualty

regulation: firstly it is the management of the flow of casualties to the
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AJP-4.10
appropriate MTF, particularly at times when the number, type or severity of

injuries is higher than normal. Secondly, casualty regulation is a function of
the chain of command and should be capable of providing timely and
accurate tracking information throughout the evacuation chain.
4. Communications and Medical Information Management. The

efficient management of medical information, particularly regarding the status
and location of patients, is a vital element in the effective execution of
medical support. It is essential that this information is distributed rapidly to all
authorised personnel. Key medical information management issues will be:
a. Passage of Information. Medical decision-making is dependent

on the efficient processing and distribution of environmental,
tactical, and casualty data. Such information is fundamental to
effective medical planning, deployment health surveillance15 and
the administration of personnel support to the deployed force.
b. Patient Tracking and Regulation. Both patient tracking and

regulation require up to date and accurate information about
individual casualties and the availability of appropriate treatment
and evacuation assets.
c. Patient Data. In a multinational environment medical

documentation should be interoperable throughout the theatre of
operations and in all national contingents. Medical data must
move with the patient through the evacuation system to definitive
care. Clinical records, including post-mortem reports and
evidence related to deaths in theatre, must be accurately
maintained for the use of official national or international audit and
boards of inquiry.
d. Telemedicine. Telemedicine uses advanced medical and

communication technology to enable those responsible for
provision of health care in a deployed or isolated location to
access appropriate clinical advice and specialist guidance when
15
A process for the monitoring of the medical conditions of military personnel
including identification of the population at risk, assessing the health of this population through pre-, during
and post-deployment health assessments, identifying potential health hazards, assessing these hazards,
employing specific countermeasures, and monitoring health outcomes.
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AJP-4.10
needed. For example, enabling a healthcare provider (and

potentially patients themselves) to obtain advice from specialist
advice such as dermatologists, radiologists, infectious disease
specialists, etc. Though it cannot replace traditional direct
referrals and consultations, it does complement them. It
increases the capabilities available to a deployed force and can
make best use of the full range of skills within a multinational
theatre of operations. The increased communications bandwidth
needed to support the use of telemedicine needs to be
considered during the planning of medical support to operations.
1.2.2. Medical Intelligence 16
One of the essential requirements of medical support in the decision making

process is the availability of reliable, timely, specific and applicable medical
intelligence, from the initial planning stage throughout the operation as well
as during and after deployment. Medical intelligence includes the
assessment of hazards of operational concern such as infectious diseases,
environmental and industrial health issues, other public health events, CBRN
threats, as well as an assessment of the medical capabilities of host nations,
other civil actors and opponents. All such factors need to be taken into
account to ensure the medical support provided meets the likely needs of the
deployed force. Medical Intelligence contributes to intelligence preparation of
the operational environment and the overall force protection concept.
1.2.3. Force Health Protection 17
1. Force Health Protection (FHP)18 measures are an essential element of

every operational plan and critical for keeping commanders informed on the
overall readiness status of the force from a health perspective. The primary
aim of FHP is casualty prevention through the robust implementation of
comprehensive disease and injury prevention, health protection and
surveillance capabilities (including veterinary services and environmental
16
Chapter 4 of this publication and AJMedP-3 Allied Joint Medical Doctrine for Medical Intelligence describe
Medical Intelligence in more detail.
17
Chapter 5 of this publication and AJMedP-4 Allied Joint Medical Force Health Protection Doctrine provide
more details on Force Health Protection.
18
Actions taken to counter the effects of the environment, occupational health risks, and disease through
preventive and reactive measures.
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AJP-4.10
health) that will promote, improve, or conserve the mental and physical well-
being of the deployed force. An implemented health threat surveillance and
assessment process will determine the full effect of health threats on the
mission and provide solutions for how these effects can be eliminated or
mitigated to the greatest extent possible.
2. Elements of the FHP programme, such as vaccination or food and

water vulnerability assessments, may in fact be decisive factors in how
quickly an operation can commence, and protective measures will frequently
require implementation as soon as the decision is taken to commit to action.
The plan will continue throughout the deployment and must extend well into
the post-deployment period.
3. Restriction of Movement. Advising the Operational Commander on

the requirements for any Restriction of Movement (RoM) measures is a
medical responsibility whenever there is a suspected or confirmed outbreak
of a contagious disease, environmental health or use of a contagious
biological warfare agent. The commander should seek legal advice when
contemplating imposition of isolation and quarantine measures.
4. Protection against the use of WMD requires a comprehensive and

integrated approach including vaccination, chemoprophylaxis, 19 collective
and personal protection. Medical personnel in WMD scenarios must have all
the necessary tools, equipment and assets, and be trained appropriately to
be able to conduct effective consequence management, including timely
casualty collection, decontamination, evacuation and treatment.
1.2.4. Medical Capabilities
1. Deployed medical capabilities must correspond to the mission,

strength and composition of the force they support and the assessed
environmental and health risks the deployed force will face. Operational
medical support capabilities deploy alongside the forces they are tasked to
support, being held at the same readiness state. They must be capable of
adapting progressively as the deployed force strength or mission specific
risks change and be able to meet peak casualty rates in excess of expected
daily rates.
19
Disease prevention by use of chemicals or drugs.
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AJP-4.10
2. Medical support to NATO operations is provided by a variety of

response capabilities (see Fig. 1). These response capabilities comprise all
necessary medical resources and assets to conduct medical treatment,
evacuation, re-supply, and other functions essential to the maintenance of the
health of the force at certain, defined levels. Capability describes what kind
of medical treatment a specific Medical Capability can provide, increasing
from first response capability to definitive hospital response capability (Role
4).
Figure 1. Medical Capabilities in the Continuum of Care
3. All medical treatment facilities are categorised into these response

capabilities, defined according to the essential clinical capabilities they
comprise. In order to simplify the use of this concept in daily business they
are referred to as Role 1 – 4.
4. The minimum capabilities of each MTF are in principle intrinsic to each

higher MTF. That means a Role 3 facility has the ability to carry out Role 1
and Role 2 functions.
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AJP-4.10
5. Increasing the clinical capabilities of MTFs generates requirements for

additional complex equipment, personnel and supplies, which in turn
increases movement, transport and other support requirements.
6. Under combat conditions the flow of casualties usually follows the

pattern of the continuum of care. However, this is a medical organizational
pattern and not a linear pathway that has to be followed in the sequence
depicted in Figure 1. One or more response capabilities may be bypassed
due to patients’ needs and the workload of MTFs.
1.2.5. Modular Approach to Medical Support
1. The Modular Approach to Medical Support 20 is a key element of

NATO’s plan to mitigate medical shortfalls by enhancing the interoperability of
national assets, leading to the generation of additional medical capabilities
within NATO.
2. The Modular Approach (ModA) is based on predetermined groupings

of personnel and equipment defined as standardized units (modules) for ease
of management and greater flexibility of employment. Each module
represents a functional capability that cannot be split and is selected in line
with the mission specifics and operational requirements. The individual
modules can be provided from a variety of sources, both national and non-
national, military as well as civilian. Their common feature will be functional
interoperability for the creation of a collective capability.
3. Based on the Modular Approach and supporting the Smart Defence

(SD) initiative of the NATO Secretary General, COMEDS initiated the SD
Project Tier 1.15 Pooling and Sharing of Multinational Medical Treatment
Facilities (Role 2). 21 The project aims at the ability of groups of nations to
pool and share national medical capabilities, thus creating multinational
medical treatment facilities and mitigating operational shortfalls. Although the
project focuses primarily on Role 2 MTFs as the most urgent capability
shortfall, its principles are generally applicable to other Medical Capabilities
20
Enclosure 2 to IMSM-0289-2012 dated 18 Jul 2012 “Conceptual Basis for a Modular Approach to Medical
Support Capability”
21 th
Proposed by ACT during the 36 COMEDS Plenary Session in November 2011 (Annex 1 to
th
COMEDS(CHAIR)L(2012)0001) and endorsed by the 37 COMEDS Plenary Session in May 2012 (Annex A
to COMEDS(CHAIR)L(2012)0013).
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AJP-4.10
as well and may be adopted for these capabilities in the future. Particularly in
a multinational setting, the Modular Approach will lead to increased
coordination and training requirements in order to overcome the challenges
of multinational cooperation that are discussed in Chapter 10 of this
document. The project scope will therefore involve work in three main areas:
a. Standardization. Definition of medical capabilities in modular

terms related to the treatment capabilities they can provide, using
existing NATO definitions and standards where applicable.
b. Development. Enabling participating nations to identify

commonalities in their existing capabilities as a basis for agreeing
individual contributions to interoperable pooled and shared
capabilities.
c. Pre-deployment Training and Evaluation. Development of the

means to bring together national modular elements as part of a
multinational MTF and to evaluate its readiness to deploy as an
operational NATO capability.
4. Tasked with the composition of specific modules and their concept of

operation, COMEDS’ Working Group on Military Medical Structures,
Operations and Procedures (MMSOP WG) defined Core and Enhancing
Modules which are agreed within NATO and coordinated with the European
Union. MMSOP WG also proposed the Complementary Contributions that
could belong to a Role 3 MTF in addition to the Core and Enhancing
Modules.
5. The 7 Core Modules are:
a. Emergency Area,
b. Initial Surgery Response Capability,
c. Specified Diagnostic Capabilities,
d. Patient Holding Area,
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AJP-4.10
e. Post OP (high/medium dependency),
f. C4I (including telemedicine support) and
g. Medical Supply.
6. The 14 Enhancing Modules are:
a. Imagery,
b. CT-Scan,
c. Surgery,
d. Dental,
e. Sterilization,
f. Ward (general),
g. Primary Healthcare,
h. Intensive Care Unit (long-term ventilation),
i. Pharmacy,
j. Laboratory,
k. Mental Health,
l. Internal Medicine,
m. Isolation Ward,
n. Hospital Management.
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AJP-4.10
7. The proposed Complementary Contributions include:
a. Additional Clinical Specialists.
b. Specialist Surgery.
c. Oxygen Production.
d. Preventive Medicine.
e. Hyperbaric Medicine.
f. Telemedicine.
g. Transient / Response Ambulances.
h. Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
i. Frozen Blood Product.
j. Animal Care.
k. Mortuary.
l. CBRN (Decontamination & Treatment).
m. Physiotherapy.
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AJP-4.10
UK 1.29. The UK approach. The UK will support the pooling and

sharing of multinational medical treatment facilities (role 2) where a lead
nation provides the main role 2 or role 3 medical treatment facility
capabilities, with specific capabilities (for example, surgery) provided by
supporting states. The main capabilities are described as a
predetermined set of management procedures, medical modules,
equipments, pharmaceuticals and personnel. This is likely to include,
although is not limited to: hospital management; command, control,
communication, computers and information; emergency area; ward
(general); isolation ward; and post-operative care (high/medium
dependency). A good example was the model used in the UK-led role 3
medical treatment facility in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.
1.2.6. Medical Treatment Facilities
1. MTFs need to be as mobile and robust as the units they support. An

integral part of the definitions of capabilities is the determination of its output.
AJMedP-1 Allied Joint Medical Planning Doctrine addresses and details
planning factors. Furthermore, MTFs should be described by their
capabilities and capacities as detailed in AMedP-16 (Study) Comparative
Tables of Medical Treatment Facilities and in the skill sets provided by
AMedP-27 Medical Evaluation Manual.
2. If a MTF is set up as a multinational facility, a Lead Nation has to be

identified. This nation ensures the modules chosen provide the required level
of care and is ultimately responsible that all modules are sufficiently
equipped, manned, trained and evaluated in order to meet the operational
requirements. Additional responsibilities of the Lead Nation include: 22
a. Communication and IT.
b. Security, protection and intelligence.
c. Supply (i.e. food, water, ammunition).
22
STANAG 2552 AMedP-1.3 Guidelines for a Multinational Medical Unit Edition A Version 1 provides further
guidance on MN MTF.
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AJP-4.10
d. Transportation and construction of the modules / facility.
e. Power supply, cooling and heating.
First Response Capability23
First response capability encompasses bleeding and airway control for the
most severe casualties. Sufficient non-medical forces personnel need to be
trained and competent to deliver enhanced first aid, principally to stop
bleeding. Where possible medical services personnel skilled in pre-hospital
care should also be placed with units operating independently or in a high
risk environment. This will increase the overall ability of the force to provide
immediate care at point of injury, especially to members of organizations
without widespread integral medical support. During missions that involve a
significant presence of international (IO), governmental (GO) or non-
governmental organizations (NGO) or an increased threat, e.g. from
improvised explosive devices, consideration should be given to provide basic
and enhanced first aid training to non-military personnel within the theatre.
1.2.7. Role 1 MTF – Medical Response Capability
1. The Medical response capability (Role 1 MTF) is a national

responsibility and focuses on provision of primary health care, specialized
first aid, triage, resuscitation and stabilization.24
2. Additional elements of Role 1 medical support are usually:
a. Advice to the chain of command on basic occupational and

preventative health issues,
b. Routine, daily sick parade and the management of minor sick and
injured personnel for immediate return to duty and,
c. Preparation of casualties for evacuation to the higher level

treatment within the continuum of care.
23
Although usually not provided by a MTF, First Response Capability is listed in this section in order to
emphasize the continuity of care and its immense importance for the outcome of the medical treatment.
24
For most nations it always includes a physician.
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AJP-4.10
3. In accordance with the mission, the medical response capability (Role

1 MTF) may in addition include the following:
a. Minimal patient holding capacity.
b. Casualty collection from a casualty collection point (CCP).
c. Emergency dental care.
d. Basic laboratory testing.
e. Initial stress management.25
4. Medical support provided by Role 1 MTF must be readily and easily

available to all force personnel. Whenever a national contingent is unable to
meet these criteria, extended capabilities or medical support from another
contingent’s medical resources should be negotiated between the nations
involved.
1.2.8. Role 2 MTF – Initial Surgery Response Capability
1. Initial surgery response capability (Role 2 MTF) is characterized by its

ability to perform surgical interventions in addition to perform reception /
triage of casualties; resuscitation and treatment of shock to a higher level
than Role 1 facilities.
2. The deployment of Role 2 MTFs is mission-dependent, especially

when:
a. There are large numbers of personnel or a risk of high numbers of

casualties.
b. Geographic, topographic, climatic or operational factors may limit

medical evacuation to higher levels of the continuum of care to
comply with treatment timelines, especially when lines of
communication are extended.
25
Initial Stress Management is a Chain of Command responsibility. It may be supported by the Medical Role
1 MTF. Further details are outlined in AMedP-64 Forward Mental Healthcare (Study), Annex A: Management
of Potentially Traumatizing Events.
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AJP-4.10
c. The size and/or distribution of the force do not warrant the

deployment of a full hospital response capability (Role 3 MTF).
3. There are two main types of Role 2 MTFs:
a. Role 2 Basic (Role 2B) MTF and
b. Role 2 Enhanced (Role 2E) MTF.
4. The terms “Basic” and “Enhanced” relate to clinical capabilities and do

not refer to the level of mobility of the respective MTF. Depending on the
mission and operational requirements a Role 2B can be set up as a light and
highly mobile MTF, as well as a fixed building or on a naval platform.
5. A Role 2 Basic MTF must provide the surgical capability, including

damage control surgery and surgical procedures for emergency surgical
cases, to deliver life, limb and function saving medical treatment. The surgical
capability should be provided within medical timelines. A Role 2B MTF
consists mandatorily of all the Core Modules outlined in Section 1.2.5.5.
6. A Role 2 Enhanced MTF must provide all the capabilities of the Role
2 Basic, but has additional capabilities as a result of additional facilities and
greater resources, including the capability of stabilizing and preparing
casualties for strategic aeromedical evacuation (AE). Depending on the
mission, specific Enhancing Modules or Complementary Contributions will be
added to the seven Core Modules. 26
7. Based on operational requirements the composition of Role 2 MTFs

may differ significantly. In fact, no two may be composed the same way
within a single operational area. Whatever, the specific composition, each
deployed Role 2 facility must be declared to the operational commander in
accordance the capability elements it contains. Definitions of these elements
are contained in the AMedP-27 Medical Evaluation Manual.
8. In some circumstances, such as in support of Special Operations

Forces or certain maritime operations, it will be necessary to provide a
mission-tailored medical treatment facility including a surgical module, the so
26
Enhancing Modules and Complimentary Contributions are outlined in Section 1.2.5.
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called Forward Surgical Element (FSE). An FSE is capable of providing

DCS driven by the tactical environment. If an FSE is added to a Role 1 MTF,
which will often be the case, this MTF has not the capabilities of a Role 2B
MTF. 27
1.2.9 Role 3 MTF - Hospital Response Capability
1. A hospital response capability provides secondary health care at

theatre level. A Role 3 MTF must provide all the capabilities of the Role 2E
MTF and be able to conduct specialized surgery, care and additional
services as dictated by mission and theatre requirements.28
2. Depending on mission characteristics this includes a mission-tailored

variety of clinical specialities, focussing on the provision of emergency
medical care. This does not exclude nations to include other specialities as
well. The provision of specialized medical care will limit the need for
repatriation of patients to definitive care and, if necessary, ensure adequate
survivability during evacuation to the Role 4 MTFs, where such care is
provided.
3. Clinical capabilities and holding capacity of Role 3 MTFs need to be

sufficient to allow diagnosis, treatment and holding of those patients who can
receive adequate treatment and be returned to duty within the Joint
Operations Area (JOA) in accordance with the theatre holding policy. Dental
capabilities within this setting equal secondary dental care and oro-
maxillofacial (OMF) surgery.
4. The mobility of Role 3 facilities depends significantly on the

operational scenario. Often it needs to be deployable only for initial entry into
theatre and will not require subsequent redeployment. However, in a highly
mobile operation it may be necessary to redeploy Role 3 facilities in order to
continuously support the force.
27
As this facility will not have all the Core Modules.
28
Complimentary Contributions are outlined in Section 1.2.5.7.
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1.2.10. Role 4 MTF – Definitive Hospital Response Capability
1. A definitive hospital response capability (Role 4 MTF) offers the full

spectrum of definitive medical care that cannot be deployed to theatre or will
be too time consuming to be conducted in theatre.
2. Role 4 MTFs normally provide definitive care specialist surgical and

medical procedures, reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation.
3. This care is usually highly specialised, time consuming and normally

provided in the casualty’s country of origin or the home country of another
Alliance member. In many member nations military hospitals provide
definitive care. Utilization of the national (civilian) health care system is
another model.
UK 1.30. In NATO terminology, military medical treatment facilities are

designated a role number to describe their functional capability to deliver
a specific level of care. It is implicit that higher levels of role incorporate
the functions of lower levels. UK doctrine, however, is more capability
focused and does not necessarily replicate this approach. UK Figure 1.5
maps the UK forward surgical elements and deployed hospital care
capabilities against the NATO role definitions.
UK 1.31. The series of numbers under role 2 and 3 medical treatment

facilities relates to the number of emergency department bays/surgical
tables/intensive treatment unit beds/intermediate care ward beds within a
facility (for example, 2/1/2/0). RN intermediate care ward beds are
further split between high dependency and low dependency as the later
are double bunk beds (for example 2/2/5/15/10).
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Forward
Role 1 Role 2B Role 2E
Service surgical Role 3 MTF Role 4
MTF MTF MTF
element
Primary
CFSG Primary
casualty
2/1/2/0 casualty
receiving
RN Sick bay CFSG receiving
facility11
Role 2 afloat facility
2/2/5/15/1012
2/1/2/0 4/4/10/20/70
4/2/5/15/15
AMSG
2/1/2/12
PHTT
Very high High
Very high readiness readiness
Army Medical AMSG
readiness field hospital field hospital
reception
field hospital 4/2/4/48 8/5/10/6013
station
(light)
2/1/2/12
Role 1(Air) Role 2(Air)
RAF
5 2/1/2/12
DSF LSG
RCDM
JFC
DMRC
Legend:
JFC Joint Forces Command
LSG Light Surgical Group
AMSG Air Manoeuvre Surgical Group
MTF medical treatment facility
CFSG Commando Forward Surgical Group
PHTT Pre-Hospital Treatment Team
DMRC Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre
RCDM Royal College Defence
DSF Directorate Special Forces
Medicine
UK Figure 1.5 – Comparing UK medical capability and NATO role definitions
11. Primary casualty receiving facility is typically a Role 3 medical treatment facility (MTF) that can be
scaled down to a Role 2E MTF or Role 2B MTF.
12. RN intermediate care ward beds are split high dependency and low dependency as the later are
double bunk beds.
13. With clinical enhancement pool.
1.2.11. Medical Evacuation 29
1. The task of transferring casualties during military operations is

influenced by factors such as the operational environment, the weather, and
the length and quality of evacuation routes. The successful management of
evacuation tasks along with other necessities requires the timely availability
of suitable medical evacuation assets in sufficient numbers. Medical
evacuation is not merely the movement of patients under medical supervision
29
Chapter 3 of this publication and AJMedP-2 Allied Joint Doctrine for Medical Evacuation deal with medical
evacuation in further detail.
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between MTFs as a part of the treatment continuum. It also includes the

continuous provision of medical support to the patient during the evacuation
itself. Three categories of medical evacuation apply to sea, land and air
operations:
a. forward (from point of wounding to first treatment point);
b. tactical (within theatre) and;
c. strategic (out-of-theatre) evacuation.
2. The evacuation plan will be closely related to the medical footprint (the
location and capability of assets), the casualty rate (location, number and
type of casualties) and theatre holding policy (how long casualties will be held
in theatre before evacuation to home base). The robustness of the
evacuation plan is dependent on the quantity and capability of the treatment
assets available. The following principles should be applied when devising
the evacuation plan:
a. Timeliness. (see Paragraph 1.1.3.5.).
b. Availability. The aim of the medical evacuation system is to

evacuate casualties 24 hours a day, in all weather and sea-states,
over all terrain and in any operational scenario. Accepting that
operations at sea or involving Special Forces may require specific
solutions.
c. Continuity. (see Paragraph 1.1.3.6.).
d. Multinational Interoperability. (see Paragraph 1.1.3.8.).
3. Responsibilities. It is a responsibility of command to ensure an

effective medical evacuation system is in place. The Force Medical Staff will
support the commander and coordinate their efforts with the operations and
movement staff in theatre. The provision of resources will be coordinated by
medical planning staff and may comprise assets from a number of sources,
including common use theatre assets, nationally owned assets, Host Nation
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Support and Third Party contracted30 capabilities. Harmonization of the

medical evacuation procedures and capabilities is the responsibility of
MedEvac asset contributors. Only properly co-ordinated procedures can
assure the smooth transfer of patients within a multinational medical support
structure.
4. Aeromedical Evacuation. Aeromedical assets are an increasingly

essential element to assist timeliness of medical evacuation. A centrally
coordinated multinational aeromedical evacuation system (within and out of
theatre31) offers the opportunity to enhance the efficiency of medical support.
Medical evacuation
UK 1.32. We will always need a medical evacuation plan which must

include arrangements for strategic evacuation back to the UK. At the
lowest scale, this will be based on commanders understanding how to
initiate the RAF aeromedical evacuation service from the UK. At larger
scales of effort, this will require patient evacuation coordination cells,
providing medical advice to operational commanders, who are
responsible for executing the plan at the tactical level, medical
evacuation.
1.2.12. Medical Logistics
1. Medical supply is the process of procurement, storage, movement,

distribution, maintenance and disposition of medical material and
pharmaceuticals, including blood, blood components and medical gases, in
order to provide effective medical support and the application of this process
in planning and implementation.
2. The medical logistics system needs to ensure the sustainability of the

medical support system under all operational conditions. National
responsibility over planning and executing an effective medical logistics
system remains the guiding principle for operational support; however the
NATO Commander may exercise their authority to ensure best possible
coordination of national assets and activities in this area. Economy of scale
30
Must not be considered as an option for forward medical evacuation.
31
Tactical, forward and strategic evacuation.
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may result from coordinated supply of common items within a multinational

force.
3. The scale and scope of a medical supply system will be mission

dependant. It must enable national contingents to be self-sufficient from
deployment and throughout the duration of the mission, as specified by
planning staffs. It must be straightforward and reliable, capable of delivering
medical supplies rapidly, and theatre-wide. An audit system must be
established, which is cost-effective, simple, and does not constrain demand
or supply.
4. The unique characteristics of medical materiel set it apart from other

commodities, for the following reasons in particular:
a. Protected Status. Medical supplies are protected under the

terms of the Geneva Conventions, when properly marked and
separately stored and distributed from combat supplies.
b. Regulatory Aspects. The accounting, administration and use of

medical supplies, and in particular controlled drugs, are governed
by national and international regulations. The consumption and
controlled disposal of medical materiel must be recorded for legal,
environmental and asset control reasons.
c. Handling Requirements. Tight controls and specialised

management are required for medical supplies due to the
technical and perishable nature of the materiel, especially, its
often-limited shelf life and its sensitivity to storage, transport and
environmental conditions.
d. Importance. Seemingly insignificant items can have genuine life

and death importance. There is a complex inter-dependence
between treatment capability and the availability of medical
materiel; the medical logistics system must contain the knowledge
and responsiveness to meet short notice clinical demands.
5. The planning and execution of medical logistics is a shared medical

and logistics responsibility. Medical personnel are responsible for the
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identification of the requirement, the specification and quantity of medical

materiel and pharmaceuticals and will advise on prioritisation of delivery.
Logistic personnel are responsible for coordinating the management of
medical materiel and pharmaceuticals within the overall logistic plan. Medical
and logistic personnel will have shared responsibility for tracking of medical
materiel and pharmaceuticals from sourcing through to final disposition.
6. NATO Allied Command Transformation is responsible for stockpile

planning guidance in conjunction with nations. Medical stockpile planning,
regarding the establishment and maintenance of minimum medical material
and pharmaceutical levels, as well as surge production capabilities, is aimed
to ensure resources and stocks of adequate medical supplies and equipment
to support forces are assigned and earmarked to NATO. Guidance for
medical stocks can be found in the biennial Bi-SC Stockpile Planning
Guidance.
7. Blood and Blood Products. The supply of blood and blood products
is considered a critical function within medical logistics. Their provision at all
levels at which surgery is offered is mandatory. The requirement will be for
an in-theatre system with the minimum capability of:
a. Receiving blood and blood components of a standard acceptable

to all participating national contingents as established in STANAG
2939 Minimum Requirements for Blood, Blood donors and
Associated Equipment.
b. Moving, storing and distributing blood and blood components, and

disposal of clinical items used in blood administration.
c. Maintaining continuity of records from donor to recipient and vice

versa.
d. Collecting, processing and testing blood on an emergency basis.
8. Whilst national contingents are responsible for the supply of blood to

their own patients, this is not always practical and feasible. Multinational
support arrangements could be set up in the Joint Operations Area (JOA) for
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blood and blood products provision, provided that national and internationally
agreed standards are met.
9. Medical Waste. A plan to fully address the handling and disposal of

regulated medical and radiological waste must be incorporated in the medical
logistic support plan across the theatre. This plan should consider all aspects
of operations to prevent pollution, protect the environment, comply with
regulatory guidance/policy, protect the deployed force and be in compliance
with host nation laws.
1.3. Component Medical Support and Specific Military Situations
1.3.1. Land Operations
1. Characteristics. Land operations vary considerably both in mission

type and characteristics. They can include amphibious, airmobile, airborne
and follow-on force deployments. Medical support requirements derive from
the overall size and nature of the JOA, along with the size and distribution of
military forces and the civilian population. Account must also be taken of the
likely provision for enemy prisoners of war (EPWs), detainees and other
parties such as civilians or refugees. Incidental civilian casualties continue to
be a feature of armed conflict. Medical care provided by local practitioners or
NGOs may not be available in a hostile or high-risk environment. Where
appropriate, NATO medical units may be required in cases of acute
emergency to maintain a limited capability to treat non-NATO force
personnel, including the elderly, pregnant women and children.
2. Lines of Communication. Medical support will be required to LOCs,

which in some instances will be long or widely dispersed. The JOA may also
be large enough to have two distinct support areas: the rear support area,
where most operational level support functions are performed, and; the
forward support area, where tactical support functions take place. Each has
different medical support requirements.
3. MTFs. In environments constrained or contested by enemy threat,

terrain or weather, the supported force will require a robust, integrated and
layered network of medical treatment facilities located within planning
guidelines. Types of deployed MTFs will depend on the mission type and
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dispersion of the forces to be supported, varying from highly mobile war-

fighting units to small static facilities, which may be linear or ‘hub and spoke’
in laydown. The latter being where MTF providing Role 2 or Role 3 care
capability are located centrally, with the sending MTFs arranged round them
in a ‘hub and spoke’ pattern along which patient treatment and evacuation
are organized. Location of MTFs will be mission dependent, providing both
primary and secondary health care and able to provide graduated response
capabilities.
4. Medical Evacuation. Medical evacuation means will be derived from

ground ambulances, maritime, or air assets. Although air evacuation assets
with their ability to cover larger distances in short time may be preferred,
contested or constrained environments might restrict aero medical
evacuation. This will require a dynamic and integrated air-land medical
evacuation system. Air evacuation assets may be assigned or dedicated, on
priority call or opportune lift. Fixed wing and rotary wing air assets need to be
available for evacuation throughout the continuum of care in support of land
operations. This requires close coordination with the air component.
Additional medical assets capable of providing advanced en-route care may
be deployed in urgent cases, particularly those involving prolonged
transportation times to deployed MTFs.
5. Command & Control. Key to successful medical support for land

operations is the establishment of clear and responsive medical consultation
command and control, which must include patient tracking and regulating
capabilities. Access to robust and secure data communications is essential,
which is particularly difficult during highly mobile land operations, in
environments not conducive to radio communications or over long distances.
1.3.2. Air Operations
1. Characteristics. Medical support to the air component is designed to

support both the intricacies of flying operations, and the other components,
particularly in the specialised area of aeromedical evacuation (forward,
tactical or strategic).
2. MTFs. Due to the specific nature and organization of air components,

Role 3 MTFs are often not integral to the air component on joint operations.
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However, Role 2 MTFs are often organic to support elements of air

operations. Deployed operating base (DOB) medical support must be closely
coordinated to ensure national components do not unnecessarily duplicate
capability.
3. Deployed Operating Bases. Emergency medical response provision

within the DOB will most likely be the responsibility of the air component. If a
DOB is located within the JOA of another component, such as a land
component, a coordinated approach to emergency medical response must be
incorporated and proved, ensuring the most efficient and effective
employment of component medical support assets through closely linked
medical C3 structures.
4. Aviation Medicine. Aviation medicine specialists are required for

effective 24-hour, all weather air operations. These should ideally be
deployed to form an integral part of the DOB medical support structure.
Support for air operations is a highly technical industrial process, therefore
occupational health capabilities are required to advise and support
commanders in their responsibility for ensuring related preventive health
measures.
1.3.3. Maritime Operations
Nature of the Maritime Environment
1. Maritime operations differ from land and air operations in several

ways. Perhaps the most significant is the fact that ships are constantly
moving around the operational area. This means that the maritime medical
treatment facilities are also moving, both absolutely and relative to other
platforms that may require their support. Therefore medical timelines are
also subject to frequent change. Additionally, maritime areas of operation are
often very large with assets spread throughout them, often separated by
great distances.
2. As in the land environment, the weather at sea often changes rapidly,

placing severe constraints on the operation of helicopters and ships and
restricting the patient transfer between platforms. The non-availability of air
assets in the land environment can be mitigated to some extent by increasing
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reliance on ground-based evacuation. However, in the maritime

environment, it is very likely that weather severe enough to preclude flying
will also prevent the use of boats to transfer personnel.
3. The ship-based operating environment is a challenging one. Maritime

platforms pitch and roll in accordance with the sea state and this can
sometimes limit the performance of medical procedures. There are
epidemiological consequences of people living in such close proximity,
resulting in the potential for a higher likelihood of a disease outbreak and
greater difficulty controlling it.
4. An attack on the ship is likely to result in a large number of casualties

at once, as opposed to the land environment where personnel might be
dispersed over a wider area when facing a threat. The likelihood of blast and
subsequent fire in a confined space might lead to a larger number of severe
burns, smoke inhalation burns and blast injuries, which result in a different
set of casualty types than one can normally expect on operations in other
environments. The necessary treatment of larger numbers of near-drowned
patients exposed to the cold as a result of ship loss or significant ship
damage is unique to the maritime environment as well.
5. In the maritime setting, platforms are often not dedicated exclusively to

the medical role. This may create a tension between medical and military
roles for the platform commander and requires careful prioritisation and re-
evaluation during the various stages of the operation. Whilst their inherent
mobility allows platforms hosting MTFs to be repositioned quickly to meet
medical requirements, it also allows them to move off-station rapidly for
tactical or force protection reasons and this can disrupt established casualty
evacuation pathways. Therefore it is important that medical staff engage with
Commanders to highlight the issues.
6. MTFs on land are normally deployed under the provisions of the Red
Cross / Crescent and operate in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.
In the maritime environment, only a very small number of dedicated hospital
ships currently have this status.
7. The employment of independently operating small units with limited

medical support and thus an increased risk to the assigned personnel is a
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common element to all types of operational environments. Specific to

maritime operations are the extended periods of time those units (e.g.
submarines) might be forced to operate out of reach of adequate medical
support. That may lead to an increased number of situations where the
Commander has to weigh the importance of a certain mission against the
personnel risk evolving from the difficulty in meeting medical treatment
timelines.
8. Afloat medical support largely depends on the availability of platforms

suited to accommodate the necessary medical treatment capabilities.
Independent of their size and importance to the operation, a wide range of
ships are restricted by their design configuration and cannot carry more than
their organic medical capability. Once deployed, the reinforcement of
embarked medical treatment facilities is difficult, if possible at all.
9. The same challenges apply when it comes to medical logistics related

issues. Storage space is limited aboard military vessels. At the same time,
large distances or temporary inaccessibility of higher level MTFs may lead to
extended timeframes a patient needs to be held aboard a certain ship. The
resulting higher consumption rate may influence that particular ship’s course
or mission, if it is necessary to get into the range of a supply facility in order
to resupply with critical medical supplies or to meet clinical timelines.
10. The availability of well-trained medical personnel is a prerequisite to

conducting operations in all environments. The nature of the maritime
environment endorses this in more than one way. On one hand, specific
maritime requirements, like submarine rescue or hyperbaric medicine for
underwater operations, demand a thorough understanding of, and proper
training in, the relevant techniques and procedures. On the other hand,
specialized medical expertise (e.g. aviation medicine, occupational health or
force health protection) is usually limited. These limitations need to be
addressed by a broadened education and training of the deployed personnel
and the use of tele-consulting opportunities wherever possible.
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Principles of Maritime Medical Planning
11. Medical support to a deployed maritime force may have two facets:
shore based support and afloat support. Shore support encompasses all the
activities in direct support of a maritime force. Afloat support is the
responsibility of the commander at sea who controls all assigned assets,
including medical. The fundamental principle is to provide shore-centralized
distribution and support sites so that units, while afloat, can be self-sufficient.
12. While the concept is flexible and specific capabilities and organization
will be mission dependent, generally it calls for advanced logistic support
sites (ALSSs) in support of the entire force, and smaller, more mobile,
forward logistic sites (FLSs) located closer to the supported force. The
distribution of medical resources, assets and capabilities between the
maritime force and the shore medical facilities will be scenario dependent
and subject to contingency planning.
13. In principle, the medical support afloat follows the matrix of minimum
medical capabilities for medical treatment facilities covered in paragraphs
1.2.6. – 1.2.10. However, there is a considerable degree of variation in the
maritime environment compared to other types of operations. Based upon
the various constraints caused by the nature of maritime operations
COMEDS’ Medical Naval Expert Panel (MEDNEP) developed specific
normative descriptions for medical care levels in maritime operations. The
level requirements and their use in medical planning in a maritime
environment are described in a greater detail in the maritime chapter in
AJMedP-1, Allied Joint Medical Planning Doctrine.
14. Determining the capabilities and assets necessary to deliver

appropriate medical support to maritime operations depends on the maritime
specific challenges mentioned above as well as on estimated rates of
casualties. However, since there is no reliable data for the type of maritime
operations currently on going, MEDNEP developed a risk-based medical
asset planning model especially for the early stages of maritime operations.
In order to determine qualitative capability requirements, the type of maritime
activities (ranging from single-ship-transit to opposed amphibious landing) is
set against the size of the unit and the area of operation. The resulting score
is then linked to the maritime level requirements. The risk-based medical
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asset planning model for maritime operations and its use in medical planning
in a maritime environment are described in a greater detail in AJMedP-1,
Allied Joint Medical Planning Doctrine.
Medical Evacuation-related Challenges
15. The maritime environment contains specific challenges to the conduct

of medical evacuation. Once casualties are sustained, their management is
complicated by extraction and evacuation difficulties compounded by long
evacuation routes that conspire to hinder adherence to acceptable treatment
timelines.
16. Removal of casualties from damaged ships will be difficult and time-
consuming. It may require specialist extraction equipment and training but
may be mitigated by ensuring availability of large numbers of first aid-trained
personnel in the ship’s company to assist the organic medical staff.
17. Casualty Evacuation in the maritime environment can be generally

conducted in two ways:
a. by Sea: Evacuation by sea from a beachhead, inter-ship transfer

or rearward evacuation from Role 2/3 may all be undertaken by afloat
assets, when circumstances permit. However, this may be
complicated by sea state, weather conditions, range and access
difficulties to and from high-sided afloat units. In addition, the delivery
of all but the most basic in-transit medical care on small boats may be
impossible.
b. by Air: The preferred option for evacuation of casualties will

almost always be by rotary wing assets since they are the fastest,
most efficient and safest means of evacuation. To assure high quality
and timely medical care support helicopters should ideally be
dedicated in the casualty evacuation role. In the face of limited
support helicopters assets however this may not be possible and a
system of opportunistic tasking may be required. Furthermore, flying
operations may be compromised by sea-state, weather conditions,
type of aircraft and unavailability/unsuitability of flight decks. Ships
may be widely dispersed within an area of operations (AOO) and
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operating long distances from land. Endurance and operating

parameters of different aircraft must be understood to inform decision
making and may dictate the lay-down of medical assets.
Commanders should be made aware of the ‘reach’ of medical
capability and possible constraints this may have on operational
tasking. Where forces are required to operate outside this area of
medical coverage Commanders must be advised of the increased risk
of not being able to meet medical timelines.
18. The need to regulate and coordinate the flow of patients exists in all
operational environments regardless of the size of the deployed force. The
staff element dedicated to this task may range from a single person aboard a
ship to a fully manned patient evacuation coordination cell (PECC) placed in
the commander’s HQ. Maritime specific constraints may lead to solutions
that are suited to the support of naval operations but may differ significantly
from established models in recent operations.
Medical Intelligence Issues
19. In the maritime environment, standard information such as details of

environmental and industrial hazards, communicable diseases, capabilities of
local healthcare systems, must be enhanced by the inclusion of maritime
specific data requirements such as the willingness of local medical treatment
facilities to accept maritime casualties or the availability of recompression
chamber facilities and any local Search and Rescue (SAR) / ambulance
capabilities that could assist in evacuation from ship to shore.
Force Health Protection related Topics
20. Different regions of the world will present different environmental and
health threats which may have a major effect on the numbers and types of
diseases and non-battle injuries (DNBI) casualties and the medical
capabilities required. Unlike land operations where a force is more likely to
deploy directly to the AOO, a maritime task force may transit many different
regions en-route to its final AOO hence maximising exposure to health
hazards. Accurate and up to date information on all relevant countries should
be obtained prior to deployment as part of the medical intelligence process.
As well as influencing the medical plan this process will identify important
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FHP measures that must be implemented both prior to deployment and on

arrival in the AO. Of special concern, requiring close oversight by medical, is
the acquisition and approval of local food and water sources. In some cases
these force health protection measures may place significant constraints on
the military Commander’s actions within the AOO.
1.3.4. Special Operations
Nature of the Special Operations environment
1. Special operations differ from conventional operations because they

are frequently executed on short notice, clandestinely, and for strategic
purposes where risk is assumed because of mission importance. Special
Operations units require flexibility, precision, speed and agility to be
successful. Likewise medical support must meet these same requirements.
Medical care must move at the speed of the unit. It must be able to sustain
casualties for an extended period well beyond normal perimeters because
Special Operations Forces (SOF) frequently operates in areas outside the
NATO medical doctrine of 1 hour to damage control surgical capability. A
common misconception about SOF operations is that SOF units are
essentially self-sufficient for most if not all support enablers. On the contrary,
SOF frequently requires conventional force support. Whenever possible SOF
will seek to link into available local conventional medical support for
operations. This sometimes increases the risk to SOF because it expands
the circle of knowledge about the operation jeopardizing operational security.
To combat this vulnerability, SOF elements must rely heavily on available
surgical and transport resources. On some occasions, SOF will have internal
surgical and casualty evacuation capability, but this is the exception rather
than the rule. Accordingly, SOF operators have to be trained in advanced
skills for emergency treatment of casualties according to standardized
protocols. SOF medics will require additional medical education and training
to independently perform techniques and protocols typically reserved for
medical professionals. This will often require specific waivers or
endorsements by national authorities. Medical professionals assigned to
SOF forces have to be trained and equipped appropriately to operate within
the challenging SOF environment and may need special expeditionary
medical skills.
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2. Conventional operations are supported by a medical system whose

foundation is found in commander and national surgeon general support.
Built on this foundation, one finds pillars including leadership, planning,
communication, training, treatment, evacuation, and logistics, each pillar
resourced at the tactical, operational and strategic levels of command. This
structure exists to save lives and enable mission success. A SOF medical
system is a mirror image of a conventional medical system scaled to meet
the size of the national SOF unit and specially trained and equipped to
operate within the challenging SOF environment.
3. Special operations missions are divided into three classifications:

Direct Action, Special Reconnaissance and Military Assistance. Each mission
set has specific environmental considerations that must be accounted for
when planning and executing medical support SOF operations.
4. Direct Action (DA) missions are characterized by speed and violence

of force hinging on surprise as a key combat enabler. The nature of injuries
associated with direct action missions tend to be high velocity penetrating
trauma or orthopaedic in nature. The use of breeching explosives and other
means of entry to denied areas increase the risk of injury for SOF operators.
Thus, medical support must be focused toward tactical combat casualty care
principles. History has proven that frequently in combat scenarios, the SOF
medic is either injured or not immediately available to treat casualties
because of the tactical situation. Therefore, SOF medical support for DA
missions hinges on the trained medical skills of the operator as much as it
does the SOF medic. Commanders must practice casualty response as an
integrated battle drill for all operators to successfully support DA missions.
Because penetrating trauma is a common injury in DA missions, the
availability of damage control surgery within one hour of injury is highly
desirable. Unfortunately, DA missions occur where the target is, which may
not be easily accessible to conventional surgical support. For this reason,
some nations have developed highly mobile surgical capabilities that can
insert near or on an objective to provide lifesaving surgical capability. This is
the exception rather than the rule. Likewise, some SOF elements will have
advanced evacuation platforms capable of providing high level en-route
medical care, particularly whole blood transfusion, in direct support of the
mission. Both early surgical intervention and high level en route transport are
desirable elements of SOF medical support for these high risk missions.
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5. Special reconnaissance missions are typically longer duration

missions characterized by clandestine insertion into an area or observation
point, conduct of missions without detection and extraction from the area of
operations. Medically supporting these missions is limited by what the
medical provider can carry and the limited ability to communicate with higher
medical support. Because these missions frequently require prolonged
exposure in harsh uncomfortable conditions, particularly maritime special
reconnaissance, early treatment intervention for DNBI becomes mission
critical. To sufficiently support these missions, medical personnel must be
able to make nearly independent medical decisions and be physically
capable of keeping pace with the special reconnaissance element. To be
successful, SOF units require special medical protocols for their providers
and operators that may extend above the usual medical authorities and skills
of their conventional counterparts. Leveraging distance and telemedicine
capabilities can be useful in supporting these missions.
6. Medical support of SOF Military Assistance missions typically fall into

two potential categories; medical engagement and medical partnering. In
medical engagement, a SOF Commander leverages medical capability to
engage an area or population for both operational and medical objectives. In
medical partnering, a SOF commander uses his medical assets to train a
partner force in medical skills to improve interoperability and medical
capability to support operations. Both branches of military assistance
medical support present unique challenges.
7. Allied Command Operations Directive (ACO DIR 83-2) addresses

some key elements of medical engagement using military forces to guide
operational commanders. Some tenets from this document include the
concept that medical engagements should be conducted in concert with the
host nation medical system and should not replace it or diminish its capability
in the eyes of the people. Direct care to indigenous populations by SOF units
alone should be avoided as this undermines the local government’s medical
system. Whenever possible, SOF units should seek to partner through the
host nation healthcare system to augment, train and advise local healthcare
capability rather than supplant it. For this reason, medical seminars, where
SOF units assist the local health leadership by, through and with local health
care providers in building capability, is a better means of engaging a
population than the traditional medical activity in which SOF medical
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providers conduct sick call type operations in an area. The medical seminar
concept requires more coordination and planning, but reaps better
operational outcomes for the Commander and better medical benefits for the
host nation. Another ACO DIR 83-2 tenant applicable to SOF is that medical
care should never be used as a quid pro quo for information or tactical
advantage. While SOF practices can sometime challenge conventional
wisdom, SOF medical care should conform within appropriate medical ethics
and standards.
8. Medical partnering in SOF operations entails working with a partner

force to increase that forces medical capability to conduct medical support.
When SOF medical elements engage in medical partnering, some key
considerations include the starting capability of the partner force, the logistical
supply of that force, host nation medical philosophies, laws and cultural
considerations. A common misstep in NATO medical partnering is expecting
a partner force to change its cultural or legal practices to conform to western
standards. Another pitfall is training with equipment not common to and not
sustainable by the partner force after the SOF force leaves. Thus medical
partnering should be carefully conceived, tailored to the partner force and be
sustainable after the SOF unit leaves.
9. SOF medical logistics can present significant challenges for medical

support. Because space and weight are limited in SOF units, medical
equipment and treatment supplies will compete with other operational
requirements like food, water and ammunition for space. SOF medical
equipment and supplies will frequently need to be dual purpose and capable
of easy disposal, must withstand the extremes of temperature and field
conditions and be simple to use in high pressure situations. For this reason,
SOF frequently relies on off the shelf technologies specially designed for the
SOF environment that are not common to the conventional medical supply
distribution chains of most nations. The flexibility to procure and the authority
to use these items require senior medical leadership involvement, and are
critical to maintaining the edge that gives SOF units the advantage over large
forces. This may be particularly true in the austere environment over
prolonged evacuation timelines. SOF units may need specific waivers from
national and legal authorities to use specific products or protocols, if they are
to save lives in this challenging environment.
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10. Since most nations do not have SOF specific logistic chains of supply,
SOF medical logistics will frequently rely on the conventional medical
logistics system for procurement and resupply of non-SOF specific items
such as medication, bandages and other routine medical supplies.
11. The availability of well-trained medical personnel is a prerequisite to

conducting operations in all environments. The nature of the SOF
environment endorses this in more than one way. Because SOF may
operate in air, on land, or at sea, medical providers must have a broad
spectrum of understanding in highly specialized areas such as dive or
hyperbaric medicine for underwater operations, aviation medicine,
occupational health and preventive medicine for force health protection.
These limitations need to be addressed by a broadened education and
training of the deployed personnel and the use of teleconsulting opportunities
wherever possible. SOF medical support personnel must be tactically
proficient in the SOF environment able to shoot, move and communicate with
the teams they are supporting. Otherwise, they become a burden to the unit
or worse, a danger to the unit personnel, because of their lack of training and
experience. SOF medical providers should maintain a high state of physical
fitness in order to be able to keep pace with SOF units within the SOF
environment.
Principles of Special Operations Medical Planning
12. Medical support to special operations forces must be flexible, precise,

agile and speedy like the forces they support. A SOF operational plan is best
when it maximizes six principles of SOF; Surprise, Speed, Security, Purpose,
Repetition and Simplicity. A SOF plan is most likely to be successful if it is a
simple plan, carefully conceived, repeatedly and realistically rehearsed and
executed with surprise, speed and purpose. When considering the type and
scope of medical support for such operations, medical planners must create
plans that meet the most serious threats without diminishing the principles of
SOF operations. Commanders must be presented, by trained SOF medical
advisors, the risks and benefits of various medical support packages in order
to determine where risk will be assumed in SOF operations.
13. In principle, SOF medical support should follow the matrix of minimum
medical capabilities for medical treatment facilities covered in paragraphs
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1.2.5. – 1.2.9. However, there is a considerable degree of variation in the

SOF environment compared to other types of operations. This is an area of
emerging doctrine and is controversial because by their nature, these
concepts reach into Role 1 care and below concepts that are national
responsibility. Many SOF units do not have a Role I capability, relying solely
on the training of the medical provider at the team level and the nearest Role
1 to the team may be many miles away. On the opposite side of the
spectrum, a SOF unit may have a highly specialized Special Operations
Surgical Team, trained to deploy with SOF into the SOF environment to
provide damage control surgery and military assistance support, providing
almost Role 2 support. COMEDS’ SOF Medicine Expert Panel (SOFMEP)
was created in APR 2012 to begin to develop specific normative descriptions
for medical care levels in SOF operations. Additionally, the NATO Special
Operations Headquarters is the proponent for AJP 3.5 Allied Joint Doctrine
for Special Operations and the SOF Medical Training and Standards Directive
that provide additional guidance for SOF medical planners.
14. SOF units are frequently considered as an interdiction asset available

to a Commander when considering the risk of mitigating the use of Chemical,
Biological and Nuclear weapons. Additionally, SOF elements may have
special authority to use non-lethal chemical munitions like smoke and tear
gas as part of operations. Therefore, SOF medical plans must consider
these types of missions and address equipment, treatment and evacuation in
these toxic environments.
Medical Evacuation related Challenges
15. The SOF environment contains specific challenges to the conduct of

medical evacuation. Once casualties are sustained, their management may
be complicated by extraction and evacuation difficulties compounded by long
evacuation routes that conspire to hinder adherence to acceptable treatment
timelines.
16. Removal of casualties from austere or clandestine locations can be

difficult and time-consuming. It may require specialist extraction equipment
and training or specialized extraction platforms. Frequently, SOF casualties
will be extracted on any means of available transportation, requiring en route
medical care to be provided by the SOF element on the objective after
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extraction. Ideally, SOF medical planning should include dedicated rotary

wing assets capable of providing en route care to allow continued actions on
the objective and further missions. Since this is not always feasible, SOF
units should have easily SOF trained deployable evacuation teams capable
of providing en route medical care on a variety of platforms on air, land or sea
that can be place prepositioned to support the mission. Because fully trained
SOF medical providers are scarce, doctrinally two per team, but frequently
only one, all members of the SOF team must be first aid-trained to assist the
organic medical staff. Commanders should be made aware of the ‘reach’ of
medical capability and possible constraints this may have on operational
tasking. Where forces are required to operate outside this area of medical
coverage Commanders must be advised of the increased risk of not being
able to meet medical timelines.
17. The need to regulate and coordinate the flow of patients exists in all
operational environments regardless of the size of the deployed force. SOF
units require a medical planner at the operational level that can integrate into
the conventional medical staff element dedicated to this task such as the
PECC of an Operational Commander’s HQ.
Medical Intelligence Issues
18. In the SOF environment, standard information such as details of

environmental and industrial hazards, communicable diseases are
particularly important because of the relatively small size of SOF units where
the loss of just one soldier to disease and non-battle injury can be mission
stopping. Knowledge of the capabilities of local healthcare systems must be
enhanced because of the potential need to rely on them in austere or
clandestine locations. Maritime specific data requirements such as the
willingness of local medical treatment facilities to accept maritime casualties
or the availability of recompression chamber facilities and any local SAR /
ambulance capabilities that could assist in evacuation from ship to shore are
important for SOF maritime operations.
Force Health Protection related Topics
19. SOF operations can be conducted worldwide and may be highly

mobile on short notice and over short periods of time. Therefore, SOF
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personnel, both operators and support, must maintain a high level of medical
fitness. Immunizations, regular dental screenings and preventive
medications must be carefully monitored to prevent loss of combat power.
Because SOF personnel are frequently highly athletic, it is not uncommon for
them to suffer from sport related injuries. SOF medical providers must have
an intimate knowledge of SOF personnel’s current injury state and how it may
relate to their operational capability. Medications typically used for
prophylaxis, such as Malarone for malaria prophylaxis, may not have
sufficient time to take affect or have side effect profiles that could hinder
operations. Thus, the SOF medical planner must carefully understand the
potential micro-effects of decisions that may have significant effects on the
mission. Likewise, the unorthodox use of medications such as sleep aids to
cycle sleep for a SOF operator enabling the operator to rapidly transition to
night operations is not typically required for conventional force deployments.
A strong case can be made for the value of considering the medical care and
preparation of SOF personnel for deployment as comparable to that which is
provided for professional athletes. Both the professional athletes and SOF
personnel or “tactical athletes” must be ready and capable with a high level of
reliability when engaging in their missions. Furthermore, injuries must be
dealt with efficiently and optimally to restore capability to the Commander as
soon as possible, since SOF trained personnel are limited in number. SOF
units should have a SOF medical advisor that is available to provide definitive
guidance to Commander’s on the medical readiness of individual team
members within the organization.
1.3.5. Theatre Support Operations
1. Theatre support operations can provide support for all components,

dependent on the operational scenario. It is here that reception, staging and
onward movement (RSOM) of the force may occur, taking the deploying force
from arrival into theatre via all the available disembarkation facilities, mainly
the airport of disembarkation (APOD) and seaport of disembarkation (SPOD)
and transferring it up a potentially long LOC. Depending on the mission a
Joint Logistic Support Group (JLSG) may be deployed to support the
operational commander with regards to theatre support operations,
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particularly during the RSOM phase of the operation. 32 Medical support to

the JLSG is required and may include provision of area medical coverage
including access to primary health care, appropriately staffed ambulance
response and graduated incident response in conjunction. Area medical
coverage must also link into appropriate medical support capabilities capable
of conducting secondary health care, such as Role 2 and Role 3 MTFs. To
ensure medical support is available for the deploying force, necessary
medical support assets must be deployed and have the appropriate level of
operational capability prior to the arrival of the deploying force. Their
readiness to deploy must reflect this enabling requirement.
2. Maintenance of the LOC is required throughout the operation to

ensure mobility of all supported components. Area medical support linked to
theatre Role 3 MTFs is essential. On subsequent redeployment of the force
full medical coverage will need to be retained only reducing in size
commensurate with the force reduction.
UK concept health service support to the joint operational

area
UK 1.33. Health services support to the joint operations area is

designed to be joint from the outset, providing a continuous, seamless,
escalatory increase in clinical care from point of injury/illness until this
element of care is completed. Medical force elements are designed to
provide environmental self-sufficiency (maritime, land and air) plus
effective joint collaboration across components to ensure efficiency in
capability and capacity as a joint enabler.
UK 1.34. This concept is specifically designed to represent the

maximum deployment of health service support to the joint operations
area covering the joint, maritime, littoral, land, air assault and air
operations. It is representative of the different components that maybe
task organised to meet operational requirements. Examples include the
Joint Expeditionary Force, Combined Joint Expeditionary Force or the
Very High Readiness Joint Task Force. The complexity of medical
32
Further information on the conduct of multinational joint theatre-level Logistics (with special emphasis on
the JLSG) as well as the responsibilities and tasks of medical staff in a JLSG can be found in STANAG 2230
AJP-4.6 ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE FOR THE JOINT LOGISTIC SUPPORT GROUP.
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evacuation within, and between, components is shown by the multiple

linkages between medical facilities that may well be combined and/or
use host nation facilities. UK Figure 1.6 summarises the overall concept
and illustrates specific areas.
• Major intervention capability/enduring operation –

showing a land environment combat brigade supported by
a joint force logistic component.
• Air component – showing a separate air component

operating as an expeditionary air wing. This may be part
of the major intervention capability or a separate joint
expeditionary force lead element operation.
• Air assault operation – showing independent separate

joint expeditionary force lead element operation.
• Maritime operation – showing littoral and maritime deep

water operations.
• Strategic role 4 – this includes the need for a strategic

aeromedical evacuation chain, UK casualties being
received by the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, and
their subsequent care at the Defence Medical
Rehabilitation Centre.
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UK Figure 1.6 – UK concept health service support to the joint operations area
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UK health service support to operations
Maritime operations
UK 1.35. Role 1 support is based on medically trained personnel being

assigned to every maritime platform. Role 2 support is provided by medical
personnel in platforms specifically equipped and designated with a role 2
afloat facility (2/1/2/0) as a secondary capability. Role 3 support is provided
by the primary casualty receiving facility fitted to Royal Fleet Auxillary Argus
when it is designated as the primary casualty receiving ship. This has
expandable capacity from 2/2/5/15/10 to 4/4/10/20/70. Medical evacuation in
the maritime environment is provided by maritime in-transit care teams
allocated to assigned platforms (boats or helicopters). Patients will be
transferred to shore-based medical facilities (illustrated as host nation) and
then strategically evacuated to UK. Command of health service support to
the maritime component will be embedded within the maritime battle staff.
UK 1.36. Littoral operations – the lead commando group. The lead

commando group is supported by the commando medical group comprising
unit aid posts, dental teams, a commando forward surgical group and a
medical reception station. Role 1 support is provided by unit aid posts
embedded in combat and combat support forces. The medical squadron of
Commando Logistic Regiment provides reinforcing medical support including
the commando forward surgical group and a medical reception station. The
commando forward surgical group is a role 2 basic 2/1/2/0 capability and has
very limited patient holding capability. Littoral operations must be supported
by either the primary casualty receiving facility afloat, an army field hospital or
host nation hospital care.
UK 1.37. Commanding health service support to the littoral is embedded in 3

Commando Brigade Headquarters but it is likely that extra medical staff will
be needed in the maritime component headquarters to manage the
operational patient care pathway. The medical squadron of Commando
Logistic Regiment provides reinforcing medical support including the
commando forward surgical group, its embedded medical in-transit care team
and a medical reception station.
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Land operations
UK 1.38. The lead armoured task force (major intervention capability). The
lead armoured task force is supported by the lead armoured medical group
formed from the affiliated brigade armoured medical regiment and
battlegroup unit aid posts. The lead armoured medical group will control
organic medical support to combat and combat support battlegroups and
provide reinforcing medical support on an area basis to battlespace owners
(including combat service support). The medical reception station of the lead
armoured medical group will provide general practitioner-led enhanced
primary care, peripatetic services and pre-hospital emergency care
stabilisation for those patients who have not been moved by air earlier in their
medical evacuation. Where required, the pre-hospital emergency care
capability and capacity can be enhanced by reinforcing a medical reception
station with a ground medical emergency response team. The lead armoured
task force is also supported by a field hospital. Expanding health service
support, if the lead armoured task force increases to a brigade-scale
operation, is based upon deploying the remaining elements of the parent
armoured medical regiment and expanding the field hospital. Where
required, an air manoeuvre medical group can be grouped with the lead
armoured medical group to provide a role 2 basic/deployed hospital care
(forward) capability. It may also be necessary to deploy elements of the
Reserves, including 335 Medical Evacuation Regiment, 306 Hospital Support
Regiment and the Operational Headquarters Support Group. The exact
medical command and control structure will depend on the command and
control structure for the operation but it is likely both the lead armoured
medical group and field hospital will be commanded at regimental level with
the need for a Commander Medical and supporting staff in either the Joint
Task Force Headquarters or the Joint Force Logistic Component
Headquarters.
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UK 1.39. Air assault task force. The air assault task force is supported by
the air manoeuvre medical group from 16 Medical Regiment including unit aid
posts from combat and combat support battle groups. The air manoeuvre
medical group includes an air manoeuvre surgical group at 2/1/2/12.
Command and control of health service support to the air assault task force is
provided by the 16 Medical Regiment Regimental Headquarters embedded
with 16 Air Assault Brigade Headquarters (Tactical). The very high readiness
field hospital may deploy if the air assault task force operation needs more
than one node of deployed hospital care or is likely to endure.
Air operations
UK 1.40. Expeditionary air wing. The pre-hospital care squadron provides

all the capabilities of operational healthcare (less deployed hospital care) to
the expeditionary air wing. Each pre-hospital care squadron is able to
support a deployed operating base and an air point of disembarkation, plus
provide combat medical support to a RAF Regiment field squadron. There
are sufficient pre-hospital care squadrons to support the joint expeditionary
force at maximum concurrency. Expeditionary air wings may also be
supported by a role 2(air) (2/1/2/12) deployed hospital care medical treatment
facility if the medical evacuation timeline to primary surgery is likely to exceed
one hour.
Theatre-level health service support
UK 1.41. Theatre-level support comprises those medical force elements that

support more than one component or contribute to operational rather than
tactical effects.
UK 1.42. Field hospitals. Field hospitals are force-generated by Army

Headquarters but support the whole force. They require significant support
from non-medical force elements such as field engineering, communications
and information systems, movement and supply. A single field hospital is
scalable from 2/1/2/12 to 8/5/10/60. A field hospital will usually be
commanded at regimental headquarters level due to the complexity of
internal clinical operations. The field hospital may be augmented by clinical
personnel in a theatre clinical enhancement team from 306 Hospital Support
Regiment to provide specialist clinical care such as ophthalmology, head and
neck surgery, neurosurgery, paediatric nursing or midwifery.
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UK 1.43. Deployed aeromedical evacuation squadrons. A deployed

aeromedical evacuation squadron provides theatre-level aeromedical
evacuation clinical teams that may be assigned under tactical command as
required. There are sufficient deployed aeromedical evacuation squadrons to
support the joint expeditionary force at maximum concurrency. It is
comprised of the following elements.
• Medical emergency response team. A medical emergency

response team provides the medical contribution to an incident
response team to give, up to, specialist-led pre-hospital
emergency care to continue progressive resuscitation during
forward medical evacuation.14 Two teams are required to
provide continuous 24-hour cover.
• Aeromedical evacuation team. An aeromedical evacuation

team provides clinical aeromedical escort for up to five
low/minimal dependency patients (dependency levels 3/4).
This can be augmented by a general medical practitioner,
physician, anaesthetist or mental health specialist from
elsewhere in the deployed aeromedical evacuation squadron if
a patient has specialist clinical needs.
• Critical care air support team. A critical care air support team
provides the capability to move critically ill (dependency level
1/2) through the aeromedical chain. It can escort one critical
care air support team patient.
• Aeromedical staging unit. An aeromedical staging unit is a

medical unit operating transient patient beds located on, or
near, emplaning, staging or deplaning air base or air strip. It
facilitates reception administration, processing, ground
transportation, feeding and appropriate clinical care for patients
within the aeromedical staging unit chain. It can hold patients
for up to 48 hours.
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UK 1.44. Area medical support. Area medical support to the joint logistic
support area for a major intervention capability may be provided by a medical
squadron from the assigned armoured medical regiment. This is likely to be
under tactical control to the battlespace owner but would remain under
operational control to the medical group. Personnel from 335 Medical
Evacuation Regiment may be deployed to provide clinical personnel to escort
high dependency patients during ground tactical medical evacuation between
deployed hospital care facilities.
14. Primarily configured for rotary wing medical evacuation but can operate within protected future
battlefield ambulance.
1.3.6. Persons Deprived of their Liberty
1. Medical care to any persons deprived of their liberty by NATO forces

must be consistent with medical ethics and applicable law, including law
applicable to the host nation, troop contributing nations (TCNs) and
international agreements). International law requires that persons deprived
of their liberty be provided with the medical care and attention required by
their condition and that they be treated, evacuated and discharged from
medical care using the same clinical criteria that are applied to the capturing
nation’s own injured personnel.
2. Persons deprived of their liberty by NATO forces shall be treated

humanely in all circumstances. Their medical care shall be consistent with
the following principles:
a. Their physical health, mental health and the integrity of their

persons are not to be endangered.
b. All necessary sanitary measures are to be taken to ensure the

cleanliness and healthfulness of detention facilities and to prevent
epidemics.
c. As far as necessary, they are to be provided with an adequate

diet.
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d. The state of their general health is to be examined by medical

personnel as soon as possible after deprivation of liberty and
thereafter at least once a month.
e. They are not to be prevented from presenting themselves to the

medical authorities for examination at any time.
f. They are to be supplied with any apparatus necessary for their

maintenance in good health, such as spectacles, dentures and
other prostheses.
g. Where their state of health requires it they are to be transferred to

specialised establishments for special treatment or surgery.
3. During armed conflict, captured enemy medical facilities, medical

materiel and retained enemy medical personnel may be used to provide
medical care to enemy prisoners of war, internees and detained persons.
This can contribute to the medical management of these persons, particularly
where there would otherwise be language or cultural challenges. It can also
be useful where the captured enemy medical personnel have a particular
expertise of endemic disease not normally seen in the TCNs.
4. It can be difficult to calculate the holding capacity required for persons

deprived of their liberty because they may not be subject to theatre holding
policies that apply to TCN and may not have ready access to definitive Role 4
care capabilities. Therefore consideration should be given during planning to
determine when additional MTF holding capacities may be required. Nations
may also wish to cooperate to provide centralised treatment facilities for
persons deprived of their liberty, although the capturing nation retains legal
responsibility for the treatment of any person transferred to the custody of
another nation.
5. Medical staffs need to be involved in the planning and operation of

detention facilities, particularly when the persons held in them may pose a
risk to those guarding them from bad hygiene practices or endemic disease.
The medical authorities will need to develop a preventive medicine strategy,
ensure the provision of primary health care services within the facility and
ensure that the guarding force has adequate medical support.
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UK 1.45. Medical support to captured persons is cover in detail in JDP

1-10, Captured Persons, 3rd Edition. When planning health service
support to operations, healthcare to captured persons is to be factored
into resource calculations.
1.3.7. International Disaster Relief Operations
1. Disaster Relief (DR) is the organised response to alleviate the

situation resulting from a catastrophe (natural or manmade). The aims of DR
are to save life and lessen suffering, limit damage and restore essential
services to a level that enables local authorities to cope. Characteristics are
fast response and unusual patient patterns. Due to their nature these
operations include a large portion of medical support. In certain cases where
medical assistance is in the focus of the operation the medical force might
even be in the lead and therefore be supported by the components of a joint
force. The World Health Organization (WHO) standards will be used as
planning parameters for all assistance and support measures. As result of
this, the medical care to the civilian population and livestock will be in
accordance with prevailing local peacetime standards. Comprehensive
NATO guidance on disaster relief operations is already available:
a. MC 327 NATO Military Policy for Non-Article 5 Crisis Response

Operations provides policy on the planning and conduct of non-
Article 5 Crisis Response Operations.
b. MC 343 NATO Military Assistance to International Disaster Relief

Operations (IDRO) outlines the principles of military assistance in
humanitarian emergencies not connected to any NATO military
operation.
c. MC 411 NATO Military Policy on Civil-Military Cooperation

(CIMIC) addresses civil-military interfaces, including military
support for humanitarian emergencies within the context of other
operations when NATO forces are already deployed or to be
deployed.
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d. AJMedP-6 Allied Joint Civil-Military Medical Interface Doctrine

details doctrine for the Civil-Military Medical Interface.
These principles do not change if the deployment is for humanitarian relief.

The term ‘disaster relief’ is used here to include humanitarian assistance
(HA), refugee care, and comparable missions not directly related to combat
or peacekeeping.
2. International Disaster Relief Operations (IDROs) can either be carried

out within the framework of another on-going operation, or in the form of a
stand-alone humanitarian operation. In the latter case, the operation often
involves a considerable degree of logistic and military protection or support,
including medical support. The medical contribution can include:
a. Medical support to the NATO force
b. Replacing or supplementing existing local assets
c. Assisting with the regeneration or development of local assets in

coordination with IOs/NGOs.
Coordination with IOs/NGOs is highly demanding, and exceeds purely

medical support issues as it can impact on the total force mission.
3. It is most likely that these missions will be carried out in conjunction

with other governmental and non-governmental agencies. It is critical that the
cultures, capabilities, structures, and organizational function of these
agencies be clearly understood by NATO commanders and medical staff.
4. The medical aspects of IDRO are likely to differ from other military
operations, particularly concerning types of injury and illness, population mix,
and structure and type of medical response required. The particular nature of
the operation concerned and the geographical location will dictate the
medical skill mix required, including the personnel, equipment and materiel to
treat senior citizens, pregnant women and children. Clear guidance on any
legal issues, such as liability of medical personnel, must be obtained prior to
deployment.
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5. In considering the deployment of military medical assets in HA, a clear

understanding of the philosophy behind such assistance is required in order
that the affected population may be best served, both in the short and longer
term. The following basic tenets must be observed:
a. Other organizations are likely to be involved in addition to NATO.

Care needs to be taken to define areas of responsibility, to avoid
competition and either duplication of effort or gaps in the overall
care provided. In principle, medical HA by NATO will only be
provided on a subsidiary basis when IOs or NGOs are unable to
meet the overall requirement, or if overall capabilities are
exceeded.
b. The affected population should be encouraged to help themselves

and competition between their own medical structure, IOs, NGOs
and NATO must be avoided. Effort should be made to place as
much of a “host nation face” on care delivery so as to maintain the
population’s confidence and support for the host nation (HN)
government.
c. A careful balance between the extent of technically possible care

and appropriate care is necessary taking into account aspects like
the availability of medical follow-up capabilities, own means and
capabilities and the need to have sufficient capabilities and
capacities left for support of the NATO force.
d. Socio-cultural and religious customs and rules should be

considered when providing HA.
e. A return to the pre-crisis status quo, in terms of self-help, must be

as rapid as possible to avoid long-term aid dependence.
f. The disaster has already occurred; its affects must be mitigated

by immediate medical assistance and by the application of
preventive measures.
g. Short-term HA usually has long-term impact. Disengagement and

the transfer to permanent or semi-permanent organizations or
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bodies must be ensured before considering engagement and

particularly withdrawal.
6. Medical support must meet standards of medical care acceptable to

both, the participating nations and the receiving country. The aim is to
provide treatment outcome comparable to the normal peacetime standards of
the receiving country.
7. Comprehensive and flexible medical plans are essential for an

accurate and early response to the disaster situation. To properly fulfil the
mission, the deployed NATO medical staff must contain personnel with
training, experience and qualifications appropriate to deal with humanitarian
and disaster relief operations. The requirements of which may be different to
normal military operations; AMedP-17 Training Requirements for Health Care
personnel in International Missions refers.
8. Expertise in preventive medicine will be required to ensure that the

effects of the disaster are not made worse by the breakdown of the
infrastructure in the affected area. The possibility of an epidemic is only one
aspect of this; more generally, poor living conditions and an absence of basic
utilities will contribute towards the breakdown of health in the population.
9. National medical support contingents must deploy with agreed

quantities of medical supplies as dictated by the coordinating NATO
headquarters (HQ). All medical materials, drugs and other medical products
used for DR and humanitarian assistance operations by the force are of the
same quality standards as those used to medically support the force.
10. The overall responsibility for producing an effective medical

evacuation system lies with the stricken country’s medical authority. Patients
should not normally be removed from the country without their nation’s
authority, insofar as such an authority exists.
11. Regular considerations in respect to patient confidentiality must be

observed in disaster situations. Specific policies on sharing of medical
information must be developed in concert with local medical authorities.
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1.4. Interface between Medical and other Staff Functions
1. This section provides guidance on staff interfaces between medical

and other commanders’ staff elements during NATO operations and
describes the principal medical subject matters that are most closely related
to those staff elements.
2. Medical staff will routinely work in close cooperation with staff

functions responsible for personnel, intelligence, plans and operations,
logistics, civil-military cooperation (CIMIC), legal, engineers as well as
communication and information systems (CIS). Together they will execute a
wide range of medical support planning, surveillance, coordination, and direct
support functions. Coordination and collaboration spans both the vertical and
horizontal levels of command. The list is neither exhaustive nor definitive, but
demonstrates the areas and subjects where medical staffs need to work in
unison with other commanders’ staffs and have access to and interact with
them without intermediaries.
1.4.1. J1 – Personnel and Administration
There is a considerable interface between the functions of medical and

personnel support. They both have roles to play during the initial planning
stages and continue long after an operation has finished. Consequently, the
working relationship between medical and personnel staffs must be well
developed and relevant personnel issues should be detailed in medical plans.
Common areas of interaction between J1 and medical include:
a. HQ medical staff manning and qualifications.
b. Personnel health and fitness standards and assessment.
c. Patient tracking.
d. Casualty reporting.
e. Handling of deceased including forensic (dental) identification.
f. Patient and personnel welfare.
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g. Develop medical requirements for NATO civilians prior to

deployment.
1.4.2. J2 – Intelligence
Intelligence is defined by NATO as the product resulting from the processing

(collection and analysis) of information concerning foreign nations, hostile or
potentially hostile forces or elements, or areas of actual or potential
operations. The term is also applied to the activity that results in the
intelligence product and to the organizations engaged in such activity. J2 is
responsible for all intelligence activities. Medical staff is not just a recipient
customer of medical intelligence information, but medical expertise could be,
depending on the requirement, a significant part in intelligence preparation
and force protection in particular. MEDINT collection and assessment
remains a permanent secondary task of the medical staff active in the theatre
of operations. Information collected will be mutually shared with J2.
1.4.3. J3 – Operations
1. The operations staff acts as a focal point through which the

commander directs and maintains continuous oversight of all operations. The
operational commander establishes a joint operations centre (JOC), which
becomes the hub and central clearinghouse for the whole operation.
2. Force protection oversight is a lead function of the J3 staff, and they

coordinate with other relevant staff, including medical, in their conduct of the
FP programme, its objectives and initiatives.
3. The operations staff and medical staff often bring complementary but
differing approaches and competencies to achieve health protection,
treatment and promotion objectives. Provision and design of medical
services to support the health of the troops is a medical staff responsibility,
while the operational commander enables force protection through
establishing and maintaining an adequate medical support system, and
implementing/enforcing recommended preventive medicine policies.
Mission-tailored medical support must reflect the operational requirements
and is, with regard to both, medical capabilities and capacities, based on
numerous operational and medical aspects, among which casualty estimation
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is the key element. Casualty Estimation usually is a task of J5 staff, in close

cooperation with J2, JMed and other staff functions. However depending on
the available timeframe before commencing an operation, the J3 staff may be
in the lead for this task.
4. In short, the medical staff mission is directly focused on the health of

the force, while the operations FP staff mission is focused on the readiness
status of the medical support structure. Both staffs must work co-operatively
as a team in the development, execution and evaluation of FP.
5. At any time during operational planning and execution J3 Staffs are

responsible for determining whether changes in the point of main effort are
required, which may be accompanied by changes in medical support
arrangements. They will determine the response to any situation which may
compromise medical support to the force, and will also make decisions over
allocation of scarce resources. Medical staffs are responsible for
ascertaining the medical implications of the courses of action (COAs)
selected by J3 staff and ensuring that they are made fully aware of these
implications.
6. Critical incident management (CIM), mass casualty (MASCAL)

management and disaster response planning are not just the preserve of
medical staff and should have the total focus of the commander. They also
remain just as relevant in non-war-fighting deployments. Therefore, medical
staffs must contribute to the J3/J5-led CIM, MASCAL and disaster response
planning. All aspects of the plan and its execution will be led by J3, as the
resources required will come from across the theatre and many will be non-
medical. During the execution phase, the medical staff will coordinate all
medical activities, whilst J3 will coordinate non-medical activities.
1.4.4. J4 – Logistics
1. The J4 staff is responsible for assessing the logistics support required

to achieve the commander’s campaign objectives, and for ensuring that these
support requirements are met throughout the campaign. In addition to this
assessment, J4 will also coordinate the overall logistic effort.
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2. 2. Coordination between medical and logistics staffs is required to

ensure consistency and integration of logistics and medical missions. Timely
exchange of information, flexibility in decision making, teamwork spirit and
mutual trust are essential in these relationships. Amongst others, activities
that require close linkage between medical and logistics staffs include:
a. Development of the support concept and plan for the operation.
b. Creation of the statement of requirement (SOR) and the

sustainability statement.
c. Resourcing the plan.
d. Definition of logistics and medical C2 architecture.
e. Deployment, employment and redeployment of MTFs.
f. Coordination of logistic aspects of AE, planning and execution

being coordinated with J3 air.
g. Deconfliction of transport assets which might, mounted with

medical equipment and personnel, be used for MedEvac.
1.4.5. J5 – Plans & Policy
1. J5 staff keeps the primary function of coordinating and consolidating

planning input from all key staff elements, including medical. It also
promulgates the commander’s decisions on the COAs for the campaign
through planning directives, OPLANs and contingency plans. Medical staff
will provide medical input to the commander’s OPLAN via J5 staff.
2. One of the most important interactions between J5 and the medical

staffs is the determination of casualty estimates for a given operation, with J5
staff in the lead for this task. 33 The battle casualty (BC) rates provided in
AJMedP-1 Allied Joint Medical Planning Doctrine are generic in nature and
can only be used accordingly within planning for conventional warfare.
Casualty rates for WMD are provided in in AMedP-8 Medical Planning Guide
33
STANAG 2526 AJP-5 Allied Joint Doctrine for Operational-Level Planning Paragraph 0314. C (8).
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for the Estimation of NBC Battle Casualties. A large number of factors must
be taken into account for the estimation of BC in contingency and operational
planning. Therefore, the selection of BC planning rates should involve
consultation between operations, medical, intelligence and policy staffs, even
though the determination of this estimate is primarily the responsibility of the
operational staff.
1.4.6. J6 – Communications
1. The primary mission of the J6 communications staff is to provide

reliable and secure CIS necessary to support an operation. The principles of
flexibility, reliability, security, network resilience and interoperability are crucial
to the NATO framework at all levels, as is the continued emphasis on
commonality of CIS procedures.
2. For the medical functional area the potential for large amounts of
detailed information and data on casualties to be transmitted exists.
Therefore it is essential that early operational planning includes the
requirement to establish the commensurate priority for medical CIS.
3. The most important aspect of this process is to engage the CIS staffs
in recognizing the need for CIS assets to provide adequate connectivity
within the medical functional area, both vertically and horizontally in the C2
architecture.
4. Medical support CIS requirements must be assessed at all levels. In

conjunction, medical and CIS staff will establish the medical CIS
requirements for the operation and include them in the SOR. The CIS staff
may also allocate the means to effect the capture of appropriate medical
data.
5. Medical CIS need to include all medical support capabilities in theatre,

in order to facilitate the ability to rescue, evacuate, regulate and track
casualties, permit commander's analysis and assessment of theatre medical
capabilities, achieve direct interaction and information exchange on a
continuous basis and should facilitate teleconsultation, telemedicine, patient
tracking, medical data collection, storage and transmission, and in-transit
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patient monitoring. Connectivity with the JOC and commander’s staff

elements must also be established and maintained for coordination purposes.
1.4.7. J7 – Exercise Planning
J7 staff is responsible for exercise planning. J7 has linkages to medical staffs

in order to ensure appropriate real-time medical support is available for all
exercising troops, throughout the exercise and including deployment and
redeployment. Additionally, medical support planning must be included in all
relevant phases of any exercise. This will only be enabled by medical staffs
actively engaged with J7 staffs from the outset.
J7 staff is also tasked with assessing and improving operational and tactical
procedures by processing and transferring recent experience through the
lessons learned and evaluation process into actionable guidance. J7
therefore refers to medical staffs for all subject matters concerning the
evaluation and improvement of medical support and healthcare.
1.4.8. J8 – Resources & Finance
1. At theatre level, J8 is the principal financial management advisers. J8

staffs are responsible for the correct and efficient application of all
international funds approved for use in theatre in support of the operation.
2. J8 linkages to medical support are indirect and thus transparent,

relating to the planning, programming, budgeting, and execution oversight of
the theatre-based operation. The financial staffs are responsible for the
correct and efficient utilisation of funds approved for in-theatre support of the
mission. Direct theatre interaction between finance and medical staffs,
however, may be necessary during the course of an operation. Some
specific examples where this may be required include: memoranda of
understanding (MOUs); contracting support, and; new projects or initiatives.
1.4.9. J9 – Civil-Military Cooperation
1. NATO commanders need to establish relationship with a variety of

civilian authorities and organizations in their JOA. Allied commanders may
have responsibilities toward civilians which are best addressed in cooperation
with civilian authorities and organizations. Therefore, the primary mission of
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J9 staff is the establishment of a specialist interface between an allied force

and the civilian authorities and organizations, in order to establish and
maintain good civil-military relations and gain the greatest advantage for the
commander.
2. With the approval of the commander and in accordance with the tasks
assigned in the OPLAN, J9 staff may request medical staff to provide non-
emergency medical assistance to the local population in accordance with the
established humanitarian support concept in theatre and national regulations
of the TCN. In assessing whether a military response should be provided,
medical staffs must establish that the task is one that, if undertaken, will
facilitate a return to normality for the local community. This assistance must
be for a limited duration, with the final outcome being the re-establishment of
the local civil medical infrastructure.
3. Another area of interaction between medical staffs and J9 staff is the

advice that can be given on the coordination and implementation of different
medical projects promoted by the J9 staff, or IOs/GOs/NGOs, in the area of
health care to the civil community. This advice will take into consideration the
duplication of effort and the priority requirements of the projects. Additionally,
the close relationship between the medical staff and NGOs, IOs and
governmental medical and health agencies may become useful in order to
support CIMIC operations. 34
1.4.10. Legal
1. Legal staff provides advice and services to commanders during all

phases of an operation. For each operation, the medical staff, in conjunction
with legal staff, will address issues concerning both, national and international
law.
2. Many of the areas over which legal staff maintains technical

supervision or key advisory input involve subjects, which include either
medical functions or topics for which the medical advice to the commander is
required. Key among the issues on legal advice should be sought are:
34
For further details see Chapter 7 of this publication.
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a. Status of forces agreements (SOFAs) and host nation support

(HNS) arrangements.
b. Issues and actions pertaining to NATO support to governmental

organizations, IOs, NGOs, or the local population.
c. Claims activity within the area of operations.
d. NATO liability regarding individual or public health, such as

related to environmental contamination or other NATO operation
based exposures.
e. Visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
f. Compliance with applicable international, HN, TCN and

operational law.
g. The treatment of person deprived of their liberty by NATO forces.
h. Medical confidentiality.
1.4.11. Public Information Operations
Public information and affairs staff has the key mission of enhancing public
understanding of mission, goals, capabilities, and status of NATO operations.
The public information office must coordinate all key NATO functional
elements, including the medical staff, to ensure target audiences are fully and
accurately informed as to the status of the operation. The need for journalists
to gather and publish information as early as possible, and the increased
speed of information exchange due to modern means of communication has
rendered the mass media a relevant factor to be considered in planning and
conducting an operation. Information on possible or existing risks and
incidents affecting the health of military personnel or others is particularly
sensitive and may require the involvement of medical staffs in preparing
press releases and lines to take.
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UK Annex 1A – UK Defence Medical organisation
UK 1A.1. Defence Medical Services. The Defence Medical Services

provides the rapid reaction necessary for operations. Many of its units are at
cadre strength, with reinforcing personnel being employed elsewhere to meet
training requirements. The Defence Medical Services (in common with the
National Health Service) historically has difficulty retaining its full manning
complement. At any time, it is likely that there will be gaps in certain areas
that may need to be filled from individual reservists, sponsored reservists and
the Reserve Forces – which has implications for readiness.
UK 1A.2. Headquarters Surgeon General. The Surgeon General is the 3*

Defence authority for end-to-end healthcare and medical operational
capability and is the professional head of the Defence Medical Services. The
Surgeon General directly oversee two 2* pillars, including Medical Policy and
Operational Capability and Joint Medical Command. The Surgeon General
has ultimate responsibility for delivering the three core outputs of the Defence
Medical Services.
• Health service support to operations. Developing and

generating deployable medical capability; interoperable with our
multinational partners and capable of operating in an
increasingly complex mission space, to promote, protect and
restore the health of deployed forces.
• Healthcare. Delivering safe, effective, seamless and resource-

efficient healthcare across Defence, either directly or through
partners, to restore the health of Service personnel.
• Expert medical advice. Providing specialist advice on health

and healthcare to the chain of command, to promote and
protect the health of our Armed Forces.
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UK 1A.3. Inspector General. The Inspector General is the 1* officer,

reporting directly to Surgeon General, who is responsible for providing
assurance that military healthcare and medical operational capability
complies with the Surgeon General’s direction and meets national and
international legislative requirements. The Inspector General is the Surgeon
General’s agent for holding Defence healthcare providers to account for
providing safe, effective, patient-centred healthcare that meets the needs of
Defence, and for facilitating quality improvement in healthcare.
UK 1A.4 Business Management Group. The Business Management

Group is headed by a 1* civil servant and provides a focus within the
headquarters Surgeon General for planning for, and managing, delivery on
behalf of the Surgeon General, while providing business support to his
operating areas.
UK 1A.5. Medical policy and operational capability. Director Medical

Policy and Operational Capability combines three 1* pillars within the
Surgeon General’s headquarters. This includes Medical Operational
Capability, Medical Policy and Personnel and the Medical Director Defence
Medical services. These pillars function in close cooperation due to their
combined focus on operational delivery. This synergy is supported by clear
clinical and administrative policies and is enhanced by evidence-based
research with operational capability delivered by the right balance of trained
personnel. Medical Director Defence Medical Services is the senior clinical
authority responsible for providing support to Director Medical Policy and
Operational Capability to translate clinical advice into operational effect.
UK 1A.6. The PJHQ, Joint Capability Directorate Joint Forces Command,

Chief of Defence Personnel and Surgeon General headquarters in MOD work
closely to deliver operational capability and healthcare delivery on behalf of
the Defence Medical Services.
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UK 1A.7. Joint Medical Command. The Joint Medical Command is a

recognised supporting Command that contributes to the operational outputs
of the Permanent Joint Headquarters, single-Service sectors, Directorate of
Special Forces and other joint users. The Joint Medical Command also
supports the Surgeon General by contributing to providing continuously
improving healthcare on operations, including contingency, and in peacetime.
Joint Medical Command is a 2* command, incorporating Defence Healthcare
Education and Training and the Defence Medical Group.
• Defence Healthcare Education and Training. Defence

Healthcare Education and Training commissions, develops and
quality manages healthcare education and training for Defence
Medical Services personnel. It provides effective and efficient
training for Defence Medical Services delivered healthcare
throughout the operational patient pathway, from force
generation to role 4 and recovery, to meet operational
requirements in accordance with internal and national policies.
• Defence Medical Group. Defence Medical Group provides the

central overarching 1* Command for the majority of the
Defence Medical Service’s joint regular secondary care
manpower in the firm base. It is responsible for assigning
trained secondary care clinical personnel to high quality
placements within the National Health Service to ensure that
they remain suitably qualified and experienced in their clinical
specialty; maintaining their military preparedness for their
assigned operational role and ensuring they are held at the
required readiness to deploy in a timely manner. In the firm
base, secondary healthcare personnel are employed in
hospitals under command and administered by one of five
regional Defence Medical Group headquarters. Defence
Medical Group staff play a crucial role in the timely force
generation and force development of the UK’s medical
operational capability. Defence Medical Group is also
responsible for the direct delivery of clinical effect to sick and
injured UK Service personnel through its ownership of the role
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4 patient pathway. This comprises two key components; the

Royal Centre for Defence Medicine Clinical Unit and the
Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre.
o Royal Centre for Defence Medicine. The Royal Centre

for Defence Medicine is the clinical focal point for the
military reception of operational casualties. It supports
University Hospital Birmingham Foundation Trust by
providing Defence Medical Services command and control,
manpower and specialist military expertise to facilitate the
operational patient care pathway. The Royal Centre for
Defence Medicine is an operational unit in the firm base
responding to the operational needs of deployed
formations. During operations, the Royal Centre for
Defence Medicine must not be constrained by peacetime
business, timelines or activities. This demands manning
and establishing support from the single-Services and
MOD. Role 4 staffs provide a visible, sustained and
continuing military presence within University Hospital
Birmingham Foundation Trust working alongside National
Health Service colleagues. The skill-mix of the military
personnel should be appropriate to the tasks. The number
of military staff must be sufficient to meet operational
demand without compromising patient care. The Royal
Centre for Defence Medicine delivers military effect by
providing first class clinical care supported by
comprehensive military administrative and welfare
provision which are all necessary to the well-being of the
operational patient.
o Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre. The Defence

Medical Rehabilitation Centre contributes to the force
generation process by restoring injured military personnel
to functional employment. This function provides a
significant contribution to the physical and moral
components of fighting power as defined in Joint Doctrine
Publication 0-01, UK Defence Doctrine. The Defence
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Medical Rehabilitation Centre should also be viewed as a

role 4 operational unit within the firm base with a
responsibility to respond to operational requirements
without being constrained by less responsive business
processes. Subordinate regional rehabilitation units and
primary care rehabilitation facilities support the flexible and
responsive management of those casualties that are either
in the later stages of recovery or less seriously injured,
allowing them to be rehabilitated in an environment
appropriate to their needs. Supporting this process from
within the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre are
clinical, social, mental, spiritual, administrative and general
welfare support services.
UK 1A.8. Headquarters Defence Primary Healthcare. Headquarters

Defence Primary Healthcare provides the overarching structure and direction
for providing military primary healthcare for personnel in the UK firm base
and non-operational-overseas bases. In addition to general medical
practitioner services, primary healthcare includes community mental health,
rehabilitation, occupational health and oral health services for all Regular
personnel. Occupational health services and certain elements of community
mental health, rehabilitation and oral health services are also provided by
Headquarters Defence Primary Healthcare to Reserve personnel. In
common with Joint Forces Command, healthcare personnel are clinically and
militarily trained to deliver their roles in a complex joint undertaking between
the single-Service commands, Headquarters Surgeon General and the
Headquarters Defence Primary Healthcare. This is achieved through close
cooperation to allow primary healthcare personnel access to a wide patient
base that will maintain and enhance primary healthcare skills in the firm base
that will be necessary to function in the operational environment. Defence
Primary Healthcare Command delivers the medical component of the force
generating effort and conducts recovery under a holistic framework.
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UK 1A.9. Permanent Joint Headquarters. The Permanent Joint

Headquarters is an adaptable and agile headquarters created to command
joint and combined military operations and provide politically aware military
advice to the MOD. It is at the forefront of effort within UK Defence to further
improve joint operational capability. Within the J4 medical cell there are
representatives from all three single-Services who plan, direct and support
Defence Medical Services personnel while they are deployed on operations,
at permanent joint operating bases or isolated detachments.
UK 1A.10.Single-Service command medical branches. The single-Service

command medical branches support their commands, Permanent Joint
Headquarters and Headquarters Surgeon General by mounting force
elements for operations and conducting specific tasks (for example,
controlling strategic medical evacuation).
UK 1A.11. Single-Service organisations. Single-Service assets are

deployed according to the nature of the tasks involved.
• Royal Navy medical services. The Royal Navy medical

services provide operational support to the Royal Marines as
well as ships and submarines. Within the appropriate
readiness profiles, the RN’s role 2 and role 3 support afloat
provides cover in the maritime and littoral environment as part
of an area of operations medical plan.
• Army medical services. The Army medical services provide

operational support to land forces. It is the largest medical
organisation that includes hospital support assets to cover the
needs of all three Services on land.
• Royal Air Force medical services. The Royal Air Force

medical services provide operational support to air operations
as well as aeromedical evacuation for all three Services. It also
has role 2 (Air) which is primarily used as an early-entry
capability. The latter encompasses providing medical escorts,
ground handling and patient holding for strategic and tactical
fixed wing aeromedical evacuation and medical escorts for
helicopter transfer.
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UK 1A.12. Medical Reserve Forces. The reserve component of the

Defence Medical Services is a substantial resource. Reservists may
volunteer for any operation under intelligent mobilisation. They may not be
called up for operations without an Order in Council issued under the
Reserve Forces Act 1996 unless they have already signed the Reserve
Forces Act. The level of Reservists’ individual skills, both military and clinical,
should also be taken into account when considering using them. Time for
assessment and retraining, particularly of paramedical personnel, may be
needed.
UK 1A.13. The Reserve medical organisation is mainly based on the Army

Reserve, although small but significant portions are found within the Royal
Naval Reserve and Royal Air Force Reserve. The Reserve medical
organisation is likely to always be required in support of our Regular Forces
for larger operations and to provide specialist individuals for small-scale
operations. As well as formed units, there are individual reservists who have
previous service in the Regular Forces and who may be called out on
mobilisation. Their conditions of callout are also contained in the Reserve
Forces Act.
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UK Annex 1B – International humanitarian law considerations
UK 1B.1. This Annex introduces some of the international humanitarian law

considerations that can affect the planning of UK health service support to
joint operations. It is not intended to be all encompassing or to replace the
advice from the MOD or Service legal staffs, which should always be sought
on individual issues. Instead, it lays down some enduring principles covering
international humanitarian law on operations, draws attention to the breadth
of legal issues affecting the medical function and considers the impact of
non-state actors on delivering health service support to operations. It should
be read alongside JDP 1-10, Captured Persons, 3rd Edition, which provides
additional information on many of the areas discussed in this Annex.
UK 1B.2. International humanitarian law exists to minimise the effects of

conflict on those not, or no longer, directly involved in the conduct of
hostilities, as well as to regulate conduct between combatants themselves.
International humanitarian law places obligations on our UK Armed Forces to
take account of all protected persons, including the wounded and sick, in the
planning and conducting operations during an international armed conflict.
Although different legal obligations under international humanitarian law may
apply, depending upon the nature of the conflict (for example, whether it is an
international armed conflict or a non-international armed conflict), it is MOD
policy that similar obligations and protections should be applied, where
appropriate, to the planning and conduct of all operations where hostilities
are envisaged. For example, the full range of the Geneva Conventions will
not apply, as a matter of law, in a counter-insurgency operation, but may still
be applied as a matter of UK policy. While a detailed discussion of these
issues is beyond the scope of this publication, medical specialists engaged in
operational planning should recognise that the Geneva Conventions and their
Additional Protocols influence the planning and conduct of all operations.
UK 1B.3. There is guidance in Joint Service Publication 383, Manual of the

Law of Armed Conflict, Chapter 7 in particular, on the legal definitions of
medical units, personnel and transport, the protection afforded by the law to
those entities, the general protection afforded to the conduct of medical
duties, the permitted functions of medical units, the duties of occupying
powers to meet the medical needs of the civilian population, rules for the
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protection of medical transport, and identification of medical units, personnel

and transport. Those responsible for the planning the conduct and command
of medical functions and any related activities in joint operations should be
familiar with that guidance. Legal advice should invariably be sought to
resolve cases of doubt.
UK 1B.4. Further to existing guidance in Joint Service Publication 383 and

wider international humanitarian law, this Annex seeks to provide guidance
on the principal lessons highlighted during recent operations. The challenge
for planning staffs is reconciling the requirement to abide by international
humanitarian law and UK policy while mitigating the impact of non-state
actors who may not recognise the protection afforded to medical personnel in
international humanitarian law. It should be noted that early consultation with
J1/J9 planning staffs and legal advisers can assist in identifying how, and
where, international humanitarian law is likely to impact, and how to address
any issues most effectively.
UK 1B.5. The general obligation to treat others. While the specific

obligations under international humanitarian law may vary, dependent upon
the nature of the conflict (i.e. whether it is an international armed conflict or a
non-international armed conflict), our UK Armed Forces are under a
continuous obligation to respect and protect wounded or sick persons,
whether military or civilian, who are in need of medical assistance and who
refrain from hostilities. They shall not wilfully be left without medical care or
assistance. Only urgent medical reasons will authorise priority in order of
treatment to be administered. They shall be treated humanely and shall
receive, to the fullest extent practicable and with the least possible delay, the
medical care and attention required by their condition. There shall be no
discrimination among them founded on any grounds other than medical ones.
This may, of course, include not only adversaries but the civilian population,
and careful consideration should be given to calculating the likely numbers of
casualties in any operation. Liaison with J2/J3 and operational analysts,
while of assistance, cannot be definitive, and planners should recognise that
the demands on medical staff may vary considerably depending on the phase
and success of the operation. The ability to surge, re-role and recover
medical support will be key and the resources to support this range of activity
must be identified and assigned at an early stage.
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UK 1B.6. The specific obligation to treat captured persons including

prisoners of war, internees and detainees. Captured persons are entitled
to certain basic standards of humane treatment. Once in the hands of our
Armed Forces, they are to be treated strictly according to medical need. This
protection extends to all those who are interned or detained pursuant to the
conflict and calls for planning and resources to be committed to their initial
care. Complications arise when it is proposed, for reasons of imperative
medical care, to transfer captured patients to a country outside the territory
where they were captured. As a rule, while prisoners of war may be directly
repatriated or accommodated in neutral countries for medical reasons or to
receive medical treatment (Geneva Convention III) (subject to legal and
policy advice in each case), internees and detainees may not. In all cases,
J9 legal advice must be sought before any transfer takes place.
UK 1B.7. The nature of treatment. The nature and extent of the medical
treatment administered to individuals will be governed primarily by medical
judgement and ethics, within the constraints of Armed Forces’ medical policy.
In addition, international humanitarian law places certain obligations on UK
medical staff. Medical procedures, which are not indicated by the patient’s
state of health and which are not consistent with generally accepted medical
standards, are not allowed. Experiments on captured persons and the sick
and wounded are also strictly forbidden under international humanitarian law
as are unjustified medical interference on patients who are not in a position to
give free and genuine consent. A patient may refuse surgical treatment, but
emergency surgery to save a life does not require the patient’s consent.
UK 1B.8. Protected status of medical units. International humanitarian

law accords special protection to medical units and the personnel serving in
them solely in a medical capacity. The Geneva Convention defines medical
units as establishments and other units, whether military or civilian, organised
for medical purposes, namely the search for, collection, transportation,
diagnosis or treatment (including first aid treatment) of the wounded, sick or
shipwrecked or for the prevention of disease. They include hospitals, blood
transfusion centres, preventive medicine centres, medical depots and stores.
Medical units are to be respected and protected at all times and are not to be
made the object of attack. They may be fixed or mobile, permanent or
temporary, and on land, sea or in the air. Medical units, personnel and
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transport must not be used for non-medical purposes or they will lose their
protected status as non-combatants. Medical units must not be used to
shield military objectives from attack and, where possible, should be situated
so that attacks upon military objectives do not imperil their safety. Improper
use of the protective emblems identifying medical units, transport or
personnel to kill or injure the enemy, or that result in death or serious injury,
is a war crime of perfidy. The protective emblems must not be used in a way
that falsely suggests protected status to avoid attack by an adversary.
Protected status of medical personnel
UK 1.B.9. The term medical personnel covers those persons assigned

exclusively to the medical purposes detailed above, and/or those who carry
out the administration of medical units, or operate medical transport. Such
assignments may be permanent or temporary but must be exclusive for their
duration. The Geneva Convention definition of medical personnel includes
doctors, dentists and nurses, and a range of specialists, technicians,
maintenance staff, drivers, cooks and administrators attached to medical
units or medical transport units. Medical personnel will be identifiable by
wearing the Red Cross emblem.
UK 1B.10. Medical personnel should be respected and protected in all

circumstances and, if captured, they should be retained only to the extent
necessary to tend to the health of prisoners of war. On capture, they will not
be categorised as prisoners of war but they shall be afforded the same
benefits and protection. They shall be granted all facilities necessary to
provide for the medical care of captured persons. When there is no longer a
requirement to retain the medical personnel, they should be returned to their
own side. However, while captured, they are to continue to carry out, within
their professional ethics, their medical duties on captured persons.
Protected status of medical vessels, vehicles and aircraft
UK 1B.11. The general rule is that medical vessels, craft and vehicles are to
be respected and protected at all times. International law recognises that
such protection is only effective if the medical transport can be recognised as
such. Thus, in the case of hospital ships (vessels built, converted or
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equipped specially and solely with a view to assisting either military and/or
civilian wounded, sick and shipwrecked and to treating them and transporting
them) or craft, they should be white and marked with the distinctive emblem.
Emblems should be as large as possible and be placed to maximise visibility.
UK 1B.12. Information about a hospital ship may (and, in normal

circumstances, should) be declared, including its name, description, time of
sailing, course, estimated speed, and so on. Negotiations between
belligerents may settle a protected zone for hospital ships to use where no
military operations will take place. The protecting powers may assist in the
negotiation of such an agreement. Information to ease identification of
medical ships may also be transferred between belligerents.
UK 1B.13. Medical aircraft shall also be respected and protected. If such

aircraft are being operated in areas not controlled by the enemy, respect and
protection do not depend on specific agreements, but notification to the other
side of flight arrangements may make the flights safer.
UK 1B.14. Prior agreement with the enemy becomes essential in the combat
zone, particularly in those areas where control is not established. Without
that agreement, medical aircraft operate at their own risk. If recognised as a
medical aircraft, they should be respected. Protecting such aircraft continues
when over-flying enemy-controlled territory provided prior agreement has
been obtained. If no agreement is obtained or the aircraft has to deviate from
an agreement, the aircraft should identify itself and explain the solely medical
purpose of the flight and the reason for any deviation from the agreement.
When recognised, the adverse party shall give orders to protect its own
interests and give time for compliance before resorting to an attack on the
aircraft.
UK 1B.15. Medical aircraft flying over areas controlled by the enemy can be
ordered to land for inspection. If its medical status and well meaning are
supported by the inspection, it shall be permitted to resume its journey. If the
inspection reveals that it is not a medical aircraft, has flown without or in
breach of an agreement, or has broken the rules, it may be seized
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UK 1B.16. Medical aircraft may not be used to acquire a military advantage,

nor to collect or transmit intelligence data and cannot carry associated
equipment. Communications, navigation and identification equipment is
permitted. They must be unarmed (save for small arms taken from the
wounded and light individual weapons to defend the personnel on board).
Permitted functions of medical units, personnel and ambulances
UK 1B.17. Medical units may be protected by armed guards or pickets but,

again, those guards may only act for the self-defence of medical personnel
and patients in their care. Medical personnel must not be used to support the
collective protection of non-medical facilities and assets. Commanders at all
levels have a responsibility to ensure that the protected status of medical
personnel is maintained.
UK 1B.18. Medical personnel are permitted to carry light individual weapons

for the purpose of self-defence or to protect those in their charge if they are
subjected to unlawful attacks. Light individual weapons are those that can be
handled by one person and primarily intended for personnel targets.
Example of such are sub-machine guns, self-loading rifles and handguns.
Carrying, and lawfully using, such weapons (in self-defence or defending
those in their charge) will not cause the loss of their protected status and
does not amount to a misuse of the protected emblem of the Red Cross. In
no circumstances should UK medical personnel use heavier weapons while
wearing a protective emblem. To do so would negate the protection afforded
by the protective emblem and could call into doubt the use of the emblem
elsewhere. Small arms and ammunition taken from the wounded and sick
may be temporarily stored in medical units until they can be handed over to
the appropriate authorities.
UK 1B.19. The Red Cross emblem offers no finite guarantee of protection

against non-state actors. Where a threat from such groups exists,
commanders are empowered to authorise the removal of the Red Cross
emblem, subject to legal and policy advice. However, medical personnel still
retain their status as non-combatants and therefore remain restricted in the
types of weapons that they can use. It is simply their easy identification that
has been removed.
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UK 1B.20 Signatory nations to the Geneva Convention whose ambulances

display the Red Cross (or another recognised distinctive emblem) are
protected under the convention from attack by the forces of other signatory
States. However, it is a condition of their protected status that such platforms
must not carry a mounted weapon system. The assignment of an ambulance
to medical purposes may be permanent or temporary but must be exclusive
for the duration of its use as such.
UK 1B.21 Where a threat exists from non-state actors, commanders are

empowered, subject to legal and policy advice, to remove the Red Cross
insignia and to fit a mounted weapon system for the protection of that
platform and those within their care. However, such a platform will no longer
be recognisable as an ambulance and it, and its occupants, will lose the
protection that the distinctive emblem would otherwise confer. Under no
circumstances may the Red Cross emblem be displayed on an ambulance
platform at the same time as a weapon system is mounted on it. The
provision of such weapon systems would only be for defensive purposes, and
must be reflected in training for medical personnel.
UK 1B.22. Recognised emblems. Great care must be taken to ensure

that the Red Cross, the Red Crescent, the Red Crystal (Diamond) at UK
Figure 1.7 or any other recognised distinctive emblems are not used
improperly. The Red Cross flag must not be used to cover vehicles used for
transporting munitions or other non-medical stores. A hospital train must not
be used to facilitate the escape of combatants. Using a building protected by
the Red Cross as a firing position is prohibited. This does not infringe the
right of personnel to protect themselves or their patients. Vehicles used for
transporting the wounded, sick and medical equipment may display the
protective emblems and are entitled to protection. Non-medical supplies may
not be carried in a vehicle using the protected emblem.
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UK Figure 1.7 – Recognised symbols
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UK Annex 1C – UK, NATO and US medical terms comparison table
UK 1C.1. UK and NATO medical terms and descriptions have been extracted from this publication. US
definitions have been taken from Joint Publication 4-02, Health Service Support, dated 26 July 2012.
UK NATO US
Pre-hospital care. Pre-hospital care Not used as the same or Not used as the same or
encompasses all aspects of health equivalent term. equivalent term.
service support forward of deployed
hospital care. It includes:
• core functions of primary health

care;
• pre-hospital emergency care and
forward medical evacuation; and
• force health protection.
All aspects are enabled by medical

logistics and medical command,
control, communication, computers
and information, organised as an agile,
layered, networked healthcare system.
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UK NATO US
Pre-hospital emergency care. Pre- Not used as the same or Not used as the same or
hospital emergency care is the equivalent term. equivalent term.
continuum of emergency care
provided to a casualty (by individuals
or teams) from first clinical intervention
at point of injury through to reception
of the operational patient at deployed
hospital care. The primary clinical
output within pre-hospital emergency
care is progressive resuscitation. Pre-
hospital emergency care comprises of
four clinical phases, one non-clinical
node and two clinical nodes of care:
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UK NATO US
Tactical field care. Tactical field care Equivalent – first response Equivalent – The first
includes those interventions necessary capability encompasses responder care capability is
to save/stabilise life and prepare the bleeding and airway control for defined by its time
casualty for medical evacuation. It can the most severe casualties. requirements. It is this health
be provided by any ’extended-trained’ Sufficient non-medical forces care capability that provides first
individual (incorporating team medic or personnel need to be trained responder care, which is
other authorised extended qualification and competent to deliver immediate medical care and
plus all Defence Medical Services enhanced first aid, principally to stabilization to the patient in
clinical personnel). tactical field care stop bleeding. Where possible preparation for evacuation to the
incorporates care under fire. medical services personnel next higher role of care. This
skilled in pre-hospital care capability can be divided into
should also be placed with units three categories of self-aid or
operating independently or in a buddy aid (nonmedical),
high risk environment. emergent care services, and
primary care.”
First responder care capability is
also known as tactical combat
casualty care and is divided
into care under fire, tactical field
care, and tactical evacuation.
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UK NATO US
Care under fire. Care under fire is Not used as the same or The care under fire phase
those techniques necessary to provide equivalent term. includes combat life savers,
immediate life-saving interventions to para rescue, and other medical
the casualty in the hot zone while the personnel and their units are
patient is being extracted. The under effective hostile fire and
requirement for care under fire is the are very limited in the care they
basis of all first aid training taught to all can provide. In essence, only
members of our UK Armed Forces. those life-saving interventions
that must be performed
immediately are undertaken
during this phase.
Enhanced field care. Enhanced field Not used as the same or Equivalent – the tactical field
care is that emergency clinical care equivalent term. care phase is when medical
usually provided by a clinical team personnel and their casualties
made possible by a more permissive are no longer under effective
environment using battlefield hostile fire and can provide
advanced trauma life support, more extensive casualty care.
chemical, biological, radiological and In this phase, interventions
nuclear emergency medical treatment directed at other life-threatening
and other progressive clinical conditions as well as
techniques. resuscitation and other
measures to increase the
comfort of the patient may be
performed.
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UK NATO US
Prolonged care. Prolonged care Not used as the same or Not used as the same or
applies extra techniques to sustain the equivalent term. equivalent term.
casualty if any component of the
10.1.2(2)+2 medical planning guideline
is likely to be exceeded.
Progressive resuscitation. Equivalent – the medical Equivalent – The forward
Progressive resuscitation is the use of response capability is a resuscitative care capability is
multiple techniques in clinical care to national responsibility and characterised by the capacity to
restore physiological function for focuses on providing primary perform advanced emergency
critically ill or injured patients. health care, specialised first aid,
medical treatment as close to
Progressive resuscitation incorporates triage, resuscitation and the point of injury as possible, to
damage control resuscitation for care stabilisation. attain stabilization of the patient,
of the trauma patient. and to achieve the most efficient
Damage control resuscitation. Damage control resuscitation. use of lifesaving and limb-
Damage control resuscitation uses Damage control resuscitation is saving medical treatment. The
hybrid resuscitation techniques; for defined as ‘a systemic forward resuscitative care
example the use of sufficient approach to major trauma capability typically provides
intravenous fluids to maintain a radial combining the <C>ABC essential care for stabilization to
pulse plus a combination of blood (catastrophic bleeding, airway, ensure the patient can tolerate
replacement therapies for trauma. breathing, circulation) paradigm evacuation. This capability
with a series of clinical covers advanced emergency
techniques from point of services, post-surgical inpatient
wounding to definitive treatment services, surgical subspecialty
in order to minimise blood loss, services, and ancillary services.
maximise tissue oxygenation
and optimise outcome.’
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UK NATO US
Damage control surgery. Use NATO Damage control surgery. Equivalent – the theatre
definition. Damage control surgery is a hospitalisation capability
surgical intervention where the delivers health support required
completeness of the immediate to medically sustain forces in
surgical repair is sacrificed to the joint operational area. This
achieve haemorrhage and health support capability
contamination control, to avoid involves hospitals purposely
a deterioration of the patient’s positioned to provide support in
condition. the joint operational area.
In-theatre surgery. In-theatre surgery Equivalent – the hospital
may consist of several surgical response capability provides
procedures spread over a period of secondary health care at
time and may require moving patients theatre level.
between medical treatment facilities
within a theatre of operations. The
requirement for in-theatre surgery is
dictated by both the patient’s condition
and operational circumstances. It may
involve several surgical procedures
spread over a period of time and may
require the movement of patients
between medical treatment facilities
within a theatre of operations.
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UK NATO US
Definitive care. Role 4 medical Equivalent – a definitive Equivalent – a definitive care
treatment facilities normally provide hospital response capability capability is rendered to
definitive care specialist surgical and offers the full spectrum of conclusively manage a patient’s
medical procedures, reconstructive definitive medical care that condition and is usually
surgery and rehabilitation. This care is cannot be deployed to theatre delivered from or at facilities in
usually highly specialised, time or will be too time consuming to the homeland but may be
consuming and normally provided in be conducted in theatre. delivered in facilities outside the
the casualty’s country of origin or the homeland.
home country of another Alliance
member. In many member nations
military hospitals provide definitive
care. Using the national (civilian)
health care system is another model.
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UK NATO US
Medical evacuation. Medical Medical evacuation is not Equivalent – The purpose of en
evacuation is the movement of merely the movement of patients route care capability is the
operational patients under medical under medical supervision continuation of care during
supervision in a designated between Medical Treatment movement (evacuation) without
transport platform equipped for Facilities as a part of the clinically compromising the
role. treatment continuum. It also patient’s condition. En-route care
includes the continuous provision involves transitory medical care,
of medical support to the patient patient holding, and staging
during the evacuation itself. capabilities during transport from
the site of injury or onset of
disease, through successive
capabilities of medical care, to a
medical treatment facility that can
meet the needs of the patient.
Each Service component has
organic vehicles that can be used
for patient movement from point
of injury to initial treatment at a
medical care capability.
Casualty evacuation. The Casualty evacuation is the Casualty evacuation involves

movement of casualties in a non- non-medicalised evacuation of the unregulated movement of
designated vehicle without a patients without qualified medical casualties aboard ships, land
medical escort is termed casualty escort must be distinguished vehicles, or aircraft.17
evacuation. from medical evacuation.
17. Casualty evacuation is seen as a
component of en-route care capability.
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UK NATO US
Forward medical evacuation. Forward medical evacuation Equivalent – During the tactical
Forward medical evacuation is the from point of wounding to first evacuation phase casualties
movement of operational patients from treatment point. are being transported to a
point of injury/illness up to deployed medical treatment facility by an
hospital care, under medical aircraft or vehicle, and there is
supervision in a designated transport an opportunity to provide
platform equipped for role (including additional medical personnel
to/from the critical care station). and equipment to maintain the
interventions already performed.
This further increases the role of
care rendered to the casualty
and prepares them to deal with
the potential for the patient’s
condition to change during the
evacuation.
Tactical medical evacuation. Tactical medical evacuation is Equivalent – medical

Tactical medical evacuation is the conducted within theatre. evacuation traditionally refers
intra-theatre movement of patients to patient movement using pre-
between deployed hospital care designated tactical or logistic
facilities. aircraft (both fixed-wing and
rotary-wing), boats, ships, and
other watercraft temporarily
equipped and staffed with
medical attendants for en-route
care.
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UK NATO US
Strategic medical evacuation. Strategic medical evacuation
Strategic medical evacuation is the is out-of-theatre.
movement of patients from the theatre
of operations usually to role 4 in the
UK or a facility with standards
equivalent to the National Health
Service.
Aeromedical evacuation. Aeromedical evacuation is the Aeromedical evacuation refers

Aeromedical evacuation is the movement of patients under to the Air Force system
movement of patients under medical medical supervision by air providing time-sensitive en route
supervision by air transport to and transport to and between care to regulated patients to and
between medical treatment facilities as medical treatment facilities as between medical treatment
an integral part of the treatment an integral part of the treatment facilities medical treatment
continuum. continuum. facility.
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Chapter 2 – Medical Planning
This Chapter provides an overview of Medical Planning. Detailed guidance

on this subject is contained in the supporting AJMedP-1 Allied Joint Medical
Planning Doctrine.
2.1. General
Medical planning within NATO is the process of requiring, designing and

acquiring medical support capabilities needed by the Alliance to meet its
mission and force structure requirements in accordance with strategic
political-military direction. This process is complex in nature and wide-
ranging in its implications. It encompasses setting capability targets through
defence planning, preparing operational capabilities through exercises and
ends with their successful utilization on operations facilitated by operational
planning procedures. The medical planning contributions to each of these
elements are described in this Chapter.
2.2. Defence Planning
2.2.1. NATO Defence Planning Process (NDPP)
1. Defence planning in the Alliance is a crucial tool which enables

member countries to benefit from the political, military and resource
advantages of working together. Within the NDPP Allies contribute to
enhancing security and stability, and share the burden of developing and
delivering the necessary forces and capabilities needed to achieve the
Organization’s objectives. The NDPP prevents the renationalisation of
defence policies, while at the same time recognizing national sovereignty.
2. The aim of NDPP is to provide a framework within which national and

Alliance defence planning activities can be harmonized to meet agreed
targets in the most effective way. It aims to facilitate the timely identification,
development and delivery of the necessary range of forces - forces that are
interoperable and adequately prepared, equipped, trained and supported - as
well as the associated military and non-military capabilities to undertake the
Alliance’s full spectrum of missions.
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3. Through the NDPP NATO seeks to build sufficient capability to meet

the Alliance’s Level of Ambition (LOA). COMEDS is responsible for the
contribution of the medical domain to the overall planning effort. National
military medical support and expertise to the process is provided by the
COMEDS Military Medical Structures, Operations and Procedures Working
Group (MMSOP WG).
4. NDPP consists of the following five functional steps, that are

undertaken sequentially during each planning cycle:
a. Step 1: Establish political guidance;
b. Step 2: Determine requirements;
c. Step 3: Apportion requirements and set targets;
d. Step 4: Facilitate implementation; and
e. Step 5: Review results.
Alliance requirements are constantly evolving to take account of the latest

strategic direction and identified emerging threats. As a result, as one NDPP
cycle ends preparation of the next has already commenced. Whilst this adds
to the complexity of the overall process, it creates a dynamic process through
which the Alliance can react to the latest requirements.
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The medical contribution to the UK planning process
UK 2.1. Planning, mounting and executing an operation is an iterative

process undertaken by Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ). The
single-Service commands are supporting commands and act as force
contributors with Headquarters Surgeon General providing central policy
and guidance. Health service support is provided by single-Service
assets working under the overall command of joint task force
headquarters and in line with the estimate. Single-Service doctrine
needs to be coherent with this joint operational approach. Most notably
medical planning must be integrated within all phases of the planning
process described in Allied Joint Publication-5, Allied Joint Doctrine for
Operational-Level Planning, and Allied Medical Publication-1, Medical
Planning.
UK 2.2. The UK planning process may start with warnings from the
Defence Intelligence Staff and from J2 in PJHQ. As the crisis develops,
the MOD forms a current commitments team and Chief of the Defence
Staff (CDS) issues a planning directive to PJHQ and the single-Service
commands and PJHQ may form a J5-led contingency planning team.
This will include J4 medical representation from the outset to make sure
that PJHQ medical planners are fully aware of the emerging concept of
operations. When the MOD gets political assent to activate an operation,
the contingency planning team becomes a J3-led operations team.
Normally specialist advisers (such as medical) will move from the
contingency planning team to the operations team.
The medical planning process
UK 2.3. CDS directs the Joint Commander, normally Chief of Joint

Operations, and relevant single-Service commanders to plan operations
in accordance with specified assumptions, objectives and constraints.
PJHQ develops plans (including a medical plan) with the single-Service
commands who will identify the capabilities required to achieve the
mission. Assistant Chief of Staff J1/J4’s medical estimate, which is
undertaken to inform the Joint Commander’s mission directive to the
Joint Task Force Commander will have early influence from
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Headquarters Surgeon General, Defence consultant advisers and single-

Service commands.
UK 2.4. This early engagement with Headquarters Surgeon General

can help pool scarce medical resources with other Services or troop
contributing nations without compromising nationally accepted standards.
The Joint Commander’s mission directive will detail the mission, scale of
forces, type of operation and command arrangements. The Joint Task
Force Commander issues a directive to component commanders
outlining the campaign plan. Each level of directive contains a medical
component which becomes progressively more detailed as information
and the level of command requires. The medical planning process is
thus a product of:
• medical intelligence assessments;

• reconnaissance;
• the medical estimate;
• medical warning notice (although not strictly part of the
planning process, the medical warning notice enables
subordinate formations and units to engage in concurrent
mission preparation activity); and
• the medical directive.
2.2.2. Medical Specific Issues in the Defence Planning Process
Medical is one of NATO’s core planning domains and as such is required to

provide input to each of the five Steps in NDPP.
1. Step 1 is led by NATO’s International Staff (IS). Medical-specific input

is limited but COMEDS, as the senior medical committee in NATO, has the
opportunity to provide input to the Political Guidance on which each planning
cycle is based.
2. Step 2 determines requirements. A Capability Requirements Review

(CRR) will lead to a complete set of Minimum Capability Requirements
(MCR) that define the core capabilities considered necessary to meet the
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quantitative and qualitative ambitions set by the Alliance in its Political

Guidance. Step 2 is led by Allied Command Transformation (ACT) which
coordinates the work of each specialist planning domain. Step 2 ends with
the approval of the completed MCR and agreement as to any Priority
Shortfall Areas (PSAs) where the Alliance wants to focus additional effort to
enhance current capabilities. MMSOP WG tasks in Step 2 include: expert
review of Capability Codes and Statements; review of generic Case Studies,
and; key modelling assumptions.
3. Step 3 apportions requirements and sets targets as well as developing

targets for existing or planned capabilities against the MCR. Led by the IS,
these targets are then apportioned between nations and NATO, and
preliminary courses of action are developed to address any shortfalls.
MMSOP WG can play an important role in Step 3 between the initial and final
target allocation meetings, by conducting a specific medical Bidding and
Brokering meeting to adjust allocations and targets in order to create a
coherent and agreed medical position.
4. Step 4 facilitates implementation. It assists national, multinational and

collective efforts to fill planning shortfalls. In the area of medical capabilities,
COMEDS will be briefed on the results of the long-term planning work and
may use the medical domain planning team to examine persistent shortfalls.
5. Finally, Step 5 reviews the results. The NATO CRR assesses Allies’
national and collective plans to determine the degree to which the Alliances
forces and capabilities are able to meet the requirements contained in NATO
Political Guidance. National offers of capability are collected through a
Defence Planning Capability Survey (DPCS) and the collated responses
verified at subsequent bilateral and multilateral meetings. On receipt of the
national Capability Survey responses, NATO conducts a Defence Review.
The two Strategic Commands (ACO and ACT), in conjunction with the IS,
produce a military assessment known as the NATO Staff Analysis. This looks
at each nation’s force contributions and assesses its transformational
progress. When completed, the NATO Staff Analysis contains both NATO’s
overarching assessment the detailed supporting force tables. It then forms a
key part of the Secretary General of NATO’s General Report to the nations.
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6. The completed report is used by the Strategic Commands to generate

a Suitability and Risk Assessment (SRA) that quantifies each shortfall and its
potential impact on the conduct of operations. The SRA is forwarded to
NATO HQ in Brussels where the participation of those nations outside the
formal Defence Planning process, primarily Partner nations, is considered in
relation to NATO’s identified shortfalls. Any remaining capability shortages
are then subject to review which may result in a political decision to either:
modify the LOA; seek increased capabilities from NATO/nations, or; accept
the capability shortfall and the associated risk. Following the conclusion of
each planning cycle a formal lessons learned process is conducted to ensure
improvements can be made to the next cycle.
2.3. Operational Planning
The primary source for medical planning within the NATO Command
Structure is outlined in AJMedP-1 Allied Joint Medical Planning Doctrine.
Medical planning for CBRN environments is outlined in further detail in
AJMedP-7 Allied Joint Medical Doctrine for Support to CBRN Defensive
Operations.
2.3.1. Operational Planning Process
1. Operational level planning is usually carried out by the Joint Force

Command (JFC) HQs during the different phases of a NATO response to a
crisis or as an integral part of prudent military planning to prepare the Alliance
to meet a future operational situation.
2. The operational planning process is designed to allow close

collaboration between military strategic and operational levels during the
different phases of the NATO Crisis Management Process in accordance with
political decisions made by the North Atlantic Council. The close alignment of
military strategic and operational level processes ensures that operational
considerations are reflected in strategic decisions and that strategic
conditions are established for operational success.
3. The operational commander’s decision-making process will include

consideration of:
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a. Assigned mission and essential actions.
b. Developing and maintaining an appreciation of the operational

environment in a potential or actual crisis area.
c. Contributing to the development of military response options as

part of a collective approach involving relevant actors
d. Designing the operation in terms of operational objectives, lines of

operation and decisive points/decisive conditions.
e. Activating and preparing required forces for deployment.
f. Directing the synchronisation of joint and combined operations in

cooperation with non-military and other non-NATO efforts.
g. Providing operational and theatre-specific operations

assessments of progress toward achievement of operational and
military strategic objectives and the identified end state.
h. Providing operational advice to address changes in strategic and

operational conditions.
i. Planning for transition and termination of military operations.
2.3.2. The Medical Contribution to the Operational Planning Process

(OPP)
1. The nature of the medical contribution to operational planning is

twofold. On the one hand is the input of medical expertise to the general
planning process. On the other is the development of a Medical Concept and
Medical Support Plan for the operation.
2. The early consideration of medical aspects at each stage of planning

is crucial to ensure a comprehensive analysis of the mission and production
of a plan that can be supported medically. Consideration of wider healthcare
issues can also directly contribute to accomplishment of the mission when
Stabilization and Reconstruction (S&R) operations are undertaken.
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3. It is crucially important in operational planning to seek to understand

the environment in which the force will be operating. Medical Intelligence is
essential in this respect as it helps establish situational awareness of the
climate and conditions in which personnel will be operating. This contributes
to the assessment of risks, shapes COA development and determines FP
measures.
4. Of all the steps in the OPP, Mission Analysis is perhaps the most
important. A clear understanding of the mission to be accomplished and the
higher commander’s intent are essential to ensuring the OPP produces an
appropriate supporting medical plan.
5. Mission Analysis from the medical perspective will lead to the

development of a Medical Mission Statement that identifies the essential
tasks to be accomplished. The Medical Mission Statement concisely defines:
a. who will conduct medical support,
b. what is to be done,
c. when it will take place,
d. where it will occur and
e. why it will be conducted.
The Medical Mission Statement should not state how medical support will be
conducted, these details will follow later.
6. Early in the planning process, medical planners will also develop the
Medical Concept for the plan. This collects relevant information together as a
basis for analysis of a wide range of factors relevant to the medical support
plan. Factors typically considered include:
a. Environment,
b. Opposing forces,
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c. Friendly forces (including Host Nation support, if appropriate),
d. Casualty Rate Estimation,
e. Medical logistics (including general logistic support),
f. Command, control and communication,
g. Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) threats,
h. Force Protection (including Force Health Protection) and
i. Medical reserve.
Deductions drawn from the evaluation of these factors will enable the medical
staff to contribute to the development, analysis and comparison of viable
COAs.
7. One of the most critical factors for medical planning is time. The
clinical timelines, described in 1.1.5., put a high emphasis on providing the
different levels of medical care to the wounded and injured as soon as
possible.
However, the clinical timelines are not the only determining factor for medical
planning in general and the appropriate placement of MTFs in particular. 35
When developing the Medical Concept for a specific operation, the clinical
timelines have to be put in the context of all the factors mentioned above.
In principal, the following Planning Timelines should be applied for the time
necessary for a casualty to reach an MTF:
a. Role 1 MTF:
within 1 hour from the point of wounding
b. Role 2B MTF:
within 1 hour, but not later than 2 hours, from the point of
wounding
35
This is especially important when considering the placement of Role 2E MTF. There is no clinical need for
additional surgery after DSC within 4 hours in most cases. The time limit is rather driven by operational
factors, such as the limited holding capacity of most R2B MTF, average flight time and availability of
MEDEVAC Helicopters or the needs of patient regulation.
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c. Role 2E MTF:
within 2 hours of a Role 2B MTF
The Medical Support Plan that is created from this process should then
comprise all relevant information about how medical support will be
conducted on the operation. It will usually form an Annex within the
commander’s overall plan and can be updated or replaced as the operation
proceeds to ensure it adapts to changing circumstances and requirements.
Health service support capability and capacity
UK 2.5. Any health service support plan must consider all of the ten
instruments of military medical care, even if represented by a single
individual (for example, a general practitioner can provide medical
command, control, communication, computers and information, force
health protection, pre-hospital emergency care, primary health care, care
of casualties during transit (medical evacuation), arrange for admission
and clinical supervision in a host-nation hospital and carry a small
amount of medical equipment and materiel). The size of the health
service support force should be proportional to the size of the population
at risk and the sophistication of medical capability will be appropriate to
the health threats and probability of casualties.
UK 2.6. UK clinical planning timelines differ from NATO’s and requires a

patient to receive in-theatre surgery within two hours of tactical
evacuation from damage control surgery.
2.3.3. Casualty Estimates
1. Estimation of casualties is an essential but challenging element of

medical planning.36 As with all estimates, they are based upon assumptions
and the results they produce need to be treated accordingly. As evidence-
based models, such as operational analysis, are increasingly available,
especially in mature theatres of operation and can be used if to augment the
casualty estimation process. However, even these will not be definitive and
36
As outlined in Paragraph 1.4.5.2, Casualty Estimation remains a task of J5 resp. J3, in close co-operation
with J2, JMed and other staff functions.
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military expertise and sound judgement will also be required in interpreting

casualty estimation data to determine the medical support plan.
2. Casualty estimates are normally divided into two groups, battle

casualties (BCs) and diseases and non-battle injuries (DNBIs). The main
steps in estimating both are the same:
a. Determine the Population at Risk (PAR). The troops at risk 37

are determined. The PAR may be taken as a whole or broken
down by force element.
b. Estimate the Rate. The rate at which casualties will occur may
be estimated on a proportional basis across the PAR expressed
as a rate over time, or as the total numbers of casualties expected
for particular engagements. If a proportional rate is used, this is
must be applied to the PAR as a whole to give total number of
expected casualties.
c. Estimate the Profile. The casualty profile details the relative

proportions of each of the different casualty types expected.
d. Estimate the Casualty Flow. Casualty flow analyses the likely

location, timing and type of casualties that will be generated.
BCs
3. BCs are those that occur as a direct result of combat. BCs comprises
four main elements:
a. Killed in action.
b. Captured and missing in action.
c. Wounded in action.
37
Depending on the mission the PAR may include the local population (partial or in total) as well as
members of IOs, GOs or NGOs. The access to medical treatment by allied forces needs to be determined by
the MEDDIR on behalf of the Operational Commander and outlined in Medical Rules of Eligibility.
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d. Psychological casualties.
4. J3/J5 staffs have lead responsibility for BC estimation based on their

detailed knowledge of the plan and, the information and intelligence upon
which it is based. 38 As a result BC rates may be highly classified. Casualty
estimates of all types have implications on force structure, J1 and medical
support, and should be produced early in the planning process. Detailed BC
estimation may not always be possible and in such circumstances it may be
appropriate for the medical staff, in concert with the J1 staff, to suggest an
initial planning figure or to use generic BC rates to allow planning to begin.
Such figures should be agreed with J3/5 staff and may be amended later with
rates specific to the operation as the planning process proceeds.
5. BC Rate. BC rates may be calculated on a proportional basis across

the total number of troops in theatre and expressed as a daily rate (for
example number of casualties/100 personnel/day) which may be appropriate
for high intensity conflict. Different rates may be used according to the
mission. For operations with typically low casualty estimates, such as Crisis
Response Operations (CROs), rates may be expressed as total numbers of
casualties that might occur from individual incidents rather than from the
campaign as a whole. BC rates for generic planning are provided in
AJMedP-1 Allied Joint Medical Planning Doctrine.
6. BC Profile. Different types of military operations produce different

casualty profiles. For example, trench warfare of WWI produced a high
proportion of head injuries whilst armoured warfare tends to produce a
relatively high proportion of burn injuries. FP measures such as body armour
should also be taken into account as these can significantly affect not only
the number of casualties but also the location and severity of the injuries
received. Estimation of an operationally specific casualty profile requires
military judgement, operational analysis and examination of medical
databases.
7. BC Flow. Estimation of Casualty Flow requires a detailed

appreciation of the disposition of the force, the supporting medical plan and
the operational activities being conducted. Planners will estimate when and
38
See also STANAG 2526 AJP-5 Allied Joint Doctrine for Operational-Level Planning Paragraph 0314. C
(8).
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where casualties are likely to occur and where they will be evacuated and
treated. Casualty flow estimation can be crucial to the success of the
medical plan as it will help manage casualty regulation and potentially
prevent individual medical assets being overwhelmed during an engagement.
DNBI
8. DNBI is the baseline rate of disease and injury due to accidents.

Although this occurs in peace and on operations, operational rates are
unlikely to mirror peacetime rates exactly due to the different environments
and appropriate pre-deployment preparation and selection of personnel fit for
employment whilst deployed on the operation.
9. Both the incidence and the impact of DNBI are of significant

operational importance due to their potential impact on the ability of a force to
operate. Expressing DNBI rates in terms of number of working days lost can
be a particularly effective means to highlight the effect of disease and illness.
10. Estimation is the responsibility of the medical staff based on historical

evidence, environmental assessment and knowledge of the occupational
risks associated with military duties. In order to establish a sound DNBI
estimate, the medical planner has to take into consideration factors such as
the level and nature of activity, acclimatisation, training and living conditions
of the deployed personnel.
11. Accurate DNBI estimation requires close cooperation with the J2 and
J3/5 staffs. A detailed analysis of expected sources of DNBI, based on
historical and current data, enables medical planning staffs, with input from
operational planning staffs, to produce a provisional DNBI rate for the
operation. This is a technical estimation of the probable rate of diseases and
injuries not resulting from combat, which can be expected in the force once
deployment begins. DNBI rates for generic planning are provided in
STANAG 2542 - AJMedP-1 Allied Joint Medical Planning Doctrine.
12. The implementation of a deployment health surveillance system on

NATO deployments allows the chain of command to establish a database of
health surveillance information that assists medical support planning for both
current and future operations. A comprehensive DNBI analysis can produce
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more effective preventive medicine measures, including recommended policy

on immunisation, prophylaxis 39 and personal health education. It can also be
a driving factor in the size and capability of medical resources required in
different scenarios.
CBRN Casualty Estimates
13. Like BC estimation, CBRN casualty estimation is led by the J3/J5

operational planning staffs, guided by CBRN subject matter experts. General
guidance for the estimation of casualties from nuclear, biological and
chemical (NBC) attack is given in Chapter 8. For those requiring more
detailed information the following supporting publications should be referred
to:
a. STANAG 2596 AJMedP-7 Allied Joint Medical Doctrine for

Support to CBRN Defensive Operations (STUDY).
b. STANAG 2553 AMedP-8 (C) Planning Guidance for the

Estimation of CBRN Casualties.
2.3.4. MASCAL Planning
1. A MASCAL situation is where the number, type or severity of

casualties exceeds the treatment capacity and capability available.
MASCALs are more likely to occur as a result of hostile action during high
intensity conflict, especially if CBRN agents are involved. However, by
definition they can occur on any military deployment irrespective of its nature
or scale. In CROs a MASCAL situation could arise as a result of accidents
(such as road traffic incident, aeroplane crash, explosions or fire), hostile
actions (terrorist attack or criminal violence) or natural phenomena (flood,
earthquake). In each case, the initial response of the chain of command to
the MASCAL will have a crucial impact on how effectively it is handled.
39
Measure taken to maintain health and prevent the spread of disease.
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AJP-4.10
UK 2.7. The Defence Medical Services approach to medical incident

management differs from NATO and includes different definitions and
procedures.
UK 2.8. A major medical incident is an incident where the number,

severity, or type of live casualties, or by its location, requires
extraordinary resources. A major medical incident is declared ‘bottom
up’, with each level of command considering whether it also needs to
make the same declaration.
UK 2.9. A mass casualty incident is a major medical incident which,

despite using extraordinary measures, has already been overwhelmed,
or will result in overwhelming, the available medical capability and/or
capacity. This is declared ‘top down’ by the theatre commander medical
and is cascaded down the chain of command. In a mass casualty
incident, the theatre commander medical may recommend to the
commander, at the operational level, that the T4 – expectant triage
category is initiated to focus the medical effort on the best outcome for
the maximum number of survivors.
2. A MASCAL is not an issue for the medical staff alone, but rather a
major incident requiring the attention and resources of large parts of the
operational HQ. Clearance of explosives, additional force protection, special
equipment for the extraction of wounded/ injured personnel or extinction of
fires might have to be initiated and coordinated before medical personnel can
treat the patients. That calls for a single command authority, which will in
most cases be executed on behalf of the commander.
3. Depending on the specific situation of the operation a MASCAL may

have a significant impact on current operations up to a forced break in the
conduct of operations. The potential impact of MASCAL situations has to be
considered and contingency plans to mitigate its impact should be developed,
briefed and rehearsed. This is particularly necessary on operations with low
rates of expected casualties, where the medical support structures in place
may not be configured to cope with large numbers of severely injured
casualties and where reserve medical capacities are typically limited.
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4. A series of suitable plans should be developed for each of the

scenarios assessed as likely at the tactical level. These should then be
integrated into a theatre-wide MASCAL plan. FP measures require a rapid
and efficient response to MASCAL situations and incidents. Their effective
management shows the theatre ability to respond as a whole to a medical
crisis by cross-borders mobilisation of resources and minimisation of
obstacles to interoperability.
5. MASCAL exercises at theatre and local level can be invaluable in

developing and testing the overall MASCAL plan. Training objectives may
include amongst others:
a. Evaluation of the ability to conduct theatre level medical

regulation and AE.
b. Identification of interoperability issues affecting multinational

support.
c. Practicing rebalancing of medical supply and holdings of critical

products, such as blood and medical gases.
d. Determining the adequacy of emergency care resources.
e. Testing of communications connectivity.
Perhaps most important of all will be to increase awareness of MASCAL

responses and plans amongst the chain of command and HQ staff in
particular. The increased experience they will gain from MASCAL training will
improve their ability to deal with such situations should they occur.
6. The principles of treatment may change in a MASCAL situation. Most

likely during the early stages of a response they will change from focusing on
the individual needs of a particular patient to achieving the greatest good for
the greatest number. This means that time-consuming individual treatment
and evacuation might temporarily have to be withheld from those who would
place a high demand on medical resources, in order to allow the same
resources to be concentrated on a larger number of other casualties instead.
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7. In such a situation, the normal treatment priorities described in

AJMedP-2 Allied Joint Doctrine for Medical Evacuation are replaced with the
following triage priorities: 40
a. Immediate Treatment (Group T1). To consist of those requiring

emergency care and life-saving surgery. These procedures
should not be time-consuming and should concern only those
patients with high chances of survival. Examples include:
respiratory obstruction, accessible haemorrhage, emergency
amputation.
b. Delayed Treatment (Group T2). To consist of those in need of

surgery, but whose general condition permits delay in surgical
treatment without unduly endangering life. To mitigate the effects
of delay in surgery, sustaining treatment (for example: stabilising
intra-venous fluids, splinting, administration of antibiotics,
catheterisation, gastric decompression and relief of pain), will be
required. Examples: include after large muscle wounds, fractures
of major bones, intra-abdominal and/or thoracic, head or spinal
injuries, uncomplicated major burns.
c. Minimal Treatment (Group T3). To consist of those with

relatively minor injuries who can effectively care for themselves or
who can be helped by untrained personnel. Examples include:
minor lacerations, abrasions, fractures of small bones and minor
burns.
d. Expectant Treatment (Group T4). This group comprises of

patients who have received serious and often multiple injuries,
and whose treatment would be time-consuming and complicated,
with a low chance of survival. If fully treated they make heavy
demands on medical manpower and supplies. Until the MASCAL
situation is under control, they will receive appropriate supportive
treatment. The extent of treatment will depend on available
supplies and manpower and may involve the use of large doses
of narcotic analgesics. For these patients every effort should be
40
As outlined in STANAG 2879 PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL POLICY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF A MASS
CASUALTY SITUATION.
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AJP-4.10
devoted to their comfort, and the possibility of survival with even

alarming injuries always kept in mind. Examples include: severe
multiple injuries, severe head or spinal injuries, large doses of
radiation, widespread severe burns.
UK 2.10. UK triage categories. UK triage categories are currently under

review and are expected to be published by the end of 2015. UK Figure
2.1 shows the current UK triage categories and definitions.
Category Meaning Implications Notes

and colour
T1 - Red Immediate Requires life-saving interventions. Evacuation times are

Should be evacuated as fast as possible. specified in the ‘9-liner’
MEDEVAC request.
T2 - Yellow Urgent Requires interventions.

Should be evacuated within two hours.
T3 - Green Delayed Requires evacuation (clinical or

operational reasons).
Should be evacuated when possible/safe.
Dead - Dead No further medical intervention.

White on Requires movement.
black
T4 - Blue Expectant Requirement for clinical intervention Only used when

exceeds local capacity. authorised declaration of
Supportive care only. a mass casualty incident.
UK Figure 2.1 – Triage categories
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2.4. Conducting Operations and Exercises
2.4.1. Operations
1. NATO defines operations as a military action or the carrying out of a

strategic, tactical, service, training, or administrative military mission; the
process of carrying on combat, including movement, supply, attack, defence
and manoeuvres needed to gain the objectives of any battle or campaign. 41
2. As stated in AJP-01(D) Allied Joint Doctrine, NATO operations will

follow certain principles:
a. Definition of Objectives.
b. Sustainment.
c. Concentration of force.
d. Economy of effort.
e. Flexibility.
f. Initiative.
g. Maintenance of morale.
h. Surprise.
i. Security.
j. Simplicity in plans and orders.
k. Multinationality.
3. Joint operations can be conducted at the strategic, operational and

tactical levels and contain a number of stages, each of which involve
specialist medical expertise and capabilities. Typical stages at the
41
NATO Terminology Management System – NATO Agreed
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AJP-4.10
operational level, which may overlap depending on the specifics of the

mission or environment, include:
a. Development of a campaign plan / Operation Plan (OPLAN).
b. Force preparation, including build-up, assembly and pre-mission

training.
c. Build-up of logistic and medical support, if possible including Host

Nation Support.
d. Deployment to the area where operations are to be conducted or

reinforcement of in-place forces.
e. Execution of operations.
f. Operation termination and military post-operation activities.
g. Re-deployment of forces.
h. Campaign analysis, including doctrine evaluation and lessons

learned.
Medical reserve
UK 2.11. Medical reserves have three discrete elements.
• The medical commander’s reserve. Retaining a

medical reserve to respond to the unforeseen is essential.
This reserve should be under the direct control of the
highest medical commander and should not be deployed
without their agreement. Dependent upon the size of
deployment and the medical assets available, the medical
reserve may be: within the area of operations; retained in
the UK; or a working, but not fully committed, part of an
active unit or installation. The reserve’s role must be clear
and at the correct notice to move (with its equipment).
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• The tactical reserve. There may be a need for medical

units or installations to be retained in reserve to support
planned moves. Such force elements would normally be
on short notice and ready in all respects to move. They
should not have other medical tasks to attend to while
waiting to be called forward.
• Equipment reserve. We must also ensure that sufficient

equipment support is available to support any surge
capacity. Controlling critical medical equipment must be
carried out at the highest level to ensure maximum
benefit.
4. NATO force personnel deployed on operations need to be fit for duty

upon arrival in the JOA. TCNs are responsible for the physical fitness of their
personnel, although the NATO commander will undoubtedly take a close high
interest in the health and fitness of the force.
5. Following transfer of authority of personnel from the contributing

nation, the Joint Force Commander will seek to preserve and protect the
military power of the allied forces until the mission is concluded. To achieve
this, the Commander will require the support of a robust and flexible medical
command, led and coordinated by the Medical Director.
6. Medical support for an operation is, however, neither limited to the

JOA nor to the duration of a certain operation. Preventive force health
protection measures commence well in advance of the operation and
healthcare provision may continue long after the subsequent redeployment to
home base. This extension beyond the limits of the operational commander’s
responsibility, coupled with the complex, specialist, time-critical nature of
medical support, necessitate exceptionally close coordination between ACO
Medical Advisor at the military strategic level, with the designated JFC
Medical Advisor at the operational level and the Medical Director for the
theatre of operations.
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2.4.2. Exercises
1. Exercises are carried out for the purpose of training and evaluating an
exercising force. Medical exercises aim to improve the medical support
provided to a deployed force and seek to enhance medical cooperation and
interoperability among the different services and nations that may be present.
Evaluation and certification of medical capabilities prior to deployment will be
conducted during such medical exercises and can be of immense value in
identifying areas where additional training is required prior to deployment or
areas where further monitoring is required once the force is deployed.
2. Following the principle of Train as you intend to fight, medical support

should to be an integral part of all exercises during the pre-deployment
training of allied forces. Medical support is complex as well as time critical
and procedures differ considerably between nations. The deployed forces
must be familiar with the tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) that will
be used prior to deployment. The exercising medical capabilities may also be
required to provide actual medical support to exercising personnel. If this is
the case it should be ensured that the medical training goals are not
compromised as a result.
2.4.3. Lessons Learned
Lessons learned (LL) is a means by which the armed forces can

institutionalise experience gained from operations and exercises. Lessons
provide not only the driver but also the detail needed to amend the existing
concepts, doctrine and TTPs. Every level of the chain of command should be
involved and lessons can be identified at the strategic, operational or tactical
level. Lessons should be clearly identified in routine reporting and the chain
of command should analyse each lesson and track the action taken.
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Chapter 3 – Medical Evacuation

This Chapter provides an overview of Medical Evacuation. Detailed guidance
on this subject is contained in the supporting AJMedP-2 Allied Joint Doctrine
for Medical Evacuation.
UK 3.1. Variations in UK definitions of ‘medical evacuation’ have been

included in Chapter 1.
3.1. Basic Principles of Medical Evacuation
1. This chapter describes a concept of medical evacuation for combined

joint operations that is consistent with the principles and policies dictating the
organization and capabilities of the medical evacuation system whilst taking
into account the development of multinational operational integration.
2. The MedEvac concept described in this chapter does not impose a

unique mandatory evacuation system on nations. It should enable nations to
maintain their national evacuation procedures as far as possible. At the
same time it encourages nations to plan for reliable, cost-effective AE to
medical facilities where they can subsequently collect their patients under
non-threatening conditions. The concept may facilitate bi- or multi-lateral
agreements and promote common planning, programming, and training.
3. Medical evacuation of casualties is a crucial part of the medical

treatment provided by the medical support organization to patients deployed
in operations. It requires specific medical capabilities (personnel and assets).
Qualified movement of casualties in accordance with modern medical
standards is not just the simple transportation of casualties to a suitable MTF
but is part of the continuum of their treatment and care and is, therefore, a
medical responsibility. 42
4. In short, the in-transit provision of medical attention to casualties

throughout the continuum of care should be considered an independent
medical activity in its own right and should be planned for accordingly.
42
CASEVAC as the non-medicalised evacuation of patients without qualified medical escort must be
distinguished from Medical Evacuation. (see definition of CASEVAC in AMedP-13(A) NATO Glossary of
Medical Terms and Definitions [English]).
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AJP-4.10
5. To accomplish its mission, a MedEvac system should have the

following capabilities:
a. The ability to evacuate casualties to or between MTFs 24 hours a

day, in all weather, from all terrain and in any operational
circumstances. The evacuation organization must also identify
alternative means to ensure continuation of care is maintained
even if evacuation itself is restricted due to operational,
environmental or technical reasons.
b. The provision of the necessary clinical care of the casualty

throughout the evacuation, using appropriately trained clinical
staff with dedicated equipment.
c. The ability to regulate the flow of patients and their disposition to

the most appropriate MTF.
d. Tracking patients accurately throughout evacuation.
3.1.1. Medical Evacuation Assets
1. Meeting evacuation requirements demands a range of transportation

assets for both intra- and inter-theatre movement.
2. Intra-Theatre assets must be appropriate to the mission and

possessing similar technological capabilities as the units they support. This
includes:
a. Ground assets (armoured and non-armoured, wheeled or tracked

depending upon the units to which they are assigned).
b. Air assets (fixed and rotary wing).
c. Maritime, littoral and non-tidal water assets (depending on the

geographical constraints of the operation)
3. The provision of ground and maritime evacuation assets occurs via

national contributions or multinational arrangements, such as bi- and multi-
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lateral agreements, use of assets from role specialising nations, lead nations
and host nation, and contracting. The pooling of assets will allow smaller
contributions from several nations to be combined into a larger multinational
organization perhaps a single nation could provide. Centralization of these
assets, under the force commander, allows for economies of scale, effective
operational management and timely and unhindered intervention throughout
the JOA. In this case the patient evacuation coordination cell (PECC) is
expected to provide the regulating functions for all patients through its own
dedicated communication links. Details on the overall concept for MedEvac
in the specific theatre, national or multinational lines of control and
accountability, co-ordination of MedEvac assets must be given in the OPLAN.
4. Inter-Theatre assets will also be mission dependent. The most likely

option will be to use fixed wing aircraft, but rotary wing aircraft or ships might
also be used depending on the nature of the JOA and movement distances
involved.
5. All MedEvac assets must have communications on board to allow:
a. Appropriate assets to be directed to incidents and subsequently

directed to the most suitable medical support capability.
b. Reduced response times by increasing flexibility.
c. Precise tasking and re-tasking of assets, thus reducing the

numbers of medical evacuation assets required.
d. Direct communication at the scene of an incident.
e. Direct communications between in-transit medical staff and

receiving clinicians. This allows advice to be given and permits
the receiving facility to prepare appropriate staff and equipment.
3.1.2. Interdependence of Evacuation and Treatment
1. The availability and type of evacuation assets to be utilised, the length

of evacuation route and the operational environment will determine the
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distribution, size, capacities and capabilities of in-theatre MTFs. 43 Limits on

the number or type of evacuation assets have a direct impact on the length of
time MTFs have to hold patients before evacuation is available. This not only
increases the time taken before patients arrive at their destination, it takes up
vital capacity at the holding MTF.
2. The theatre holding policy is a command decision indicating the

maximum length of time (in days) that a patient will be allowed to remain in
theatre to receive treatment, recover and return to duty. If the clinical
prognosis44 is that recovery will take longer than the limit set by the holding
policy, then the patient should be evacuated as soon as it is considered
appropriate. Used in this way, the theatre holding policy provides a
mechanism by which the needs of the casualty are balanced against the
need to ensure sufficient medical treatment and evacuation capacity remains
available to support the force.
3. The theatre holding policy:
a. Enables an appropriate level of capacity and capability to be

maintained in theatre to meet the likely immediate needs of the
force, knowing that this is supported by additional capacity and
more sophisticated capability held in the home base location.
b. Requires that whilst the less serious sick and injured are
managed and returned to duty at the correct level of response,
the seriously ill are evacuated to appropriate MTFs as rapidly as
possible.
c. Ensures that in-theatre MTFs remain capable of responding

rapidly to meet operational imperatives, such as surges in
casualty numbers as a result of enemy action.
4. The theatre holding policy must be:
a. Established by the operational commander on the advice of the

MEDAD, in concert with the operational staffs.
43
See AMedP-13 (A) NATO Glossary of Medical Terms and Definitions (English).
44
A prediction of the probable course and outcome of a disease.
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b. Mission dependent. It will also be influenced by availability of

assets, constraints on movement, particular operational
imperatives, distances, weather and topography, and by national
evacuation policies.
c. Dynamic and able to respond to changes in the operational

situation.
d. Influenced, in the absence of tactical imperatives, by other factors

such as welfare considerations, public expectations, national
policy and cost of strategic evacuation.
3.1.3. Evacuation Priorities
1. Casualties that require evacuation must be prioritized based on their

clinical condition. However, a large number of factors must be balanced for
casualty evacuation to be successful. For optimum results, the decision to
evacuate casualties should be based primarily on clinical outcome.
2. AE priorities are described in greater detail in STANAG 2546 -

AJMedP-2 Allied Joint Doctrine for Medical Evacuation, STANAG 2087
Medical Employment of Air Transport in the Forward Area, and STANAG
3204 Aeromedical Evacuation.
3.1.4. Medical Regulation
1. Medical regulation is the process of directing, controlling and

coordinating the transfer of patients within and outside a JOA. This means
from point of wounding or onset of disease and through a continuum of care,
in order to facilitate the most effective use of medical treatment and
evacuation resources, and to ensure that the patient receives appropriate
care in a timely manner.
2. To achieve this requires dedicated regulating staff, sufficiently trained

and experienced, equipped with appropriate CIS providing the requisite
visibility of the status of medical support capabilities, evacuation assets and
casualty flow.
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3. The management of patients in any JOA is a dynamic process, taking

into consideration a large number of important planning and operational
factors including:
a. Availability of evacuation capabilities and assets at the tactical

and strategic level.
b. MTF availability, their specialist capabilities, medical equipment

status and staffing levels.
c. Current bed occupancy status at each MTF including any surgical

backlog.
d. Location of airport / seaport of embarkation (APOE / SPOE).
e. Clinical condition of each patient.
f. Current tactical situation and associated risk from movement to

patients or evacuation assets.
g. Communication status in the regulating chain.
h. Theatre evacuation policy. 45
(Note: Patients with known, suspected or highly contagious diseases will

normally not be transported within the patient movement system. These
infected patients may pose a potential threat to national security and require
special public health action as described in paragraph 5.13.8.)
3.1.5. Patient Tracking
1. Patient tracking is the precise and continuous monitoring of the

location and intended destination of the patient within the continuum of care.
Keeping track of all personnel once they have been introduced into any
MedEvac chain either national or multinational is of crucial importance in
45
A command decision, indicating the maximum period of non-effectiveness that patients may be planned to
be held within the command for treatment.
see: AMedP-13 (A) NATO Glossary of Medical Terms and Definitions (English)
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terms of the individual’s clinical condition, readiness implications to the unit of

origin, as well as media and family sensitivities to casualties.
2. A patient tracking system should be near-real time (ideally real time),

accurate and dynamic, using standardised procedures, enabling exchange
and interchange of data and available to HQ J1 and Medical staffs. Such
systems can significantly reduce J1 administrative efforts and relieve distress
for both, patients and relatives.
3. Continuous monitoring and notification of patient location and status is

a great challenge and of significant importance in a multinational
environment, involving transfer of information between and among nations.
Practical issues of language differences, communication system compatibility,
and record keeping practices combine to complicate multinational patient
tracking functions. These challenges make interoperability evaluation and
training tasks of paramount importance as well as the provision of trained and
experienced liaison officers.
3.2. Ground Evacuation
1. Ground evacuation assets typically comprise ambulances, buses and

trains. Ground evacuation assets are used to transfer casualties from point
of injury to or between MTFs within the JOA, and finally from MTFs to the
port of debarkation, be it sea or air.
2. Ambulances are the most common type of ground evacuation

transportation; these vehicles must have commensurate mobility and
protection as the force they are supporting. However there is variation in
terms of capabilities and patient capacity:
a. At the top of the scale are advanced support units, staffed with
emergency care medical specialists and/or trained specialist
paramedic personnel who can provide extended resuscitative
care, administer drugs, and begin administration of intravenous
fluids in addition to providing basic first aid. These are often
required in areas of high risk or areas distanced from MTFs, such
as a LOC or rear support area. Ambulances of this type tend to
be able to carry only one or two patients.
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b. Others, usually a higher number, are equipped for basic life

support only. These tend to be used for transfer of less seriously
ill patients having only a low dependency on in transit care or for
provision of intimate local support to personnel close to a MTF.
These ambulances may be capable of transferring more than one
or two patients.
c. In forward areas armoured ambulances are used to afford some

degree of protection for casualties and medical personnel. These
vehicles must have commensurate mobility and protection as the
force they are supporting.
d. Specialist patient transfer assets to allow the movement of

stabilised pre- and post-operative patients under close clinical
supervision. Clinical staff and specialist equipment should
commonly be provided by the losing or gaining MTF dependent
on the circumstances rather than held just in case.
3. Ambulance buses can also be used for sitting and supine casualties,
but buses tend not to have a cross-country capability and are usually only
used on roads between MTFs and for onward transfer to the point of
embarkation. Within CIM and in MASCAL situations ambulance buses may,
in extremis, be used to convey large numbers of slightly or moderately injured
casualties.
3.3. Maritime Evacuation
1. Maritime evacuation assets can range from small boats with limited
capabilities to evacuate casualties, full-scale hospital ships which may both
treat and ferry casualties to more advanced Role 4 MTF facilities ashore or
evacuation points.
2. Strategic AE will normally be provided by Air Component assets.

Therefore the use of sea based capabilities requires additional AE assets
(normally rotary wing) to ensure the transportation of patients afloat and
ashore.
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3. Further details of the influence of the maritime environment on medical

evacuation are given in Chapter 1.
3.4. Aeromedical Evacuation
1. AE is the movement of patients under medical supervision by air

transport to and between MTFs medical treatment facilities by air transport as
an integral part of the treatment continuum AE may include up to three
complementary phases:
a. Forward AE provides air transport for patients between the point

of injury or illness and the initial point of treatment within the area
of operations.
b. Tactical AE provides air transport for patients between MTFs

within the area of operations. It is conducted by rotary wing
assets or tactical fixed wing air assets in the JOA.
c. Strategic AE provides air-transport for patients from MTFs within

the area of operations to MTFs outside the area of operations or
additional AE between MTFs outside the area of operations.
Strategic AE can be done from overseas areas or from theatre of
active operations, to the home nation, to other NATO countries or
to a temporary out of theatre safe area. It is ultimately a national
responsibility. Nevertheless bi- or multi-lateral agreements
between nations are an efficient way to share scarce resources of
AE aircraft, equipment and AE teams. Consideration should be
made for the use of civilian charter aircraft for strategic AE
provided they are allowed to fly into the operational theatre or can
operate from an airport in a safe area, within reach of the
available tactical AE assets.
2. The specialist personnel and equipment required to provide the

medical support for AE must be given access to the air assets to be used in a
timely manner to ensure preparation of the airframe for the specific AE task.
This requires a responsive medical C2 structure and direct access to the air
tasking authorities, supported by a robust communications system.
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3. AE casualty staging units (CSUs) and aeromedical staging units

(ASUs) may be required to enable strategic AE. These units should be based
at the APOD and/or Staging Airfield; the latter being where ASUs may be
required to cover long LOCs. These units collect the already stabilised
patients, hold them, prepare them for air transportation and transport the
patients to the aircraft for handover to the AE crew. CSUs/ASUs can also act
as checkpoints within the patient tracking and regulation processes.
4. Different levels of dependency for all stages of AE lead to the

requirement to enhance – for certain patients - the standard AE crew with
teams providing intensive or critical care during the AE. These specialised
teams are referred to as Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) or Critical
Care Air Support Team (CCAST). Such teams should be available throughout
the evacuation chain.
5. AE of patients with highly contagious infectious disease may be

severely impeded due to internationally (International Health Regulations) or
nationally imposed restrictions of movement (ROM).
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Chapter 4 – Medical Intelligence
This Chapter provides an overview of Medical Intelligence. Detailed

guidance on this subject is contained in the supporting AJMedP-3 Allied Joint
Medical Doctrine for Medical Intelligence.
4.1. General
1. Medical Intelligence is the product of the processing of medical, bio-

scientific, epidemiological, environmental and other information related to
human or animal health. This intelligence, being of a specific technical
nature, requires informed medical expertise during its direction and
processing within the intelligence cycle. MEDINT provides the basis for
action throughout the range of operations. The intelligence required for
medical planning and operations must thus be comprehensive, rapidly
available, accurate and up to date. It is a permanent secondary task of the
entire medical staff active in the theatre of operations to collect information
and data on medical, bio-scientific, epidemiological, environmental and
human or animal health that might prove useful to the production of medical
intelligence and to report it through the appropriate channels. The MEDDIR
will be responsible for direct assessment of the information collected.
Information collected will be mutually shared with J2.
2. Medical Intelligence serves several essential purposes, especially at

the strategic and operational levels of planning. It is important to the
intelligence and operational staffs in the conduct of strategic assessments
and to the medical planning, preventive medicine and operations staffs
Medical Intelligence for:
a. Assessment of health risks.
b. Conduct of medical estimates.
c. Development and execution of preventive medicine actions and

necessary prophylactic measures.
d. Planning of more detailed health risk and operational risk

assessments.
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e. Ongoing management of medical support services.
f. Force protection and defence.
3. In a somewhat broader context, Medical Intelligence is useful in the

following areas of military planning:
a. Strategic intelligence assessments.
b. Analysis of enemy capabilities and vulnerabilities.
c. Operations planning and execution.
d. Civil-military medical planning and operations.
4. Medical Intelligence provides the basis for action throughout the range
of military medical operations where deployed forces will be required to notify
the unit medical staff of any intelligence, which may affect medical readiness.
This information will then be reported up to the theatre level for appropriate
command advice on risks and recommended response.
4.2. Intelligence Requirements and Requests for Information
1. Intelligence required for medical planning and operations must be

comprehensive, rapidly available, accurate and up to date. It can include
information on:
a. Geographic factors such as effects of climate, topography, flora

and fauna on health.
b. Epidemic and endemic diseases, their types and prevalence, local

prophylactic measures, resistant strains, treatment.
c. Special environmental and occupational hazards such as

radiation hazards, road movement hazards, pollution, toxic
industrial hazards.
d. CBRN capabilities of protagonists.
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e. Military and civilian medical capabilities and resources available in

the JOA.
2. Medical staffs are responsible for developing intelligence requirements

in order to enable the intelligence staff to efficiently request, acquire, and
disseminate the finished intelligence products needed. Intelligence
requirements are often categorised as either routine standing requirements or
priority intelligence requirements (PIRs).
3. Standing medical intelligence requirements are the recurring routine

requirements for intelligence to be fulfilled in normal day-to-day strategic and
operations planning. PIRs tend to be orientated to operational planning
either for contingency or for crisis action planning. In the latter case, staffs
develop and submit the most critical PIRs, usually just a few which are
essential to plan development, and the formation of estimates. In either
case, both standing requirements and PIRs are usually written in the form of
questions about a specific topical area and can be used interchangeably.
4. There will be times, especially during evolving crises, where

intelligence is either insufficient or absent. In these situations, the medical
planning staff will need to forward requests for information (RFIs) to the
supporting intelligence staff. RFIs will usually be submitted in a format similar
to a PIR, but should be very well defined, narrow in scope, and specific to a
command mission or objective. Additionally the RFI must state the highest
classification required and a workable time limit.
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INTENTIONALLY BLANK
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Chapter 5 – Force Health Protection
This Chapter provides an overview of Force Health Protection. Detailed

guidance on this subject is contained in the supporting AJMedP-4 Allied Joint
Medical Force Health Protection Doctrine.
5.1. General
1. AJP-3.14 Allied Joint Doctrine for Force Protection defines Force

Protection (FP) as “Measures and means to minimize the vulnerability of
personnel, facilities, materiel, operations and activities from threats and
hazards in order to preserve freedom of action and operational effectiveness
thereby contributing to mission success.” In practice, this translates into
three main operational FP elements :
a. Physical and Operational Security: guarding personnel and

materiel against hostile intent.
b. Safety: protecting individuals against injuries from inappropriate

procedures and inattention.
c. Health: protecting individuals against the physical environment

and disease.
2. In a medical context, FP is the conservation of the fighting potential of

a force so that it is healthy, fully combat capable, and can be applied at the
decisive time and place. It consists of actions taken to counter the
debilitating effects of environment, occupational health risks, environmental
and industrial hazards (EIH), disease, and selected special weapon systems
through preventive measures for personnel, systems, and operational
formations.46
3. Force health protection as a subset of FP is the sum of all efforts to

reduce or eliminate the incidence of DNBI and thereby enhancing operational
health readiness and combat effectiveness. These measures will enable a
healthy and fit force, prevent injury and illness, and protect the force from
46
A medical contribution to FP could also consist of medical engagements to support CIMIC or PSYOPS
operations in order to actively influence local key leaders and power brokers.
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health hazards.
FHP will provide commanders with advice on how best to protect their force
against threats to health. Robust and proactive health surveillance has to be
in place at the start of a deployed operation.
5.2. Force Health Protection Cell
To provide oversight of medical aspects of FP, a force health protection cell is

normally established within the formation HQ or within the medical director’s
staff. This ensures medical aspects of FP are properly incorporated into the
commander’s decision making, whilst also allowing FP to inform medical
planning processes.
5.3. Force Health Protection Assessment
1. FHP assessment focuses on the adequacy of the medical support

structure to prevent and respond to all possible factors influencing the health
of the force and on all measures that have to be taken to protect personnel
against health risks. This assessment is a comprehensive approach
designed around a threat, vulnerability and risk assessment process with the
key elements of hazard identification, health risk assessment, health risk
management, health risk control, health risk communication and evaluation.
In summary this assessment will determine the full effect of health threats on
the mission and provide solutions for how these effects can be eliminated or
mitigated to the greatest extent possible.
2. Medical support capabilities, which may provide the FP evidence base

for assessment, include:
a. Air, maritime and ground MedEvac capabilities.
b. Epidemiological surveillance, monitoring, enquiries and medical

reporting functions.
c. Medical information collection and intelligence functions.
d. Preventive medicine and veterinary services functions.
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e. Education on preventive medicine and health related topics for

deployed troops.
f. Health risk management.
3. Medical FP assessment has a key role to play in every stage of an

operation, from pre-deployment training, through the deployment itself and
continuing into post-deployment activities. The medical FP assessment
contribution to each will now be described.
5.4. Pre-Deployment Medical Readiness Preparation and Baseline

Assessment
1. National and NATO command emphasis must be placed on personnel

readiness prior to deployment in order to ensure appropriate levels of
medical, dental and mental health fitness and preparedness for duty are
achieved upon arrival in a JOA. This requires each TCN to establish and
meet medical pre-deployment criteria and a system for their administration,
which includes, at a minimum, screening personnel for the following:
a. Physical and Dental Fitness. Compliance with TCN and, when

defined, with NATO fitness requirements contained in the relevant
medical STANAGs. In particular:
(1) STANAG 2235 AMedP-4.8 Pre- and Post-Deployment

Health Assessments.
(2) STANAG 2466 Dental Fitness Standards for Military

Personnel and a Dental Fitness Classification System.
b. Mental Fitness. Compliance with TCN mental fitness

requirements and, when defined, with NATO medical
requirements.
c. Immunization Coverage. Compliance with TCN and STANAG

2037 National Military Strategies for Vaccination of NATO
requirements or in response to specific operational requirements
as contained in relevant OPLANs. Appropriate immunisations
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must be given to deployed personnel, as guided by medical

intelligence estimates of the infectious health risk.
d. Preventive Medicine Training. As a minimum, training should

include emphasis on preventive medicine measures for the full
spectrum of disease and injury threats to include key infectious
diseases and environmental health risks, and on core preventive
medicine principles and countermeasures, including those for
good personal hygiene and sanitation.
e. Baseline Health Surveillance Documentation. National and

international emphasis requires the establishment of strong
baseline health surveillance for deployed military forces. This
provides a baseline against which illnesses and disability liability
can be assessed for multinational personnel returning from
operational deployments. Each nation is responsible during pre-
deployment to consider establishing a pre-deployment health
assessment baseline.
2. Although establishing objectives and executing baseline health

surveillance are fundamental national responsibilities, the NATO commander
shares the responsibility for assuring that nations participating in NATO
operations deploy healthy, fit-to-fight and sustainable forces. NATO
standardisation objectives include harmonization and integration of fitness
requirements from member and participating nations.
5.5. Deployment Phase Medical Readiness Support Functions
During deployment on NATO operations, several key monitoring and health

surveillance functions provide important measures of medical support
readiness. These measures are defined below:
a. Assessment of the overall health readiness status of personnel

through medical situational reports.
b. Establishment of an epidemiological surveillance data-collection

and reporting system.
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c. Verification of a system for the management of stress and

prevention of post-traumatic stress disorders.
d. Certification of the readiness and preparedness of NATO and

non-NATO deployed medical capabilities.
e. Assessment of the force health protection function that will:
(1) Provide commanders with an assessment of the readiness

and adequacy of the medical support structure at all levels.
(2) Identify positive lessons learned to assist and thereby

promote exploiting operational success across the entire
JOA.
(3) Advise commanders on medical support issues requiring

national or collective action.
f. Provision of selected or focused initial force protection preventive

medicine training and on-going reinforcement training.
g. Provision for monitoring, inspection, assessment and advice

regarding occupational and environmental health risks. 47
5.6. Post-Deployment Phase Medical Status Monitoring Functions
1. The return of personnel from an operation is an important national

responsibility, but also shapes follow-on roulements of the same NATO
operation, and indeed, future operations. Information pertaining to changes
in the health readiness status of re-deploying forces is important in both the
short and longer-term at national and NATO levels of management.
2. In the short term for both participating nations and NATO

commanders, important insight may be gained on the adequacy of Medical
Intelligence and health support services, thereby identifying the need for
changes in current or follow-on multinational operations. Critical to this
information requirement includes the notification of reportable medical events
47
Including risks related to food and water safety and veterinary support.
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back to the operational medical director such as diagnosed infectious

diseases in recently re-deployed troops. Monitoring of preventive measures
to minimize risk of transferring disease on equipment presents another critical
issue. At the national level, critical fitness for duty determinations for
returning troops is also gained.
3. Longer-term, such assessment will support liability determination at

the national level for follow-up medical support requirements such as
disability liability and continuing medical support liability. Longer-term benefit
may also be achieved for the continuation and enhancement of NATO
operations where economy and efficiency will be important principles
governing multinational medical support.
5.7. Preventive Medicine and Veterinary Service in Force Health

Protection
1. DNBIs will be an ever-present risk to personnel that very often

generate the greatest burden of morbidity upon the deployed force. Medical
support plans must include provision for robust preventive medicine
measures and the means to implement them effectively. Preventive medicine
is the anticipation, prevention and control of communicable diseases,
illnesses, and exposure to endemic, occupational and environmental threats.
These threats include non-battle injuries, environmental and occupational
exposures, weapons of mass destruction, and other threats to the health and
readiness of the deployed force. OPLAN execution requires a close
collaboration of preventive medicine veterinary, environmental health and
force health protection programmes.
2. Preventive medicine and veterinary service includes FHP measures

against infectious, endemic, environmental, occupational, industrial, and
operational health risks that must be capable of:
a. Identifying risks and threats from terrain, climate, endemic

disease, 48 special EIH and occupational hazards to the health of
all personnel deployed in a specific JOA.
48
Including animal diseases with potential operational impact and zoonotic diseases.
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b. Identifying necessary preventive and controlling measures and

advising commanders on their implementation, to include the
development of a theatre policy on immunization and prophylaxis
measures, and on the appropriate training of all personnel,
especially on measures to prevent food/waterborne and vector-
borne diseases.
c. Advising on and auditing the quality of air, water and food

sources.
d. Auditing and supervising implemented measures.
e. Vector and pest control.
f. Gathering of epidemiological and other medical data and

information.
g. Advising commanders on the overall health risks and threats, and

the limitations they may place on the campaign by their impact on
force readiness.
3. Preventive medicine measures are an essential element of the

planning process. Their implementation begins during the pre-deployment
phase, and continues throughout the deployment, irrespective of overall
changes in the conduct of the operation and must extend well into the post-
deployment period. The early introduction of preventive medicine personnel
or units into the AO is critical for mission success and getting the FHP plan
implemented prior to the arrival of the main deploying force. Preventive
medicine measures involve every individual in the operational theatre, who
must be aware of necessary personal protective measures and be trained
accordingly.
4. The organization to undertake preventive medicine measures must

therefore be in place from the outset and must extend from theatre HQs
down to unit level and below. Its shape and size will be mission dependant,
but will include, as a minimum, advice on individual preventive medicine at
every level of operational command. Depending on the circumstances, this
advice may come from a single medical staff officer with multiple medical
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responsibilities, supported by public health officers, or from preventive

medicine and environmental health specialists.
5.8. Preventive Medicine and Veterinary Service Requirements
1. Medical Intelligence/ Health Threat Assessment Information. The

single most essential requirement of preventive medicine is a source of
prompt, usable medical information and/or intelligence, available at the
planning stage prior to the outset of an operation. This information must be
accurate and its source sufficiently dynamic to quickly inform personnel at
risk of threat changes.
2. Immunizations, Education & Training Materials. Other preventive

medical resources will include provision for immunizations against specified
diseases and chemoprophylaxis, advice on hygiene, training and information
for the prevention of DNBI, prophylactic medical materiel, personal protective
equipment and a spectrum of mission dependent field support measures.
3. Health Threat Monitoring and Prevention. Preventive medicine

personnel will conduct a robust health threat identification and monitoring
program to assess threats on an on-going basis and provide countermeasure
recommendations for threat mitigation or elimination. Environmental health
site assessments will identify potential environmental and occupational health
hazards of concern that may put deployed personnel at increased health risk.
Oversight evaluations and surveillance to monitor for potential and emerging
infectious diseases is a continual process requiring constant vigilance and
engagement of deployed preventive medicine personnel. Monitoring shall
include health risks which could be caused by vectors, pests and wild
animals.
4. Laboratory Capabilities. Surveillance and assessment of public

health risks require laboratory capabilities. Field laboratory capabilities
support functions focus on identification, surveillance and monitoring of
health risks in field operating environments. These capabilities should
include technology for sampling and analysis of CBRN contaminants in air,
soil, water, and food supplies as well as dead or diseased animals.
Equipment and transport capabilities suited to deployed operating
environments are needed to provide both mobile laboratory capability to
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support immediate sampling and initial screening of hazards, as well as fixed

laboratory capability to support both confirmatory evaluations and more
extensive assessment of collected samples pertaining to naturally occurring
and man-made health risks. There is also a need to source reference
laboratories capable of dealing with advanced analysis as well as provision of
medico-legal advice.
5. Health Risk Communication. Effective health risk communication is

essential to casualty prevention and vital to an effective FHP plan. Providing
factual information and reasonable recommendations regarding existing and
potential health threats to deployed personnel and to the chain of command
is a critical preventive medicine core responsibility. Keeping the chain of
command informed throughout the deployment life cycle will ensure that
potential or actual vulnerabilities of the deployed force are routinely
incorporated into the commanders operational risk management and decision
making process.
5.9. Veterinary Animal Care Requirements
While veterinary service is an integral part of preventive medicine (prevention

of zoonotic disease transmission, food and water safety, and
recommendations for disinfection of equipment and personnel), the welfare
and care of military working animals is another responsibility with additional
requirements for veterinary personnel, as described in STANAG 2538 -
AMedP-8.4 Animal Care and Welfare and Veterinary Support during all
Phases of Military Deployments. These requirements include:
a. Conducting surveillance for zoonotic and animal diseases of

military importance and implement measures to prevent their
spread.
b. Providing comprehensive health, surgical care, and welfare for

military animals.
c. Coordination of medical evacuation of wounded military animals .
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Veterinary medical Role capabilities are similar to the defined human Roles. A
complete description of the Veterinary Roles is found in STANAG 2538 -
AMedP-8.4.
5.10. Deployment Health Surveillance and Casualty Reporting
1. Deployment Health surveillance and casualty reporting systems are

important functions performed by medical staff supporting the NATO
commander. Deployment health surveillance is the routine, standardized
tracking of disease and injury incidence in meaningful rates, initial analyses
and response at the unit level, and data driven corrective actions taken at all
levels.
2. Deployment health surveillance activities include identifying the

population at risk, identifying and assessing potential occupational and
environmental health (OEH) hazards, documenting OEH and CBRN risks and
exposures, using specific risk management countermeasures, monitoring real
time health outcomes and reporting of DNBI and BI rates during the
deployment in a timely manner. Deployment health surveillance provides a
key indication of troop health status, and serves as a key warning system or
sentinel to trigger further investigation, implement preventive
countermeasures, or other command actions needed to reduce the adverse
impacts of health threats. It also provides an estimate of the impact on
manpower and working day losses.
3. A comprehensive deployment health surveillance approach will also

include the monitoring of disease and illness occurrence in local indigenous
populations where the NATO force is deployed and disease occurrence in
local animal populations. Depending on the route of exposure and degree of
susceptibility, illness or death in local human and animal populations can
have an impact on the deployed force.
4. Deployment health surveillance activities will also include the

investigation of suspected disease outbreaks or clusters of illness amongst
deployed personnel. The capability to rapidly respond, investigate and
coordinate interventions in suspected or actual outbreaks and illness clusters
is critical to the mitigation of wide-spread degradation of mission readiness
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and requires deploying preventive medicine personnel trained with this

knowledge and skillset.
5. A NATO-sponsored deployment health surveillance system (EpiNATO)

is utilised in all NATO operations and exercises and is managed by the
medical staff of deployed forces at all levels. EpiNATO involves the
monitoring, collection, and evaluation of illness/injury data on all deployed
personnel who report for medical treatment support both, on an outpatient
and inpatient basis. It is also set to run in conjunction with other national
reporting systems.
6. In EpiNATO, epidemiological data on all treatment visits in the JOA,

including both first and subsequent attendances, are collated and analysed at
theatre level. Relevant findings are reported as feedback to the reporting
units. Medical staff and commanders thus have reliable, quantitative
planning and resource allocation data regarding medical support and useful
trend analyses by illness and injury category.
7. Through the quantitative identification of causes of morbidity and

qualitative measuring of their effect, an evaluation of both, occurrences and
consequences is the prime objective of this survey. Findings may then
support appropriate response actions, both in the short and long term.
5.11. Civil Labour
1. During operations local civilian labour is often utilised in large numbers

and this can pose a number of health hazards:
a. The labour force may be reservoirs of infectious disease occurring

in the host nation.
b. If not operated under the same preventative measures,

regulations and conditions as military locations, compounds of
civilian/local staffs might pose a risk to the force.
c. Infection of own troops from infected food handlers, contamination

of water sources, and sexually transmitted diseases are historical
problems associated with civil labour.
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2. The HN should be responsible for the health of civil labour and any
camps they occupy. However, if the HN’s medical infrastructure or the
medical standards are inadequate, TCNs employing civil labour will need to
make sufficient arrangements in order to protect the health of their own
troops and civilians.
3. At a minimum these arrangements must include a strategy to prevent

and/or eradicate infectious diseases that are a threat to own forces, and a
first aid service during work. Depending on the supporting civilian
infrastructure, consideration will also have to be given to providing a primary
health care service, if only to ensure the continued provision of the required
labour.
5.12. Critical Incident Management
In response to incidents that generate casualties, command and control of

CIM rests with the battle-space owner, both in planning and execution. The
coordination of medical support must be undertaken in close cooperation with
operations and planning staff in the main HQ of the supported formation.
Such coordination is especially important if MASCAL incidents threaten to
overwhelm medical support resources. Preparation for CIM will be a normal
component of pre-deployment training; MASCAL responses must similarly be
planned for and exercised before and during deployment. Medical planning
for MASCAL is addressed in Chapter 2 and in more detail in AJMedP-1 Allied
Joint Medical Planning Doctrine.
5.13. Consequence Management
1. During the recent past, the world has witnessed a number of complex
disasters, both accidental and intentional, that have necessitated innovative
and varied event responses. Most agree that an international response is
optimal, using both civil and military assets to meet such events. Currently,
NATO policy on military response and coordination with civil organizations
exists. In the case of CBRN events though, spreading agents or
contaminants may require immediate action and could quickly overwhelm
even the most prepared nation(s). CM deals with the military capability to
react and respond to such an event.
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2. MC 472 NATO Military Concept for Defence Against Terrorism defines

CM as ‘the reactive measures used to mitigate the destructive effects of
attacks, incidents, or natural disasters’. CM describes the events and not the
procedures on how to deal with the event. CM procedures are similar to
those used in international disaster relief or humanitarian assistance
operations; what differs are the required capabilities and speed of response.
3. CM is a critical element of any post attack response, and any military

involvement must be closely coordinated with civil authorities; the operation
remains the responsibility of the national civil authorities. NATO and partner
nations request CM assistance through the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response
Coordination Centre (EADRCC). ACO, upon request, can coordinate the
military component of CM assistance.
4. Several CM CONOPS scenarios exist in which NATO could conduct

CM operations following a CBRN event. In particular:
a. CM of a CBRN event in a CRO or
b. Reacting to a national request for CM assistance (not necessarily

involving a NATO nation) following a CBRN event or terrorist
attack.
Each event requires a different response from NATO; regardless, timeliness

of reaction to an event with the correct resources is the key to successful CM
operations.
5. Overarching principles guiding CM measures include responsiveness,

deployability, specialisation, coordination, legitimacy, and interoperability.
Reachback, command, control and communication, scope of operations, and
policy decisions remain key areas of CM consideration.
6. Medical considerations include, but are not limited to, medical

assessment/detection of the event, decontamination, recommendations on
force protection (vaccines and antidotes), medical countermeasures,
psychological support, epidemiological surveillance, victim identification, and
health education.
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7. Regardless of the level of effort to defend against terrorist attacks, the

threat from terrorism will continue in concert with the possibility of an attack
using Weapons of Mass Destruction. Should such an event occur, the
Alliance could collectively provide a host of crucial capabilities to reduce the
effects of an attack, to include the use of existing command, control and
communication, logistics, engineer, medical, de-contamination, explosive
ordnance disposal, and security capabilities. While CM remains the
responsibility of national civil authorities, the Alliance can provide a wide
range of support. The medical response to a CM event may be similar to
disaster relief operations, but modified according to the weapon used.
Comprehensive and flexible medical plans are essential for a quick response
to a CM event. To properly fulfil the mission, the deployed NATO medical
staff must contain trained, experienced and qualified personnel with reliable
communications. Plans must be flexible enough to be adapted to any
situation. The following items must be considered when dealing with CM
response:
a. Specific incident point casualty rates will be higher than with

conventional planning. Often the goal of the terrorist is to inflict as
many casualties as possible in the shortest period of time.
b. If biological agents are used, the attack may not be known until
well after the attack. This is due to variation of incubation periods,
and a variety of symptoms that may mask the actual agent.
c. Indirect casualties will occur as people respond to the attack.

These will include road traffic casualties, heat injuries, and, in the
event of a WMD attack, psychological illnesses.
d. NATO military medical treatment facilities will work directly with

civilian authorities and are there to support these organizations,
coordinated by the MEDDIR and medical staff.
e. The force must also be prepared to manage medical support

items being provided by well-meaning individuals and
organizations that may not be appropriate for the CM event.
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8. Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The

International Health Regulations 2005 require notification to the WHO of any
event that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern.
Such an event would be one that constitutes a public health risk to other
countries through its international spread and may require a coordinated
international response. The aim of this notification is detecting early on any
public health event that could have serious and international consequences,
and preventing or containing them at the source through an adapted
response before they spread across borders. Deployed preventive medicine
personnel will coordinate any such notification through the chain of command
and with host nation health authorities. Isolation and quarantine are
measures that may be implemented to prevent further disease spread during
an outbreak. Restriction of movement may also be a measure undertaken to
aid in the protection of the deployed force. Legal advice should be sought
when such actions as quarantine and RoM are deemed necessary and both
medical and legal implications of these actions will be needed to be
communicated and approved by the commander.
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Chapter 6 – Medical Communication and Information

Systems
This Chapter provides an overview of Medical Communication & Information

Systems. Detailed guidance on this subject is contained in the supporting
AJMedP-5 Allied Joint Doctrine for Medical Communications and Information
Systems (MEDCIS).
6.1. General
Reliable, secure and effective communications and information systems

(CIS) are critical to operational success and the effective employment and
control of CIS resources are now essential command responsibilities. CIS
embodies the principal domains of computer automation systems, auditory
communications systems and visual communications systems. Despite the
apparent abundance of such modern communications technology such as
satellites, computers and fibre-optic transmission, adequate communication
capacity is a limited resource. Medical CIS support connectivity is an
increasingly important operational requirement but will be competing with all
the other functional areas for its allocation of communication capacity. This
Chapter outlines the essential medical CIS requirements and functions and
its particular importance in relation to medical recording and reporting.
6.2. Medical CIS Requirements
1. The most effective CIS means should be selected to capture mission-

essential medical data throughout the operational theatre. Such data
includes information on the medical support capabilities in theatre, in
particular the location, capability and capacity of each MTF. This in turn
enables the medical CIS to support operational decision-making, such as the
regulation and tracking of casualties and provides the ability to respond
quickly to medical contingencies by having rapid access to the information
needed to make educated decisions.
2. Such capability is equally important for decision-making on the clinical

management of individual cases. CIS connectivity allows medical
professionals, including medical associations and clinical governing bodies to
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communicate with the lead clinician to discuss medical cases and provide
clinical advice.
3. A well-structured medical CIS provides an essential foundation for

efficient command and management of the medical support structure.
Medical CIS requirements on operations are likely to include a span of
dedicated and non-dedicated assets encompassing medical verbal and visual
communication, automation technology, data and information management.
The medical CIS must also be able to interface with corresponding logistic
and operational data management systems, as well as operational planning
tools.
4. Medical verbal communications include all forms of auditory linkages

of staffs within the medical support structure, as well as between medical
support elements and other NATO and national organizational elements and
staff. This is a key element in the communications infrastructure and must
have sufficient connections and capacity to support all essential medical CIS
needs. It will provide the backbone to support in-theatre tactical military
connectivity down to the lowest force level, being particularly important for
evacuation and treatment assets located in theatre, as well as providing
support to similar assets located out-of-theatre. Direct signal
communications support, in the form of terrestrial and satellite networks,
through both commercial and military systems is required to provide a reliable
and timely verbal communications architecture comprising radio, fax,
telephone, and web based capabilities.
5. Visual communications includes both real-time and store-and-forward

technologies and is increasingly likely to include electronic health
applications. For example, transmitting visual imagery from one geographic
location to another for teleconsultation, telementoring and teleconferencing
functions, provides medical diagnostic support to detachments in locations
away from centres of specialist clinical advice.
6. Automation technology embodies computer automation hardware and

software capabilities that are fundamental to medical support across the
progressive spectrum of evacuation, treatment, record-keeping, surveillance,
and the full range of staff functions, including information and data exchange
through electronic mail linkages. This domain is essential to create a shared
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information management system and enable mutually-beneficial medical

interactions at theatre and with subordinate command levels.
6.3. Medical Records
1. Medical record keeping covers the recording and processing of

medical information on a patient to include personal medical details and
clinical history, as well as details of medical care and evacuation provided.
2. During operations careful and standardised documentary medical

recording supports:
a. Medical treatment.
b. Monitoring the location and progress of a patient through the

various Roles of medical care.
c. Medical Intelligence documentation, reporting, and follow-up.
d. Breaching language barriers and achieving effective translation of

documentation on patient treatment records.
e. Quality control and evaluation.
f. Statistics and medical surveillance system functions.
g. Legal audit and boards of inquiry.
h. Programming medical supplies and other logistics support.
i. Financial resource management.
3. Patient documentation procedures should be clear and

comprehensive. Medical documentation should be interoperable throughout
the area of operations. Standardised NATO tools/documents/forms should be
utilised in all cases for which such templates are prescribed through NATO
medical STANAGs. Key medical documentation STANAGs include:
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a. STANAG 2132 – AMedP 8.1 Documentation Relative to Medical

Evacuation, Treatment, and Causes of Death of Patients.
b. STANAG 2050 Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries and

Causes of Death.
c. STANAG 2347 – AMedP 34 Medical Warning Tag.
d. STANAG 2348 – AMedP 8.2 Basic Military Hospital (Clinical)

Records.
e. STANAG 2543 Standards for Data Interchange between Health

Information Systems cover this subject.
f. STANAG 2464 Military Forensic Dental Identification.
4. Copies of patient documents and digitized medical records, if

available, should move with the patient throughout the evacuation system to
definitive care, and then be retained in the individual service member’s
medical records. If care is provided to patients in medical support capabilities
other than their respective national MTFs, medical personnel will ensure that
documentation of medical treatment is noted on official medical records and
medical confidentiality is respected. Medical records will accompany the
patient during evacuation, ideally being sent electronically ahead of the
patient so that their needs are known by the receiving MTF in advance.
Suitable medical documentation should also be released to the respective
national medical liaison teams.
6.4. Medical Reporting
1. Deployed medical C2 must be capable of exchanging information with

medical facilities. The aim is to make best use of deployed medical support
capabilities for the benefit of the deployed force.
2. Reporting comes in two generic forms; reports dealing with

assessment of status and, requests for medical support. It should be
recognized that there are linkages and inter-relationships between such
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reports, and that there are specific issues to be acknowledged regarding

medical reporting, primarily that of medical confidentiality. 49
3. National legal requirements regarding the protection and sharing of

medical information must be adhered to; these may differ between TCNs. All
reports between medical units should be copied to the respective competent
national medical authority in accordance with applicable TCN law.
4. The frequency of reporting varies and should be focused on the

requirement; it can be regular and routine, ad-hoc or episodic. It will be
heavily influenced by the nature and tempo of the operation. Factors such as
size of the force, its composition (multinationality), and assigned mission type
will all influence the reporting requirement and frequency. To ensure
reporting is effective and supports the information needs of the chain of
command, it is important that those receiving reports provide feedback to
reporting authorities that initiated the report.
5. Medical reporting will not happen in isolation, nor should medical

support capabilities ignore their responsibility to ensure they comply with
operational reporting requirements set by the operational commander.
UK medical communication and information systems
UK 6.1. The Surgeon General and the Defence Medical Services fully
recognise the importance of information in fulfilling their remit to promote,
protect and restore the health of the Defence population at risk, both in the
firm base and on deployed operations. There is now widespread recognition
that Defence Medical Services must move to take its service provision to the
next level so we can provide coherent information services spanning all
medical capabilities, thereby maximising operational effectiveness. The
major clinical information systems currently in service are listed.
49
The policy that sensitive clinical information is not to be communicated to any individual or organisation
that does not have a medical need-to-know, except as required by national policy for that Nation’s patients.
(AMedP-13)
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• Defence Medical Information Capability Programme. This is

the core primary health and dental care information support
tool, providing an integrated electronic health record capability
for Defence.
• Defence Medical Information Capability Programme

Deployed. This deployable version has been modified to
enable its operation in locations where there is no guarantee of
connectivity to back-end data repositories.
• Radiology and teleradiology systems. This capability

facilitates the administration of patient and examination data
through the radiology information system.
• Laboratory information management system. The

laboratory information management system provides pathology
support in a number of Defence Medical Services locations.
• Central health records library systems. The central health

records library systems is the main repository for archiving both
physical and electronic medical records.15
UK 6.2. Programme CORTISONE16 will focus on delivering the changes to

the Defence Medical Services’ health and healthcare information capability to
meet the continuing and emerging needs of both the organisation and wider
Defence.
UK 6.3. The CORTISONE programme addresses the support requirement

for information generated by the Defence Medical Services in producing their
mandated outputs, across all contexts and capabilities of care. This includes
the clinical, administrative, business management and force generation
domains.
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UK 6.4. The CORTISONE programme’s primary objectives are to:
• Underpin patient clinical care and patient safety through

delivery of a relevant Defence integrated Electronic Health
Record capability for the Defence Population at Risk that is fully
accessible across all clinical environments, connected to the
individuals’ UK civilian health and healthcare records and
meets all governance and assurance regulatory requirements;
• Underpin provision of health advice, health and healthcare

services and medical operational capability by delivering
information management and exploitation of health and
healthcare data to the right people, at the right time and in the
right format;
• Improve, and provide enhanced information support for medical

delivery processes;
• Adopt a more coherent and holistic approach to the

development and introduction of future Medical Information
Services, thus ensuring that services are agile, and deliver the
Defence medical information capability efficiently, effectively,
and represent value for money; and,
• Deliver a fully integrated information service that supports

medical processes seamlessly between the firm and deployed
operational locations.
UK 6.5. Project CORTISONE will enable the Defence Medical Services to

achieve their clinical outputs in a fully-informed, efficient and effective manner
and maximises the return on investment in clinical research programmes and
projects. The target date for completing Programme CORTISONE is the end
of 2019.
15. The Central Health Records Library Systems is supported through a civilian contract with Conseillers en
Gestion et Informatique to store and maintain integrated electronic health records.
16. Programme CORTISONE Blueprint Document, Version 1.0, dated 20 June 14.
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Chapter 7 – Civil-Military Medical Interface
This Chapter provides an overview of the Civil-Military Medical Interface.

Detailed guidance on this subject is contained in the supporting AJMedP-6
Allied Joint Civil-Military Medical Interface Doctrine.
7.1. Principles for the Civil-Military Medical Interface
1. Though not their primary operational function, military medical services

are frequently being called upon to use their capabilities, resources and skills
in the provision of healthcare at the civil-military medical interface. The ability
of military forces to deploy medical assets at short notice in both permissive
and non-permissive environments, with dedicated infrastructure support and
C2architecture makes them an exceptionally useful capability. This may lead
to military medical assets being deployed in a range of situations and mission
types outside those for which the military routinely train.
2. In such situations, managing the interface between civil and military

organizations will be a key consideration. The civil-military relations during
allied operations will be in large part defined by the type of the mission and
the specific situation in the JOA. Whereas medical support to the local
population might be the focus of a Humanitarian Assistance or Disaster Relief
operation, provision of adequate medical support for own forces will likely be
the main task of the medical support in a Crisis Response Operation. In fact,
in some operations the military medical support may be dependent upon the
in place civil healthcare system of a Host Nation to provide specific medical
capabilities to own forces.
3. Guiding medical principles to be considered in such circumstances

include:
a. Medical ethics,50
b. Impartiality,
c. Cultural awareness,
50
The values and guidelines governing decisions in medical practice.
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d. Standards of healthcare,
e. Medical confidentiality,
f. Continuity of care, patient tracking and regulating,
g. Emergency care.
4. From the perspective of most civilian organisations it will be important

to retain their identity as independent, neutral and impartial bodies. This will
be particularly important for non-governmental humanitarian organizations,
whose only protection depends upon the maintenance of perceived
impartiality from governmental or political objectives in the affected location.
Such organizations will aim to achieve a clear delineation between their
activities from those carried out by military forces. While some may be willing
to engage in dialogue with armed forces at all levels, most if not all will
preserve their independence of decision-making and action.
5. The imperative for civilian actors is to ensure humanitarian access,

meaning the unimpeded access to the civilian population at risk with the
consent of all involved or conflicted parties. As a result, in their relations with
military medical forces, IOs and NGOs specializing in the provision of
healthcare will always try to ensure their activities are not perceived as a
contribution to the military effort, as this would be likely to restrict their
humanitarian access.
6. To help guide civil-military interactions, a number of standards have

been agreed by civilian humanitarian actors on the use of military assets, the
most important being:
a. Engagement of military assets should be a “means of last resort”,

only considered in the absence of adequate civilian assets to
achieve a certain task.
b. If military capabilities are required they will only be employed at

the request of a civilian humanitarian coordinator.
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c. All humanitarian engagement has to retain a “Civilian Character”,

so military assets must serve in a supporting role.
d. All military effort has to be limited in time and scope, with a clearly
defined exit strategy for handover to civilian actors.
7. All employed military assets are to respect the United Nations code of
conduct. These standards cannot be automatically or routinely accepted by
the military, as operational planning is driven by differing imperatives.
However, the standards provide useful guidance and need to be known to
military planners in advance and recognized as the primary guide to civilian
attitudes towards the military.
8. The provision of direct care to a civil population is usually seen by

GOs, IOs and NGOs as a non-military responsibility. However, other tasks
might be seen as acceptable, such as sharing of medical or environmental
information, provision of medical education and training or complementary
efforts in the mitigation of wider health consequences of a humanitarian
situation. In each case, civilian organisations will make their decisions based
on an assessment of the expected benefits of civil-military cooperation versus
negative consequences for their perceived neutrality and freedom of
decision-making.
7.2. Operations at the Civil-Military Medical Interface
1. The medical contribution to NATO operations planning is described in

Chapter 2. Operations involving a civil-military medical interface have
additional specific planning considerations and these will be covered next.
2. The different phases of an operation, as depicted in AJP-3 Allied Joint

Doctrine for the Conduct of Operations, each require a specific approach to
civil-military medical interaction. The following three operational phases are
the most crucial in this regard:
a. Initial phase / acute crisis
b. Stabilization and Reconstruction
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c. Withdrawal.
3. Where a requirement exists to provide care to civil patients, the

conduct of a thorough analysis of the local health situation is of utmost
importance. Medical support planning in this context will often identify the
requirement for capabilities that are not routinely represented among military
medical force structures such as obstetrics and paediatrics. Timely
identification of the need for such clinical specialists will be essential to
ensure their availability, if needed via bilateral or other agreements with other
nations. The need for specialist services may also change with each phase
of the operation.
4. General principles for the planning and execution of military medical

support to civil structures include:
a. Provide life, limb or sight saving surgery to all patients that require
it and are presented to a military facility.
b. During periods when high patient numbers are being dealt with it
may be necessary to avoid initiating complex or comprehensive
clinical procedures if by doing so would tie-up valuable clinical
resources. A general principle of doing the most for the most may
be the best use of finite resources.
c. Limit periods of hospitalization of patients to the minimum to

ensure an effective capacity to accept and treat new patients is
maintained.
d. Adapt therapeutic protocols to the local health situation. It may

not be appropriate to undertake a course of treatment if the host
nation clinical infrastructure does not have the capability to
successfully complete the treatment after discharge from the
military medical system.
e. Return the lead for provision of treatment to host nation health

infrastructure as early as possible.
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The WHO standards will be used as planning parameters for all assistance
and support measures. As result of this, the medical care to the civilian
population and livestock will be in accordance with prevailing local peacetime
standards.
7.3. Civil-Military Aspects of the Medical Contribution to the

Operational Planning Process
1. Medical Reconnaissance. To enable appropriate planning and

preparation it is important to undertake a timely and complete
reconnaissance of the JOA with the supporting participation of medical
subject matter experts. The medical staff assigned to the reconnaissance
team must possess adequate knowledge and experience in the provision of
medical support at the civil-military medical interface.
2. Review of the Situation. Conduct a comprehensive analysis of the

situation, taking account of the following aspects of civil-military medical
provision:
a. Structure and organization of the civilian health care system.
b. Details of health care providers and authorities.
c. Survey health care infrastructure, equipment, supplies and

personnel, as well as the standards of hygiene of each.
d. Health status of the population and epidemiological challenges.
e. Involved organisations such as the host nation government, IOs

and NGOs and the executive relationships between and within
them.
f. Medical situation of any displaced persons or refugees in the

JOA.
3. Mission Analysis. The purpose of mission analysis in this context is

to clearly define what is expected from the civil-military medical interface.
Limitations and constraints are likely to define the balance between the
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resources that can be provided for involvement in civilian health care matters
versus providing medical support to the force’s own personnel.
4. Evaluation of Factors. One of the most important planning factors to

consider will be the determination of the population at risk (PAR), both civilian
and also military if a multinational force is deployed. During the initial stages
of a deployment it will be difficult to acquire accurate information on the
numbers, location and condition of the civilian PAR, particularly if refugees
and displaced persons need to be taken into account. The size and nature of
the PAR has a fundamental bearing on the medical assets required and how
they can be employed. The medical plan for civil-military support may have
to be significantly amended or a new one produced as information on the
PAR is gathered and assessed. Furthermore, in CBRN environments military
MTFs may be the only functioning medical assets available. Provision of
support to the civilian population in such situations will have to be carefully
assessed during the planning process.
5. Operational Design. Any significant civil-military medical interaction

is likely to have a major impact on the operational design of the medical plan.
Quality, capacity and ensuring equal access for the local civil healthcare
system will be important factors that strongly influence the perceived level of
control exercised by local government and in turn perceptions of the success
of stabilization and reconstruction efforts. Even if it is decided that deployed
military medical assets will not be used to for the treatment of civil patients
directly, the medical staff still have a key role to play in the overall civil-military
effort by providing guidance on health care issues for inclusion in the civil-
military plan.
6. Measuring and Reporting Progress. If medical tasks and objectives

are included within the civil-military plan care must be taken to identify how
progress towards these objectives will be measured and reported. For
example, epidemiological indicators such as morbidity and mortality rates
could be used or measurement of the number of clinics, hospitals and
personnel employed in the health care sector in relation to the size of the
population.
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7.4. Humanitarian Assistance, Reconstruction and Development
1. Military medical capabilities are usually not designed specifically to

meet the needs of HA. When tasked with the support of HA operations,
medical services will usually have to adapt their capabilities according to the
specific requirements of the particular mission.
2. When military medical support is involved its employment must be

managed so as not to compete with civilian actors but instead work in a
complementary way with them. The military should avoid duplicating the
efforts of IOs, GOs and NGOs. For HN assets, the military should encourage
development and self-sustainment of local medical structures and avoid
creating dependence on the deployed medical assets.
3. Health is increasingly acknowledged to be a key factor in state stability

and development. It is important, therefore, that health is considered early
when developing reconstruction or development plans. Factors such as
capacity, capability, accessibility and acceptable standards of the local
population should all be considered.
4. In the early stages of an operation, the military medical services must

be prepared to deliver medical care to sick and injured civilians as well as
wounded service personnel. There may be only limited military medical
capacity available and the level of civilian demand very difficult to quantify.
The type of care to be provided must also be decided and may include
elements of emergency medicine, surgical treatment, public health and
primary care. The effectiveness of each will need to be monitored and
evaluated to ensure the most effective mix of support is provided. There is
unlikely to be a single, ideal solution and it will be important to adjust the
support provided as the circumstances and needs of the civilian population
change.
5. Lasting success in rebuilding or developing a local healthcare system

can be achieved only by long-time engagement with civil organizations. It is
imperative to understand that well-meant direct patient care projects
delivered by military forces may have severe destabilising effects on the local
capabilities. This is especially true where local health services depend on
payment at point of use by the patient. In such situations the provision of free
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health care by a deployed military force may lead local health care providers
to relocate elsewhere. Military medical capabilities can deliver vitally
important support to an affected population, particularly in the early stages of
a humanitarian emergency or in an unsecure environment. However,
sustained intervention by military medical services should only occur if the
civil-military team has a thorough understanding of the local health situation
and conducts proper planning to avoid adverse effects.
The military medical contribution to security and stabilisation
UK 7.1. Health service support may also provide a wider contribution to

security and stabilisation dependent on the nature of the deployment.
This could include using military medical capability in support of
stabilisation tasks such as emergency humanitarian assistance and
disaster relief through to developing indigenous forces security forces
medical capability (security sector reform) and assisting civilian health
sector development. While no medical force elements are specifically
earmarked against these tasks, all are required to have individual and
collective skills to undertake them.
UK 7.2. A small number of specialist trained personnel are held in the

Operational Headquarters Support Group of 2 Medical Brigade to provide
staff planning and technical assistance in these tasks. Similarly,
Headquarters Tactical Medical Wing can deploy a specialist deployed
aeromedical evacuation squadron with niche medical capabilities
including the air transportable isolator, haemofiltration and physician-led
strategic aeromedical evacuation teams.
UK 7.3. The role of the military should be to set the initial conditions of
security to allow non-government organisations, other government
departments and the host nation Ministry of Health to establish their
respective capabilities and start the healthcare stabilisation processes. A
commander needs to consider a number of factors/actions.
• Identifying the specific health needs of the local population.
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• Optimising all local non-government organisation and

military agencies for health provision if appropriate or under
the advice of a development adviser (if available).
• The disproportionate influence that simple health

interventions can bring in developing countries. Fostering
(or providing, if requested) an element of leadership and
coordination to what may be a chaotic international
organisation, non-government organisation and other
government department mix.
• Cultural sensitivity; Western medicine may not be ideal and

patient-centred cultural sensitivity should guide the
response.
• Maintain the local health economy and foster confidence in

local healthcare providers.
• Ensure consistency with the national health policies and

sustainability at the local level. It should not endanger
other civilian healthcare providers.
• Help the local population to help itself. Better health leads

to people better able to be economically, politically and
socially productive.
• Training healthcare workers to raise local health education.
• Veterinary health may significantly increase local wealth.
While it may be tempting for commanders to go for the ‘quick win’ in

terms of hearts and minds by using medical interventions, the potential
negative impact of such activities on the local healthcare providers and
on engendering dependency may make them both ethically and socially
unsustainable. It is better to maintain the local healthcare providers and
enable the other government departments and non-governmental
organisations to work safely in a manner to which they are accustomed.
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When we (the military) are involved in medical aspects stabilisation, we

must stick to the following principles, which are based on UN guidelines.
• Do no harm. The most important principle when assisting health

sector development is ‘to do no harm’. There is a real risk that the
work of other agencies and their security (and those that they
treat) may become compromised by involving military medical
services to provide direct healthcare to the indigenous population.
• Clinically appropriate. Any intervention must be clinically

appropriate, considering the capabilities of the healthcare sector
and the indigenous governmental institutions’ policies and
direction. This may include providing short-term support as a part
of a development programme. For example, in sub-Saharan
Africa, providing cataract surgery returns many people to
productive lives and thereby improves their health. Therefore
development activity should aim to support and mentor indigenous
ophthalmic surgeons in the necessary techniques.
• Culturally sensitive. Providing any health sector intervention

must be culturally appropriate and socially acceptable to the
indigenous cultural, social and religious values, noting the specific
issues of gender, and gender specific roles in healthcare in many
nations.
• Coherent. The intervention should not be focused on just one

aspect of governance, reconstruction and development such as
buildings or equipment. These interventions are often
unsustainable without paying attention to other aspects of
development, for example, availability of trained staff and
mechanisms for meeting recurring costs.
• Sustainable. Any intervention should seek to make sure that

once military forces withdraw, the intervention can be sustained by
indigenous medical services or non-governmental organisations.
Any equipment donated must be able to be maintained in the long
term using local resources.
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• Civilian primacy. Military involvement in developing civilian

healthcare must only be undertaken if there is no civilian
alternative. It should always be the last option and explicitly
limited in time and scale.
• Coordination. Medical engagement must only take place where

there is agreement with the indigenous government or other
appropriate authority. Effective liaison and coordination with the
government, non-governmental organisations and other agencies
will be essential.
Although the military is not considered a humanitarian agency, there may

be occasions during security and stabilisation where the UK is required
to deliver humanitarian assistance or disaster relief. In such cases the
following principles must be respected.
• Humanity. The dignity and rights of all those sick and injured
must be respected and protected, as must be indigenous cultural
requirements.
• Impartiality. Medical assistance must be provided without

discriminating ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political opinions,
race or religion. Relief of suffering must be guided solely by
clinical needs and priority must be given to the most urgent cases.
Casualties who are members of opposing forces must be treated
in line with this principle; medical personnel have a responsibility
to report violations of this principle to an appropriate authority.
• Neutrality. Military medical services are not neutral (as they are
part of the deployed military force) but must treat cases under the
impartiality principles above.
Joint Doctrine Note 3/14, The Medical Contribution to Security and

Stabilisation Operations provides further guidance.
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7.5. Command, Control and Coordination
1. The core requirements for a flexible and effective civil-military

command and control architecture are described in AJP-9 NATO Civil-Military
Co-operation Doctrine. Since medical issues will be an ever-present factor in
civil-military relations, the necessary medical expertise must be integrated
into civil-military planning at the earliest opportunity.
2. The Medical Director of a Joint Force is responsible for medical

support within the JOA, including medical interactions with civil organizations
and treatment of civil patients. The Medical Director must advise the
commander and staff on all civil-military medical interaction and must work
closely with the civil-military staff to maintain consistency and credibility of the
medical activities of the force as a whole.
3. The civil actors in the healthcare sector will consist of a complex

mixture of local authorities, IOs, GOs and NGOs. A common, closely
coordinated effort of all involved stakeholders promises the best and most
efficient way to rebuild or develop a sustainable healthcare system.
However, it may not always be possible to achieve in practice due to
competing demands and objectives of the actors involved.
4. In addition, a great many NGOs rely on their status of neutrality,

impartiality and independence in order to deliver their HA to individuals in
need even in the most hostile and insecure environments. As a result, NGOs
may wish to avoid or limit their contact with any military or government
assets, to avoid being perceived as affiliated to a single belligerent party
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Chapter 8 – Medical Support in the CBRN Environment
This Chapter provides an overview of Medical Support in CBRN

Environments. Detailed guidance on this subject will be contained in the
supporting AJMedP-7 Allied Joint Medical Doctrine for Support to Chemical,
Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defensive Operations that is
currently in production.
8.1. Challenges of the CBRN Environment
1. The employment or threat of CBRN weapons and other toxic materials

poses serious challenges to Allied military operations worldwide. CBRN
incidents include the detonation of CBRN weapons and the accidental or
deliberate release of chemical and biological agents, toxic industrial materials
(TIMs) (especially air and water poisons), biological pathogens, and
radioactive material. The deadly, destructive, and disruptive effects of these
weapons and materials merit continuous consideration by the force
commander and staff.
2. Commanders at all levels are faced with the possibility that operations
may have to be conducted in a CBRN environment. The component
command surgeons are responsible for guiding and integrating all medical
support capabilities available to the command to support mission
accomplishment in a CBRN environment.
3. The conduct of operations in a CBRN environment poses unique

challenges to medical support forces worldwide. Planning for medical
support to CBRN defence operations must include five key considerations:
a. CBRN incidents will likely produce a large number of casualties.
b. The types of casualties from a CBRN incident are not those

normally managed in a military medical support system.
c. CBRN casualties may be contaminated or contagious, and may

constitute a significant hazard to the medical personnel and
facilities charged with caring for them.
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d. MTFs may have to operate in areas that are contaminated, or with

restrictions that limit movement of personnel and materiel into,
and out of, the MTF.
e. Medical support will be required to continue for conventional

casualties as well as for CBRN casualties.
4. The commander establishes the theatre’s medical support

requirements and uses directive authority to ensure the proper coordination
of all medical support capabilities in the force, to include general medical
support services, shelter, food, water, environmental and occupational health,
medical surveillance, medical prophylaxis, medical pre-treatments,
immunizations, post-exposure therapeutics, antidotes, and fluids. One of the
most difficult challenges faced by a medical planning staff is defining
requirements for adequate force protection and the medical management of
casualties in a CBRN environment. Coordinating an effective response
requires access to the full spectrum of military and emergency management
resources, the marshalling of significant NATO military medical resources,
and support from the medical systems of the host nation. The following must
be considered when planning or preparing for medical support to CBRN
defence operations:
a. Situational awareness and C2.
b. Education and Training for CBRN Medical Support
c. Casualty estimation.
d. Force Health Protection.
e. Patient management.
f. Medical evacuation.
g. Sustainment of medical operations.
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8.2. Medical Planning in the CBRN Environment
1. Considerable flexibility can be exercised when planning for medical

support to NATO CBRN defence operations. AJMedP-7 Allied Joint Medical
Doctrine for Support to CBRN Defensive Operations is the primary source for
all medical planning for support to NATO CBRN defence operations within the
NATO Command Structure.
However, it does not reflect nor exclude any particular nation’s approach to
planning for medical support to CBRN defence operations. It does however,
constitute a basic framework for planning as a prerequisite for a common
understanding in a joint and combined CBRN defence environment.
2. The basic CBRN defence planning process remains the same across
the range of military operations and requires consideration at all levels of
planning, from strategic to tactical. Nevertheless, specific CBRN defence
planning considerations may vary considerably among strategic-, operational-
, and tactical-level operations due to differences in missions, available
resources, and size of operational areas and area of interest. An adversary’s
use of CBRN weapons can quickly change the character of an operation or
campaign. The use of such weapons, or threat of their use, can cause large-
scale shifts in strategic and operational objectives or alter the execution of
plans. Planning at all levels should ensure the integration of CBRN
considerations into the overall planning and decision-making processes. A
key task for commanders will be the establishment of protection against
CBRN attacks in the operational area. This includes areas involved in
preparing and providing forces or sustaining deployed capabilities, as well as
preventing adversarial use of CBRN weapons.
8.2.1. Phased Planning for Medical Support to CBRN Defence

Operations
1. There are three distinct phases of a CBRN incident as it relates to

CBRN defence: pre-incident; during-incident; and post-incident. In each,
medical support plans must assist the commander to establish priorities for
the effective use of available medical support and public health service
resources.
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2. Pre-incident activities are critical because they will increase the unit’s
survivability and maintain the commander’s freedom of action to the greatest
possible extent. Pre-incident actions are essentially contingent measures
and are the result of the CBRN risk and threat assessment. During this
phase, measures and equipment are planned, prepared, tested, and, if
necessary for some measures, implemented. In accordance with their
missions, medical organizations assist with provision of adequate shelter,
establishment of safe food and water sources, and ensuring that preventive
measures and curative treatments are available. Adversary action and the
potential need to deal with panic among the civilian population require
physical security measures at facilities to permit uninterrupted medical
treatment. The commander may decide to assign the physical security
mission to nonmedical units, if operational requirements and priorities permit.
3. During-incident activities are the implementation of contingent

measures in response to a CBRN incident. These measures are directed
mainly at ensuring that assets are suitably protected immediately following
receipt of a warning and during an incident to minimize the decontamination
burden. During-incident activities include initial detection, the avoidance of
contamination, the relocation of units, the use of collective protection
(COLPRO) systems, the wearing of individual protection equipment (IPE),
and immediate decontamination procedures. These need to be made ready
and exercised in the pre-incident phase.
4. Post-incident activities follow a CBRN incident and are essential to

protect assets, restore operational capabilities and regain operating tempo.
These measures will be performed to reduce the required level of protection
and minimize the spread of contamination. These will include the operations
necessary to determine the location, type and extent of the contamination,
movement control to limit the spread of contamination, decontamination
operations, and patient care. Following a CBRN incident, special emphasis
should be placed on basic preventive medicine principles, including: food
and water sanitation, hygiene, and common prevention measures that reduce
the spread of disease. The procedures, equipment and training necessary
for effective CBRN warning and reporting, recovery and control measures,
hazard management and medical countermeasures and support, need to be
prepared and practiced in the pre-incident phase.
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5. In some circumstances (such as an incident with a very large number

of CBRN fatalities), the commander may need to authorize alternative
procedures for the disposition of human remains. If human remains cannot
be decontaminated to a "safe" level, decontamination capabilities are not
available, or because of public health and safety, contaminated human
remains may have to be temporarily interred or stored in a manner that
contains the CBRN hazard and is properly marked to facilitate contamination
avoidance. In instances of mass fatalities, the commander, under the advice
of the mortuary affairs office, may authorize temporary interment. Temporary
interments will require dedicated transportation assets to avoid the spread of
contamination, engineer support to prepare the site, and security personnel to
prevent unauthorized personnel from entering the interment area.
8.2.2. Casualty Management and the Scale of CBRN Incidents
1. CBRN incidents can vary greatly in magnitude. At the lower end of the
scale, incidents such as the puncturing of a chlorine tank in the vicinity of an
improvised explosive device can generate a small number of casualties
requiring unusual but manageable medical care. These incidents are
episodic in nature and typically can be managed within the regular medical
planning process for conventional casualties. In the middle of the scale,
Allied military forces may be required to conduct operations in a combat
environment where the use of CBRN weapons is expected. In such cases,
medical planners must prepare to manage CBRN casualties as a routine part
of medical support operations. At the upper end of the scale, CBRN incidents
can result in disasters at a national or international level. Planning for these
incidents should assume there will be MASCAL events and that resources
and capabilities for response will be severely constrained.
2. Commanders and medical support planners must ensure that a

process is in place to manage and treat CBRN casualties in all phases of a
CBRN incident and for all magnitudes. The widespread disruption and
destruction that may accompany a CBRN incident will require special patient
handling and will further challenge medical support capabilities and
resources. To provide adequate medical support in these circumstances,
definitive planning and coordination are needed and should be driven by pre-
deployment intelligence collection, reporting, analyses, and risk
assessments. Medical intelligence collection and risk assessments must be
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continuous, comprehensive, timely and accurate throughout the pre-

deployment and deployment phases of operations. Sound preparation and
thorough disease containment planning will ensure the greatest range of
options is available to respond to CBRN hazards while balancing mission
requirements with the risk to personnel.
8.2.3. Situational Awareness and Command and Control
1. Operations in CBRN environments place particular medical support

demands on situational awareness and C2. Especially important will be a
clear and commonly shared assessment of adversary CBRN capabilities,
CBRN use effects, and national, multinational, and host nation medical
support capabilities and limitations in countering adversary CBRN use.
Threat assessments should include the identification of industrial sites in the
theatre of operations that can produce toxic hazards, as TIMs could become
a health hazard to deployed forces if these sites are accidentally or
intentionally destroyed or damaged. Furthermore, TIMs could be a source of
environmental hazards to deployed forces even when the sites are not
disturbed.
2. Although the source and means of exposure to CBRN hazards affect

incidence and the severity of injuries, basic principles of prevention and
treatment do not change. For instance, in the event of a biological incident,
rapid detection and accurate identification of the agent are important factors
in providing operationally relevant information to the commander and medical
support units. This allows the command to mitigate effects on the force,
facilitate adequate casualty management, and provide effective medical
treatment. The first indication of a biological incident or covert radiological
source may be the appearance of numerous casualties in which medical
specialists are challenged to differentiate endemic disease occurrence from
adversary attack.
Important medical assets for situational awareness in an unclear disease
situation are Rapidly Deployable Outbreak Investigation Teams (RDOIT) and
their radiological counterparts the Medical Radiation Incident Investigation
Teams (MRIIT).
3. In the theatre, the medical intelligence collection and analysis process

includes investigations of disease and injury resulting from known or
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suspected chemical, biological, or radiological agents, and integration of

medical support information from medical and nonmedical units. Effective
preventive and curative medical support for the forces requires production of
complete, timely, and accurate medical intelligence products and their
integration into overall theatre intelligence assessments and estimates.
Since an effect from a CBR agent may first occur in the local population, it is
important for medical support to maintain an awareness of local civilian
disease trends and unique cases in order to quickly identify potential
biological agent casualties.
8.2.4. CBRN Casualty Estimation
1. Like battle casualty estimation, CBRN casualty estimation is a task for

the operational planning staffs, guided by their CBRN experts. Suitable
guidance for the estimation of casualties from a CBRN attack can be found in
AMedP-8(C) NATO Planning Guide for the Estimation of CBRN Casualties.
CBRN casualty estimation is comprised of three separate processes which
must be accomplished by the operational planner:
a. Estimation of CBRN human response.
b. Estimation of CBRN dose/dosage/insult.
c. Compilation of CBRN casualty estimate.
2. The requisite human response estimation component input values

may be derived from various methodologies including, for example, a CBRN
hazard prediction model that produces these values as output, the direct
assignment of values to persons of interest or using available National
methodologies or other means which derive the dose/dosage/insult values
required as inputs to the human response methodology. Given the estimated
dose/dosage/insult, the estimation of human response provides a measure of
the type and severity of an individual’s injury. Injury severity level is then
used to determine the casualty status of individuals over time.
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8.3. Force Health Protection (FHP)
1. Among the key considerations discussed above in planning for

medical support to CBRN defence operations, the most significant from the
perspective of FHP is that CBRN casualties may be contaminated or
contagious, and may constitute a significant hazard to the medical personnel
and facilities charged with caring for them. In addition, MTFs may have to
operate in areas that are contaminated, or with restrictions that limit
movement of personnel and materiel into, and out of, the facility. Planning for
FHP while providing medical support to CBRN defence operations must
ensure that the fighting potential of a force is conserved, even under the most
complex scenarios and austere environments, so that it is healthy, fully
combat capable, and able to operate when and where required. Suitable
guidance for FHP under normal operational conditions can be found in
Chapter 5 and in AJMedP-4 Allied Joint Medical Force Health Protection
Doctrine.
2. Effective FHP includes a combination of preventive and curative

measures. Commanders must ensure that all personnel train to survive and
accomplish FHP in anticipation of and in response to a CBRN environment.
The command's medical support elements must be able to provide all other
required health services while effectively caring for CBRN casualties.
3. Countermeasures and responses to the health effects of CBRN agents

include physical protection, medical protection (immunisations, medical
prophylaxis, medical treatments, and antidotes), and disease containment
measures such as Restriction of Movement. These actions occur before
exposure to high-risk, CBRN conditions (e.g. pre-treatments and
immunisations) as well as after exposure to CBRN agents (e.g. treatments
and fluids).
8.3.1. Physical Protection
1. The use of physical protection is not a uniquely medical

countermeasure, although medical personnel must consider its use when
operating in a CBRN environment. Suitable guidance for the use of physical
protection can be found in AJP-3.8 Allied Joint Doctrine for Chemical,
Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defence. Personal CBRN physical
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AJP-4.10
protection can be applied individually or collectively. Individual protection and

COLPRO should be used so personnel can survive CBRN incidents and
continue to operate in a CBRN hazard environment.
2. Individual physical protection is protection provided to an individual in

a CBRN environment by protective clothing and/or personal equipment. All
military personnel in a hazard area should be provided with an individual
respiratory protection system (respirator or mask), prophylaxis/pre-treatment
medications, antidotes, an individual decontamination kit, a first aid kit and
protective clothing. The risk of exposure of personnel to CBRN hazards
needs to be continuously monitored and the necessary medical records
updated, so support and aftercare can be arranged.
3. COLPRO is afforded by facilities or systems equipped with air filtration

devices and air locks which provide personnel with a CBRN hazard-free
environment for performing critical work and obtaining rest and relief in order
to sustain combat operations. COLPRO systems offer a means of balancing
the need for protection against the requirement to maintain tempo. Medical
support capabilities in particular, which require the collection and
management of contaminated casualties, may benefit from the use of
COLPRO.
8.3.2. Medical Protection
Medical countermeasures and pre-treatments are designed to diminish the

susceptibility of personnel to CBRN agents and effects. The medical
planning staff will be responsible for advising the commander on medical
countermeasures. Commanders and staffs need to make decisions, on
advice from the medical staff, about the timely and appropriate administration
of prophylactic or preventive compounds (immunisation, medication) as well
as other pre-treatment measures (skin barrier sprays or repellents). These
countermeasures and pre-treatments must to be issued to personnel under
national guidelines.
8.3.3. Operational Contamination Control
1. The movement of a force into hazard areas will be restricted by the

principle that hazard avoidance will reduce exposure and subsequent
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casualties. The avoidance of CBRN hazards will be a key factor in planning

for the location of medical facilities. Medical facilities may need to be
relocated to avoid contamination. If hazard avoidance is not possible and
contamination occurs, an assessment of decontamination requirements
should occur as quickly as possible. See AJP-3.8 Allied Joint Doctrine for
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defence, for guidance on
hazard avoidance.
2. The spread of hazards is controlled through the limitation of spread,

hazard containment, decontamination, controlled movement, restriction of
movement for disease control, and waste management. The medical
planning staff will coordinate with the engineering staff on design and
operational constraints for medcal facilities and sites. The commander may
employ RoM, including isolation51 and quarantine,52 to prevent the
transmission of communicable disease or infection. Isolation and quarantine
are critical when contagious disease is suspected or present within the forces
or the surrounding civilian population. RoM should be consistent with any
limitations imposed by HN law, treaty obligations, or
agreements/arrangements between the parties.
8.3.4. Combat and Operational Stress Control
1. Following any significant incident, especially where there may have

been multiple casualties, stress is likely to have a number of effects on an
individual. The management of psychological stress should be managed by
the chain of command in a supportive way that initially is independent of any
medical interventions. 53
2. Prevention of stress casualties and control of combat and operational

stress is a command and leader responsibility. Medical staff and other
personnel at all levels play important supporting roles. A coordinated
program must be planned for the prevention, treatment, and return to duty of
combat stress reaction casualties. Active education, training, and prevention
51
Isolation is the separation of ill or contaminated persons or affected baggage, containers, conveyances,
goods or postal parcels from others in such a manner as to prevent the spread of infection or contamination.
52
Quarantine is the restriction of activities and/or separation from others of suspect persons, plants or
animals that are not ill or diseased or of suspect baggage, containers, conveyances or goods in such a
manner as to prevent the possible spread of infection or contamination.
53
For further information see Paragraph 9.3.5 and AJMedP-64 Forward Mental Healthcare (Study).
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programs assist with controlling stress and preparing unit leaders and
medical support personnel to identify and manage stress reactions in units.
8.4. Patient Management
1. Patient management refers to a group of post-incident medical

capabilities that are applied to preserve the health of the force, to deliver
optimal care to casualties, and to maximize the rate at which casualties
return to duty. In the aftermath of a CBRN incident, the number of casualties
may far exceed the capacity of the medical treatment system. The medical
planning staff must develop a plan for managing a substantial increase in
casualty flow and the demand for treatment. The plan must address handling
and movement of CBRN casualties, avoiding contamination spread, and
treating infectious diseases. CBRN casualty care requires extensive
coordination and communication with the hospitals of contributing nations
and the host nation.
2. CBRN hazards can create large numbers of casualties who have been
exposed to chemical agents, toxins, radiation, or infectious agents. Medical
facilities should be prepared to respond rapidly as casualty workload will
likely peak quickly with little advance warning. As some biological agents are
transmissible between humans, they may cause problems for some time after
any initial attack.
8.4.1. Patient Decontamination
1. Patient decontamination reduces the threat of contamination-related

injury to medical support personnel and patients. Patient decontamination
will have to be accomplished as the operation and patient load allows.
Decontamination and triage of CBRN casualties will vary with the situation
and the contaminant. For most CBRN exposures, delaying treatment or
stabilisation of the patient for decontamination should not put the patient at
additional risk. Trained and qualified triage personnel should determine
priority of treatment and decontamination. Medical evacuation capabilities for
contaminated and contagious casualties are likely to be very limited.
2. Decontamination should be decentralised to avoid creating a backlog

of casualties awaiting clean-up at a central location. Each MTF should be
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able to establish its own decontamination area. A great majority of all

decontamination tasks can be performed without interfering with medical
treatment simply by removing a casualty’s outer clothing and shoes.
8.4.2. Patient Treatment
The success of medical support organizations in treating CBRN casualties

depends on prior planning and adaptability. Each element of the patient
movement and treatment process requires careful evaluation to assure it best
conserves and restores the command's combat capability. Consideration of
multinational partner and host nation requirements and capabilities that affect
the Allied mission and the ability of medical support units to function
effectively are especially important. Suitable guidance for the CBRN patient
treatment can be found in the AMedP-6 series. 54
8.4.3. CBRN Mass Casualty
1. CBRN materials are capable of producing mass casualties. In the

hours immediately following a CBRN incident, MTFs can be overwhelmed
with casualties that exceed their capacity. The force commander, supported
by the command surgeon, establishes medical support priorities for treatment
of mass casualties. MTF commanders are responsible for planning and
training to cope with this situation in line with joint force plans and priorities.
If a CBRN incident occurs, the surgeon and supporting staff will need to
consider consolidating contaminated personnel to certain hospitals or areas,
augmentation of medical resources, or reallocation of medical resources to
better manage the casualties.
2. Medical units should have a basic CBRN MASCAL plan that can be
modified to meet varying situations. The MASCAL plan must be clearly
defined and sufficiently detailed for understanding at all levels. It must be
practiced at regular intervals and executable at the appropriate level.
3. As in any MASCAL situation, arriving CBRN casualties should be

examined at a triage point and directed to the proper area. Conventional
54
In the future AMedP-6 Vol I NATO Handbook on the Medical Aspects of NBC Defensive Operations
(Nuclear), AMedP-6 Vol II NATO Handbook on the Medical Aspects of NBC Defensive Operations
(Biological) and AMedP-6 Vol III NATO Handbook on the Medical Aspects of NBC Defensive Operations
(Chemical) will be pooled in a new edition of AMedP-6 (Ed. D V 1).
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treatment priorities may have to be abandoned. This means a radical

departure from the traditional practice of providing early complete definitive
treatment to each patient on the basis of individual need. An additional triage
decision in CBRN MASCAL situations is whether patients have medical
conditions that take priority over decontamination.
8.5. Medical Evacuation
1. MedEvac typically involves the linear movement of patients along the

chain of evacuation. In some circumstances, such as MASCAL or other
scenarios where the ordinary chain of evacuation is disrupted or inadequate,
field expedient or lateral movement of patients between MTFs may be
required. Suitable guidance for the evacuation of casualties can be found in
Chapter 3 and AJMedP-2 Allied Joint Medical Evacuation Doctrine.
2. Operating in a CBRN environment presents severe challenges to the

Medevac system. The number of patients that must be managed may far
exceed conventional planning estimates, and they may present within a
narrow time window. Moreover, the utilization of Medevac assets may be
significantly slowed in a CBRN environment, reducing the overall capacity of
the system. Casualties may be contaminated or contagious, requiring
decontamination or specialized equipment and procedures for contamination
control. Medevac operations may need to be conducted in contaminated
areas, generating requirements for both individual and collective protection
for personnel and decontamination for personnel and vehicles.
8.5.1. Medical Evacuation Policy and Operations in a CBRN

Environment
1. Should the CBRN environment cause a MASCAL situation, lateral or

skip movement of patients may be required to maintain the required level of
care and maximize the efficiency of MTF operations in the operations area.
The anticipated progression of CBRN injuries and illnesses may also dictate
nonlinear movement of patients through the evacuation chain.
2. Medical regulating in a CBRN environment may require changes to

on-going Medevac operations. The presence of contaminated areas in
particular will effect consideration of the movement of patients out of or
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through contaminated areas. In general, the transport of contaminated

patients should be limited to movement that is essential to provide patient
care. Every effort should be made to limit the number of assets and people
that become contaminated. To that end, some portion of Medevac assets
may be dedicated for use within designated contaminated areas, with the
remainder dedicated to transporting patients between MTFs in clean areas.
The decontamination of patients before evacuation will further help limit the
spread of contaminants throughout the MedEvac chain.
3. In the aftermath of a CBRN event, theatre holding policy may need to

be adjusted in response to both the number and type of resulting casualties.
In some cases, large numbers of casualties may have injuries or illnesses of
moderate severity and would be expected to return to duty soon after the
established maximum length of stay. In others, economies of scale in the
provision of treatment may best be achieved if patients requiring highly
specialized care are treated at a common location, either within or outside the
area of operations. Differences in national policies and treatment protocols
for CBRN injuries and illnesses may support the early transport of patients to
Role 4 facilities, regardless of their expected return to duty date. On the
other hand, ROM when imposed may severely impede rapid aeromedical
evacuation and therefore require a reconsideration of theatre holding policies
in place.
4. Host nation and multinational partners may have concerns about

exposing their civilian population to contamination or contagion while CBRN
casualties are in transport within their borders. Transportation of these
casualties will require close coordination and cooperation between Joint
Force Commanders and Host Nation authorities. In some cases, MedEvac
(particularly AE) may only be accomplished if overflight and landing rights are
permitted by the Host Nation.
8.5.2. Medical Evacuation Assets in a CBRN Environment
1. In a CBRN environment, contaminated patients and those infected

with contagious biological agents should not normally be transported by any
means without first being decontaminated or cleared for transport. In rare
cases, movement may be essential to preserve life, limb or eyesight or to
maintain operational capabilities. On these occasions every effort must be
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made to prevent the spread of contamination during movement. When

allocating Medevac assets to evacuation routes within contaminated areas,
consideration should be given to the relative ease of vehicle
decontamination.
2. It is best to ensure a robust ground Medevac capability as a baseline

augmented by aeromedical evacuation when possible. In a MASCAL
situation, ambulance buses may be used to convey large numbers of slightly
or moderately injured casualties. Although often limited by infrastructure and
vulnerability, purpose-built or reconfigured ambulance trains also have a
large patient carrying capability. In cases of known or suspected CBRN
exposures associated with delayed onset of symptoms, these types of
ground evacuation assets may have particular utility.
8.5.3. Aeromedical Evacuation of CBRN Casualties
1. Most patients should be decontaminated prior to entering the AE

system. Procedures implemented during AE should include precautions to
avoid aircraft contamination, as decontamination of an aircraft is often a
challenging task. In the event patients cannot be decontaminated, the
commander will identify the requirement to move contaminated or contagious
patients.
2. A CBRN environment and the resulting number and type casualties

may strain the capacity of dedicated military airlift. In addition to
overwhelming numbers of casualties, the potential requirements for
specialized medical equipment, such as ventilators and positive pressure, or
the need for patient isolation may further reduce the number of casualties
that any given aircraft can transport. In these circumstances, aircraft of
opportunity or multinational and civilian aircraft may need to be integrated
into aeromedical evacuation operations. Certain specialist aeromedical
evacuation capabilities may have particular utility in a CBRN environment.
CCAST are specialized teams with intensive care expertise for AE of critically
ill patients, including those on a ventilator. The Air Transportable Isolator
(ATI) has the ability to transport a highly infectious patient if required.
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8.6. Sustainment of Medical Operations
1. Among the key considerations discussed above in planning for

medical support to CBRN defence operations, the most significant from the
perspective of sustainment of medical operations are that MTFs may have to
operate in contaminated areas and that medical support for conventional
casualties will have to continue alongside that for CBRN casualties.
2. The sustainment of medical operations to provide continuity of care

during and after a CBRN incident will be particularly challenging. Even if a
CBRN attack produces few fatalities, it may likely result in numerous
casualties who require extensive treatment, and a large number of patients
who are well but will report for medical treatment anyway. Medical staffs will
be taxed if not overwhelmed. Additionally, medical personnel may need to
work with individual protective equipment, which will reduce their
effectiveness. Decontamination efforts may reduce the number of staff
available to perform medical functions. As a result, the unit’s throughput will
be considerably reduced. The proper planning and management of medical
supplies, waste, contamination, and facility operations will mitigate these
challenges and facilitate continuity of medical support.
3. CBRN defence SOPs must be prepared during pre-deployment. Once

deployed, the joint force must exercise, train, validate and adjust, if
necessary, these SOPs to meet the conditions encountered in-theatre.
Evaluations must also be made to ensure that general operating procedures
are workable in a CBRN environment.
8.6.1. Non-Article 5 Crisis Response Operations and Civilian Support
1. Terrorist groups may employ CBRN weapons, or natural and

manmade disasters may contaminate areas with toxic materials whose
mitigation will require the efforts of specialized military forces. Medical forces
may require coordination and cooperation with agencies, organizations, and
individuals outside the military chain of command or direct control. In many
situations, the force commander may be in a supporting role to HN
authorities. Regardless of the role, the force must be prepared for CBRN use
and contamination with toxic materials at any point, including the transition
from noncombat to combat environment. The ability of HN medical facilities
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to handle MASCALs from CBRN effects should be assessed and factored

into multinational planning. Close coordination with medical and other public
health providers in the theatre is a vital means of detecting chemical or
biological attacks, since casualties from such an attack may appear initially in
the civilian medical system. Suitable guidance for the planning the civil-
military medical interface can be found in Chapter 7 and in AJMedP-6 Allied
Joint Civil-Military Medical Interface Doctrine.
2. Civilian casualties may be a significant problem in populated areas.

Medical support may be required to assist in treating civilian patients when
the civilian medical resources become overwhelmed and inundated with
patients. Demands for military medical support to neighbouring civilian
populations following a CBRN incident may be substantial, especially in
areas with a concentration of very young, very old, and other individuals
already suffering from underlying disease or other forms of weakening stress.
In consultation with the command surgeon, the commander must establish, at
the beginning of the operation, the scope of care to be rendered to civilian
populations.
3. The presence of CBRN agents could constitute a unique kind of

complex disaster, whether accidental or intentional, that will require
innovative and varied responses. In the case of CBRN events, spreading
agents or contaminants may require immediate action and could quickly
overwhelm even the most prepared nation(s). Consequence Management
encompasses the military capability to be prepared to react and respond to
such an event. Should such an event occur, the Alliance could collectively
provide a host of crucial capabilities to reduce the effects of an attack, to
include the use of existing command, control and communication, logistics,
engineer, medical, de-contamination, explosive ordnance disposal, and
security capabilities. The medical response to a CBRN event may be similar
to disaster relief operations, but modified according to the type of hazard.
Comprehensive and flexible medical plans are essential for a quick response.
To properly fulfil the mission, the deployed NATO medical staff must contain
trained, experienced and qualified personnel supported with reliable
communications.
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INTENTIONALLY BLANK
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Chapter 9 – Military Health Care
This Chapter provides an overview of Military Healthcare. Detailed guidance

on this subject will be contained in the supporting AJMedP-8 Allied Joint
Medical Doctrine for Military Health Care (MHC) that is currently in
development.
9.1. Overview of Allied Joint Military Healthcare
1. Military Healthcare encompasses the continuum of care for military

personnel from enlistment through the full spectrum of military duties in
garrison and in the deployed environment and on through to retirement. This
includes preventive medicine, acute medicine, rehabilitative, dental, and
mental healthcare as well as veterinary support. Military healthcare supports
the full range of military missions from major combat operations through to
HA.
2. The purpose of this chapter is to be the doctrinal document that

bridges MC 326/3 “NATO Principles and Policies of Medical Support” and the
military healthcare doctrine, which is captured in STANAG 2598 AJMedP-8
Allied Joint Military Healthcare Doctrine (STUDY) and its subordinated
STANAGS/AMedPs. It is not designed to replace the guidance contained
within the STANAGS/AMedPs. Therefore, specific details should be
consulted in the original STANAGS/AMedPs as required.
3. The standards will be common to all participating nations. NATO

forces and their operational partners work in close cooperation at the lowest
tactical level. This demands that military healthcare systems are
interoperable according to STANAG 2560 AMedP-27 Medical Evaluation
Manual.
9.2. Medical Training of Military and Healthcare Personnel
1. As NATO works toward the development of allied and combined

medical teams to support operations, there is an increased need to have
standardized training to ensure that a high standard of care is maintained
throughout the healthcare continuum.
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2. Basic Medical Training for All Military Personnel: Basic First Aid
and “Buddy Care” are skills essential to all military personnel. In any
emergency situation it is likely that the first personnel on the scene will not be
medical but will be personnel from the injured person’s unit or bystanders in
the area. A basic ability to give appropriate first aid an injured person in the
field greatly improves the likelihood of survival for that person to allow time
for medical personnel and other professionals to respond. Stopping serious
bleeding, securing the airway and providing the ability for the casualty to
breath are the first steps to successful resuscitation and stabilization.
Combat Life Support (CLS) courses have been developed to train military
personnel in life-saving basic medical skills. Additionally all military personnel
should have some understanding and training in simple hygiene and force
health protection measures to prevent and limit the development and
transmission of infectious disease in a deployed environment. These
standardized training requirements for first aid and emergency care in combat
situations and basic hygiene training for all military personnel are outlined in
STANAG 2122, AMedP-79 Requirement for Training in First-Aid, Emergency
Care in Combat Situations and Basic Force Health Protection for all Military
Personnel.
3. Medical Training for Healthcare Personnel: NATO nations must

meet training standards acceptable to all participating nations. This general
principle is noted in STANAG 2249 AMedP-8.3 Training Requirements for
Healthcare Personnel in Military Operations, which also provides
standardized guidance to accomplish the necessary pre-deployment training.
It outlines the following nine modules of required training: Basic Training for
Healthcare Personnel, Traumatology, General and Tactical Training,
Multinational Relations and Medical Ethics, Environmental Risk, Tropical and
Epidemic Diseases, Stress Management, Disaster Relief, Language, Current
Proficiency in Primary Healthcare Issues, and in addition any mission-specific
modules.
4. The Military Medical Centre of Excellence (MilMed CoE) in Hungary

and the NATO School in Oberammergau support NATO in enhancing the
Alliance’s capability to develop and provide standardized training. For more
information on medical training refer to the following websites:
a. http://www.act.nato.int/e-learning/e-management
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b. http://www.coemed.hu/coemed/ or
c. https://natoschool.org/de/organization/nato-school
5. As NATO becomes more involved in training of host nation military

personnel in the medical arena, STANAG 2585 AMedP-29 (Study) Training of
Host Nation Medical Personnel is being developed in order to set common
standards and guiding principles for this task.
6. Physicians, nurses, medics or any other military medical personnel

who are participating in NATO operations should provide trauma care
following standardized skills. STANAG 2544 AMedP-22 Requirements for
Military Acute Trauma Care Training provides a skill set matrix required for
each category of medical personnel and covers tactical trauma skills and
MedEvac.
9.3. Clinical Guidelines
The purpose of NATO’s clinical guidelines is to give the healthcare provider,

who is supporting multinational operations, guidance on the principles of care
that have been developed by the expert panels, working groups or other
entities within NATO and agreed upon by the ratifying nations. However,
whilst it is appreciated that every nation has its own standards of care, these
guidelines are designed to promote standardization and interoperability.
They are evidence-based and provide a common agreed standard of care
and facilitate the development of healthcare protocols. This also enables and
facilitates the Lessons Learned process. Lessons identified, learned and
implemented are clearly an important aspect of healthcare best practice
which will contribute to optimum standardization and interoperability.
9.3.1. Surgical Care
The critical importance of forward surgical capability near the point of injury
cannot be overstated. Immediate control of serious bleeding and control of
airways and breathing followed by surgical stabilization have become the
mainstay of tactical combat casualty care (TCCC). The appropriate
stabilization prior to patient movement via ground, air or sea is an absolute
imperative to ensure safe evacuation between MTFs. Combat casualty care
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is constantly evolving due to advances in military medicine and therefore this

guidance must remain flexible and focus on principles of treatment. The
United States “Emergency War Surgery Handbook” 55 provides a guide that
might be used by all NATO and Partnership for Peace forces.
9.3.2. Care of Women in Joint/Combined Operations
Participating nations agree to provide appropriate competency, equipment

and treatment for routine female conditions. Whilst capability must exist to
deal with unexpected pregnancy and related complications, it is envisaged
that member nations will not knowingly deploy pregnant female personnel.
However it is possible that local national female patients may be pregnant
and therefore plans must be made to deal with the situation either directly or
through onward referral to an obstetric healthcare provider. STANAG 2179
AMedP-8.9 Minimum Requirements for Medical Care of Women in
Joint/Combined Operations in Joint/Combined Operations defines the
essential requirements for providing female-specific medical care in
joint/combined operations.
Reasonable efforts should always be made to incorporate sensitivity and

respect to local cultural, religious practices and preferences when dealing
with gynaecological and obstetric matters.
9.3.3. Dental Care and Dental Forensic Examination
1. Dental care during allied operations is provided at deployed MTFs to a

varying degree based on the operational requirements if the particular
mission. In order to standardize interoperability and interchangeability,
STANAG 2453 AMedP-35 The Extent of Dental And Maxillofacial Treatment
at Role 1-3 Medical Support describes the different dental care modules
required to treat dental and maxillofacial conditions at Role 1-3 facilities.
2. The forensic examination and identification of human casualties

continues to be a task for the allied medical services deployed on missions,
with forensic dental identification playing a major role in ensuring the required
quality and desired outcome. STANAG 2464 AMedP-3.1 Military Forensic
Dental Identification provides guidance on the organizational structure for
55
Previously covered by the now cancelled STANAG 2068 Emergency War Surgery.
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military dental field identification teams and the standardized equipment for
the handling, examination, interpretation and presentation of dental evidence.
It also reiterates the current internationally recognized protocols and
procedures for identifying individuals from their oral remains, particularly in
disaster/ mass casualty scenarios.
9.3.4. Deployed Laboratory Capabilities
Laboratory capabilities are a crucial and integral part of the delivery of

medical support in all medical treatment facilities. While this is also true for
deployed MTFs, the extend and capabilities of these deployed laboratory
units differ significantly between the several levels of care, depending on the
specific mission profile and operational requirements. However, in principle
every higher role includes all the lower role’s capabilities. The minimal
needed capabilities at Roles 1 to 3 are describe in STANAG 2571 AMedP-8.5
Minimum test requirements for Laboratory Units of In-Theatre Military Medical
Treatment Facilities.
9.3.5. Mental Healthcare
1. Psychological health and mental health support to military operations

continue to receive increasing focus. The stresses of prolonged increase the
risk for mental health problems and suicides. Mental healthcare
requirements range across the deployment cycle from mental health
screening prior to deployment, prevention, management and treatment of
patients during combat operations and subsequently into the post-
deployment period. The aim of mental healthcare is to improve the overall
health of the force and ensure that personnel returning from combat
deployments have the services they require to deal with issues such as post-
traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. Several STANAGS have
been developed to address mental health issues that arise as a result of
participation in NATO operations.
2. Role of the Commander. The importance of commanders and

leaders in understanding and managing the psychological well-being of their
personnel has become increasingly recognized. In addition to achieving
operational objectives, Commanders must be able to recognize and deal with
a range of mental health problems affecting unit readiness. While most
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military personnel do well on deployment, it is the Commander’s

responsibility to manage psychological support when operational stressors
are present. Commanders may have to manage operational stressors
coming from many sources and in a full range, from interpersonal conflicts to
the witnessed deaths of unit members. Mental health is available to consult
with commanders as needed to support a unit’s operational readiness.
Commanders must also deal with less dramatic issues such as interpersonal
conflict within their unit. The skills, responsibility and authority of military
leaders put them in a unique position to make a significant difference to how
their unit members cope with operational stress.
STANAG 2565 AMedP-65 A Psychological Guide for Leaders across the

Deployment Cycle is designed to provide leaders with tools to help them
manage the array of psychologically demanding experiences that can occur
before, during, and after an operation and which have the potential to
degrade individual and unit performance. This guide and its annexes include
discussions of the following topics:
a. Military Leaders’ Role in Psychological Readiness,
b. What Unit Members and Leaders expect,
c. Individual Psychological Fitness, Morale and Unit Effectiveness,
d. Military Family Readiness, and
e. Working with Mental Health Professionals.
3. Mental Health Conditions and Topics Important to Military

Operations. There are several other mental health topics of interest to
military medicine. Suicide prevention is an important topic for all
Commanders, thus STANAG 2566 AMedP-66 Suicide Prevention (STUDY)
covers this topic. The association of mental health problems with traumatic
events inherent in combat operations have brought to the fore the need for
early identification of individuals with potential for acute stress immediately
after exposure that is covered in STANAG 2568 AMedP-68 Acute Stress
Disorder (STUDY) as well as the more chronic post-traumatic stress
disorders and the role of preventive measures immediately after exposure.
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STANAG 2569 AMedP-69 Psychological Management of Potentially

Traumatizing Events (STUDY) provides guidance on how to prevent these
disorders. STANAG 2564 AMedP-64 Forward Mental Health Care
emphasizes the need for early, forward-based intervention. Many
psychological conditions present as more common medical conditions.
STANAG 2548 AMedP-63 Prevention of Post-Deployment Somatoform
Complaints deals with recognition and management of psychological factors
in the development of these conditions.
4. Much work has been accomplished over the last several years on the
role that relatively mild head injuries, including blast injury, play in affecting
the physiology of the brain and human behaviour and how to recognize
these, often subtle, effects.
5. In view of the fact that some mental conditions may be common within
the military population and have the potential to impact operations, it is
important to define any resulting occupational or operational limitations.
STANAG 2573 AMedP-72 Operational Restrictions of Personnel with
Psychiatric Disorder (STUDY) provides guidance on this issue.
9.3.6. Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
There are some specific medical conditions that require a timely and
standardized approach in order to mitigate the risk of development and
progression of disease. Rapid post-exposure prophylactic treatment of some
conditions is key to their prevention and can significantly impact their
progression. Two of these conditions, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
and Rabies, require a specific approach to treatment and prevention.
a. STANAG 2554 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Post

Exposure Prophylaxis describes this risk assessment process and
the approved treatment protocol for those with suspected HIV
exposure.
b. STANAG 2559 Post-Exposure Prophylaxis in Rabies describes

the specific protocols for pre- and post-exposure prophylactic
management of individuals at risk for, or exposed to, the Rabies
virus.
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9.3.7. Veterinary Care
During military deployments, animal welfare will always apply to military

working animals. However, the following animals could also require the
attention of deployed veterinary personnel: stray dogs and cats, farm animals
(particularly during HA or DR operations and / or in support of CIMIC
activities), wild animals (especially animal species protected by international
laws and regulations). STANAG 2538 AMedP-8.4 Animal Care and Welfare
and Veterinary Support during all Phases of Military Deployments provides
guidance on veterinary issues concerning the provision of care to military
working animals, and the protection of animal health during the military
deployments. The AMedP covers all aspects of deployment of military
working animals, including pre-deployment screening, vaccination,
transportation, housing, preventive and routine veterinary care in the
deployed environment and prophylactic procedures for return from
deployment. The AMedP outlines the equipment requirements for the
deployed veterinary team as well as the management of stray animals and
humanitarian support for agricultural animals.
9.4. Medical Equipment and Supplies
1. Generally, it is the responsibility of each nation providing support of

medical material or pharmaceuticals to other nations to ensure that all
required conditions for storage and transportation have been pursued until
the point of transfer. However, in order to facilitate the interoperability
amongst NATO Medical Services STANAG 2128 AMedP-54 Medical and
Dental Supply Procedures summarizes key aspects of medical and dental
supply:
a. Property exchange or replacement of medical and dental non-

expendable items (e.g. ventilators, stretchers) at all levels within a
theatre of operation that are required to accompany patients
during evacuation from the battlefield to the next appropriate
medical or dental facility. This materiel must clearly be marked
with the nation of origin in plain text or the national flag.
b. The required information on medical and dental supplies and

pharmaceuticals, including instructions concerning specific
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conditions for storage or transportation (humidity or temperature).

The date of production and expiry should always be visible.
c. The methods of identification of the contents of syringes, syrettes,

containers and self-injection devices. For self-injection devices, it
is imperative that all medical staff, Commanders and users
understand the meaning of the colour codes that are utilized.
2. NATO has developed an Individual First-Aid Kit that is recommended

to be carried by all military personnel. This kit is described in STANAG 2126
First-Aid Dressings, First Aid Kits, and Emergency Medical Care Kits.
This STANAG does not deal with special medical supplies necessary for the
treatment of ΝΒC casualties. It recommends that a vehicle first-aid kit is
carried in all military vehicles, as well as special purpose kits should be
developed by each nation in accordance with national requirements.
3. STANAG 1208 AMedP-31 Minimum Requirements of Emergency

Medical Supplies on Board Ship standardizes the minimum emergency
medical supplies on board NATO naval ships operating in medically isolated
areas. Whilst it is accepted that nations have their own choice of drugs for
treatment in emergency medical cases, due to potential mutual assistance
situations it is important that medical personnel are informed about the
medical supplies issued to ships of other member nations.
9.5. Administrative Aspects of Military Healthcare
1. Clear communication and documentation of pre-existent medical

conditions, medical care received in the field and at subsequent levels of care
are key to ensuring that proper care is administered. In combat settings, it is
crucial that healthcare providers at subsequent levels clearly understand the
care that has been previously administered. Documentation also ensures
standardization of terminology and conditions that allows tracking and
trending of disease and injury data to identify potential epidemics and areas
for improvement of care. Several STANAGS provide standardized ways to
communicate, including a medical phrase book, means to classify diseases
and injuries and communication of care that has been administered.
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2. Included in this section is a brief description of the medical recording

and documentation of ionizing radiation exposure. Treatment and evaluation
of exposure to ionizing radiation is also addressed in AJMedP-7 Allied Joint
Medical Doctrine for support to CBRN Defence Operations.
3. Classification of Diseases, Injuries and Causes of Death. As in all

aspects of NATO operations, interoperability plays a key role in medical
support and requires that all organizations and personnel use common terms
when describing diseases, injuries, and causes of death. A common practice
in the medical community is to use an alphanumeric coding of diseases and
injuries to facilitate identification, billing for services, comparison of disease
states and tracking of care. Common coding is also essential to the success
of the new NATO Trauma Registry. STANAG 2050 AMEDP-51 Classification
of Diseases, Injuries and Causes of Death is the NATO standard for
classification of diseases.
4. Medical Warning Tags. First responders and others who provide

initial medical treatment and stabilization must often triage and treat
individuals who are unconscious or otherwise incapacitated and unable to
communicate critical information. This information includes previous medical
history, medications and allergies. Ensuring that this medical information is
readily available is critical when treating casualties during NATO operations.
STANAG 2347 AMedP-34 Medical Warning Tag provides a standard means
by which members of NATO forces ensure that this information is
communicated. Members of NATO Forces who are affected by a significant
medical condition, but which is not readily apparent when the individual is
unable to communicate, shall wear the Medical Warning Tag. Obligatory
information on a medical Tag includes: wearer’s name and family name,
personal service number, nationality and a significant condition(s) affecting
the wearer. A list of such conditions is proposed but is not mandatory. The
shape, size and colour of the medical warning tag are left to national
discretion.
5. Documentation Relative to Initial Medical Treatment &

Evacuation. NATO's primary interest in medical care is that whether it is
provided by one nation, several nations or multinational medical units, this
care shall be able to meet standards acceptable to all participating nations.
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Even in crisis or conflict, the aim is to provide a standard of medical care as

close as possible to prevailing peacetime medical standards.
6. The quality of medical records (or medical information) that is

collected and transmitted has a significant impact on the quality of care that
can be given, especially in a multinational setting. It is critical that, as
patients move through the evacuation and treatment chain, the medical
records of the care already received are then available to their new treatment
teams at each succeeding medical treatment facility. NATO multinational
medical care must be "continuous, relevant, and progressive" and this is not
possible unless adequate medical records of each patient are produced,
maintained, and transferred, particularly at Role 2 and above. Guidance for
development of Medical Information Communication Systems to allow future
easy transmission of this data will be found in AJMedP-5 Allied Joint Medical
CIS Doctrine.
7. A hard copy Field Medical Card in a water resistant material that can
be drawn or written upon with a water resistant pencil is still necessary for
initial treatment and evacuation up to and including Role 1. A minimum core
data set found on the Field Medical Card consists of identity, nature of injuries
or illness, diagnosis, treatment and movement as outlined in the NATO
Trauma Registry Minimum Data Set. Nations may include other information
in their Field Medical Cards but they should not exclude any of the
information agreed upon by NATO. National Field Medical Cards are
required to carry English and French text as a supplement to national
language instructions.
8. At the Role 1 level, STANAG 2132 AMedP-8.1 Documentation Related

to Initial Medical Treatment and Evacuation has developed standards for
basic documentation regarding the treatment and evacuation of patients, as
well as the cause(s) of death. This document provides basic information to
be collected at the point of wounding or at Role 1 (the Field Medical Card),
information to support further evacuation for care (The Patient Evacuation
Tag), and Cause of Death (Medical Report of Cause of Death) which should
be used by all nations. National variation in these forms is permitted so long
as the required information can be transmitted.
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9. At the Role 2 and 3 levels, STANAG 2061 Procedures for Disposition

of Allied Patients by Medical Installations) lays out the basic policies that "All
clinical documents, to include X-rays, relating to the patient will accompany
him on transfer to his own national organization." To the extent possible,
such clinical documents must provide enough information to allow receiving
medical personnel to continue care in full knowledge of previously given care,
and must be easily interpretable by the receiving medical facilities. STANAG
2348 AMedP-8.2 Basic Military Hospital Records defines what information
must be included in the records to be transferred with the patient. As
electronic systems of medical records have become more common, data
transfer standards have needed to be developed, and new documents
address these issues, including STANAG 2231 AMedP-5.1 Patient Data
Exchange Format for Common Core Information and STANAG 2543 AMedP-
77 Standards for Data Interchange between Health Information Systems.
10. “The NATO Medical Services Phrase Book. STANAG 2131 AMedP-
5 The NATO Medical Services Phrase Book consists of fourteen sections
corresponding to the fourteen NATO Languages. The phrase book contains
commonly used names of injuries and diseases as well as words and
phrases which are indispensable for mutual understanding between medical
and nursing personnel and patients of different nationalities.
11. STANAG 2474 – AMedP 7.8 Recording of Operational Ionizing

Radiation Exposure for Medical Purposes and management of Dosimeters
ensures that operationally-incurred ionizing radiation doses, estimated or
measured, of all those presenting, whether as outpatients or inpatients at
medical facilities, are obtained and recorded. It ensures that procedures are
in place to document ionizing radiation exposure in appropriate medical
records so that medical management may be optimized. This STANAG
ensures that when personal radiation dosimeters come into custody of
participating nations and/or are recovered on admission to an MTF, these
dosimeters are passed through the medical lines of communication for return
to the relevant nation. It also provides terms and definitions of exposure to
ionizing radiation.
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Chapter 10 – Multinationality and Medical Support

Structures
This Chapter provides an overview of the specifics and challenges that come
with multinational medical support as well as a description of the medical
command and control architecture with a particular focus on its multinational
aspects.
10.1. Aspects of Multinationality
1. Medical assets represent significant national investments in military

capability, both in terms of cost and the training time taken to generate the
personnel that staff them. Medical assets also often require the support of
other specialist capabilities to deploy or sustain them, such as medical
logistics and engineering, even when they are not in active operational use.
They are valuable, finite resources and it makes operational sense to make
best use of them at all times, avoiding duplication of effort or deployment of
redundant capability.
2. On operational deployments maximum effort should be made to tailor

medical support provision to the predicted requirements. Otherwise some
elements of the force may have an abundance of assets whilst others lack all
but the fundamentals. A NATO commander’s medical staff should seek a
balance across the joint operating area, both in terms of medical services and
supplies held by the TCNs. The collective medical effort this produces is
termed multinational medical support.
10.1.1. Multinational Medical Support
1. Multinational medical support is the overarching term for methods of

medical support other than purely national to military operations.
Multinational medical support aims to meet the needs of the joint operating
environment by making the best possible use of all available medical assets
in order to contribute to operational success. Multinational medical support
involves the coordination and in some cases integration of assets from
multiple nations through collaborative planning, deployment and utilization
supported by multinational decision-making regarding force health protection,
medical management and clinical processes.
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2. Multinationality must take into account the diversity that exists within
the Alliance and may require a flexibility of approach in how assets are
grouped and utilized, if best possible use is to be made of them.
Notwithstanding the relative levels of each national contribution, the greater
the number of nations involved the greater the level of multination planning
and coordination needed. Each particular national strategy will have
implications for the provision of medical support and a balance will have to
found that meets both national and NATO requirements.
3. By seeking multinational solutions, nations will be able to more

effectively share the collective operational burden and provide the NATO
commander with greater flexibility in how the force as a whole is utilized.
This in turn will have benefits for the health care provided to the force as a
whole. The greater the level of integration, the greater the collective benefits.
4. To be worthwhile multinational medical support must lead to increased

collective performance. This will be achieved through improved utilization of
assets, avoidance of duplication and increased flexibility. In other words:
a. using less for the same or better results
b. saving more lives through better coordination
c. protecting forces better through information sharing
d. reinforcing morale through the knowledge personnel will receive

the same standard of care irrespective of their location in theatre
and
e. decreasing costs through better use of all available resources.
10.1.2. Barriers to Achieving Multinational Cooperation
1. Multinationality poses a number of key challenges whose resolution is

crucial to military effectiveness and success in combined operations. These
challenges include the formation of an effective command system, an
intelligence system that can draw and share data from multiple national
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sources and a logistic system based on national lines of support that is able
to collectively serve a multinational population in theatre.
2. Differences in force capabilities and operating procedures impose

constraints on the ability of a force to integrate effectively. Among the issues
that may need to be addressed are differences in operating procedures,
technical compatibility of equipment and individual cultural perspectives. For
example:
a. Procedural and tactical differences may present the force with

situations where different units from different services or nations
may not be able to work effectively together.
b. Language barriers create communication difficulties that may lead

to differences in interpretation of the mission or assigned tasks;
and may be intensified by limitations in the range of
communications technologies available. At the tactical level, the
ability to communicate between patient and medical staff is a key
element in medical care.
c. Lack of standardisation and interoperability can cause technical

difficulties.
d. National security procedures restrict the ability to exchange

information, intelligence or technical data.
e. Medical cooperation may be limited due to concerns regarding

other Nations’ capabilities or standards of care.
f. Professional relationships vary between nations. For example

nurses in some nations have greater independence, autonomy
and status than in others.
g. National laws may prevent some health professionals working in

another nation’s medical facilities.
h. Differences between the medical command structures of

participating nations.
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i. Legal barriers to drug, medical materiel and blood use.
3. Careful delineation of responsibilities prior to and during deployment

can help overcome or avoid altogether differences between nations or
between nations and the NATO command structure. Guidelines, both generic
and specific to the operation must be established to clarify responsibilities
and the how they relate to the planning and conduct of operations. Such
responsibilities will be determined according to the specific circumstances of
each operation and agreed by the TCNs and commands involved.
10.2. Multinational Medical Support Options
1. Medical support provision can range from purely national in nature to

fully integrated multinational medical units (MMUs). A deployed NATO force
is likely to be supported by a variety of the individual options available.
2. The various ways in which nations can be involved in provision of

medical support to a multinational force allows each nation to adopt an
approach best suited to its individual circumstances and national policy. For
integration to be successful nations must have confidence that the
arrangements are both flexible and reversible so that they can be adapted as
circumstances change. Nations may choose to withdraw from an integrated
arrangement, but should provide sufficient notice of this decision to avoid
unbalancing the overall provision of medical support to the force.
3. A number of options are available to nations when determining their

level of interaction with the medical assets of other nations on operations:
a. Coexistence. Medical capabilities to exist concurrently at the

same time in the same place in theatre. In this case, the level of
multinationality is low, but a minimum of common dialog and basic
organization are required for the benefit of patient care. The
NATO MEDDIR will enable achieving this minimum requirement.
b. Cooperation. Specific arrangements have been set between

nations and/or civilian and military sectors to make best use of
common medical functions. Equitable cooperative arrangement
and mutual assistance to make use of medical support
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capabilities allow burden sharing. The NATO MEDDIR will

guarantee relevance of these arrangements in line with NATO
strategy in the field.
c. Coordination. Linkage between various national medical support

capabilities in order to establish a medical task force.
Coordination requires strong organization, common
understanding, and a sufficient level of interoperability.
Appropriate medical C2 capabilities are indispensable for
coordination of medical support. If feasible, coordination should
be established with civilian medical facilities as well, without any
operational control (OPCON).
d. Integration. Combination of various national medical support

capabilities in order to institute a harmonized medical task force
under NATO control. Possible combinations range from small
elements integrated into a lead nation facility up to an entire
aggregation of various national elements. The NATO operational
commander retains OPCON of the integrated facilities and
ultimately can have operational command (OPCOM). On his
behalf the MEDDIR will execute the functional command and
coordinating authority. Where one nation’s medical facility is
augmented by integral elements from another nation, ideally,
training as a complete unit prior to deployment should be
undertaken.
4. From the beginning of the planning process NATO commanders and

their medical staff have a key role in tailoring the medical support to meet
mission requirements. They also have a key role in coordinating medical
functions and activities during the various phases of operations, and in some
cases redistributing or integrating medical assets to meet collective need.
This will require appropriate situational awareness and operational visibility of
all medical assets deployed in theatre.
10.2.1. Role of Nations
1. Degree of participation. Nations can be involved in the medical

multinational approach to different degrees, allowing each nation to define its
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stance in line with national policy. The underlying principle at all times is
reversibility. Nations can decide for any reason to change their degree of
participation or to stop it. The only exception being for forces already
deployed, where a change should not be applied without an advance
notification. The different degrees of participation can be characterized as:
2. Independent Nation. Despite the advantages of utilizing multinational

medical support options, nations may, for a variety of reasons, choose to
medically support their forces with a purely national effort. In this way a
nation assumes the total mission of providing medical assets and evacuation
means to their units. In this case the basic link is dialog. The level of
interaction will increase with nations deciding to develop cooperation.
3. National medical support will flow from national sources, usually based
in the respective nation, and to their most forward deployed national units in
the AOR. Each nation maintains absolute control over its own capabilities.
Role 1 capabilities are generally provided under this option. In the maritime
environment generally Role 2 MTFs afloat are similarly provided.
4. However, even if a TCN relies solely on national medical resources,

the NATO commander will retain a certain responsibility and authority,
described in later in this Chapter.
5. Customer. A nation participating can become a customer if it

participates in an operation and lacks the required medical support
capabilities as a whole or in parts. By compensating the respective LN
and/or capability specialist nation, this allows to ensure the required medical
support.
6. Module Provider. The modular approach will offer many possibilities

to provide modules within required medical support capabilities. Nations may
offer their available modules during force generation without becoming
capability specialist. This choice is particularly flexible.
7. Capability Specialist/Role Specialist Nation (RSN). One nation

assumes the responsibility for providing or procuring a particular class of
supply or service for all or part of the multinational force.
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8. In a particular operation common supplies and services may most

efficiently be provided to all or a portion of the force from a single designated
nation that has unique and qualified capabilities. A single nation may provide
specified support to the entire or a portion of, the force with customer nations
compensating the RSN for the support provided. Examples of candidates for
role specialisation include certain medical services such as strategic AE or
speciality care.
9. In all cases where a RSN is designated, the support is coordinated

and centrally managed by the NATO commander who determines how to
best support the operational concept. Before designating an RSN, legal
advice should be sought regarding the implications of applicable
international, CN and HN law and the appropriate instruments to give effect to
the designation.
10. Lead Nation (LN). A LN for medical support assumes overall

responsibility for coordinating and/or providing an agreed spectrum of
medical support capabilities for all or a part of a multinational force within a
defined geographical area.
11. Administrative, legal and financial issues between TCNs and the LN,
for example in the form of a memorandum of understanding (MOU), will be a
part of this arrangement. In a NATO operation more than one LN could be
designated to provide a specified range of support.
12. A LN mission is similar to a RSN mission with the main difference

being that the LN mission is wider in scope and geographically orientated.
Medical support to a HQ and AE covering a specific sector in the area of
operation can be included under this option.
13. Successful medical support to an operation by means of customer,

module provider, RSN, and LN will only be achievable through the
coordination and integration level of the interaction spectrum.
10.2.2. Mutual Support Agreements
1. TCNs retain the option to develop mutual support arrangements, bi- or

multi-laterally to provide medical support to their forces. This is especially
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useful when TCNs have low numbers of forces collocated with the forces of
another nation or during specific operations or phases of an operation (for
example during a relief in place or if one formation is passing through
another).
2. Most mutual support agreements will be created at the national level

and involve the strategic NATO authority to ensure the national arrangements
fit into the overall NATO concept of support.
10.2.3. Multinational Medical Units
1. To take advantage of economies of scale, medical support capabilities

may be provided by medical units composed of more than one nation as a
multinational medical unit. This is an attractive support option when a single
nation is capable of providing the nucleus and the command structure of a
MTF, which is supplemented or augmented with capabilities, assets, and
services by other nations. Common funding, cost sharing, reimbursement or
provision of services free of charge should be agreed to as a part of MMU
participation.
2. The flexibility offered by MMUs might be particularly attractive when a

single nation is capable of providing the nucleus of the unit and/or the
command structure around which the rest of the unit can be formed through
augmentation or provision of complementary units from other nations. The
MMU will require a designated commander who in turn will need clearly
defined authority over the subunits that comprise it realistically this should be
OPCON.
3. MMUs can offer a way for some countries to contribute to an overall

operational effort within limited resources. MMUs can also be used as a
force generation tool, which may be important in missions with a prolonged
duration, which some nations may not otherwise be able to support beyond
the first roulement.
4. In general the planning and provision of services will not differ

substantially from those that the MMU components have been trained to
provide within their own national forces. However, C2 within a MMU will be
more challenging and its organization and preparation will need to reflect that.
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5. Funding the operation of a MMU will be the responsibility of the

contributing nations in accordance with established NATO procedures,
usually shared costs, but the specific arrangements will be negotiated
between the nations concerned. Common funding to support MMU activity is
an option but can only be undertaken with the agreement of ACO.
6. Support arrangements for the MMU must be mutually agreed upon

and specific to the operation or exercise on which the MMU is deployed.
Documents must conform to recognized NATO procedures and practices and
generally should not contradict the domestic law of the nations involved. As
there are also likely to be international legal considerations, formal legal
advice is critical during all phases of medical support negotiations. Status of
Forces agreements (SOFAs) may also apply if the presence of forces in a
foreign territory is undertaken with the consent of the nation involved.
7. The duration of operation of a MMU should be agreed upon in the

force generation process, preferably formalized in a MOU between the
nations concerned and ACO.
8. The level and quality of care provided by a MMU must be of a level

acceptable to the nations contributing assets to the MMU and in accordance
with all applicable STANAGs. The specific requirements should be
established in the medical annex to the OPLAN or subject to separate
technical agreements between the nations involved.
10.2.4. Host Nation Support
1. Medical support by or to the Host Nation may be provided in

accordance with arrangements or agreements between NATO, its TCNs and
the government of the HN that accepts NATO forces operating in or transiting
through its territory in order to facilitate the accomplishment of the military
mission. The HN will be involved in writing the HNS plans, will control their
implementation, and monitor the support provided, whilst complying with local
laws, regulations and cultural considerations.
2. The quality and quantity of medical resources available in the JOA is

important in determining the size and capability of the medical organization
the force must establish. The more HNS that is available for force use, the
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less has to be provided by TCNs. Resources which might be obtained

through HNS can include:
a. Patient evacuation assets (air, land and maritime) for both, intra-
theatre and inter-theatre medical evacuation.
b. Treatment capability within the whole continuum of care, but

particularly hospital response capability (Role 3 MTF).
c. Medical logistics support, including the provision of drugs,

consumables, disposables, and medical gases.
d. Essential non-medical support, including buildings, water, power,

disposal of waste, laundry, labour, etc.
3. The appropriate NATO commander must be involved in the

development of HNS options and is responsible for HNS planning and
development of appropriate legal instruments. TCNs will retain the sovereign
right to negotiate and conclude bi-lateral HNS instruments. However, it may
be desirable to attempt to limit, as far as possible, the number of instruments
used to a single one capable of supporting a broad range of potential
operations. The NATO commander should be invited to participate in bi-
lateral HNS negotiations, where cooperation between TCNs and the HN can
be promoted. According to circumstances, NATO commanders may be
required to negotiate and conclude HNS instruments for NATO multinational
HQs, designated NATO multinational units and selected NATO theatre-level
support organizations.
4. The support provided by the HN provides a crucial supplement to that

provided by NATO and its nations. From the medical standpoint,
consideration should be given to resource availability, compatibility of
equipment, interoperability of medical support structures (both military and
civilian), acceptability of procedures and quality and the standards of medical
care available.
5. NATO forces may be deployed in areas where local medical structures

do not meet the standards enjoyed by NATO nations. Such areas may not be
subject to the same regulations regarding the environmental consequences
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of medical waste disposal, or may utilise medications and clinical supplies

from sources not approved by NATO nations and which may not meet
accepted standards for manufacture, storage or transportation. A further
complication may be that local medical resources have been damaged by
conflict or may be overwhelmed providing care for the local populace and/or
displaced persons.
6. Overall HNS capability will be assessed by a combination of Medical

Intelligence analysis and reconnaissance, and the political decision by the
HN to make resources available to the incoming force. A key issue will be the
standards of medical care available when compared to NATO force and
national contingent criteria. It is vital that the NATO commander’s medical
staffs are directly involved in the assessment of medical HNS capabilities as
well as any attempt to develop HNS agreements for medical support.
Medical HNS has many potential advantages if the medical care is of an
acceptable quality and reliability. This latter point is particularly important for
handling MASCAL, incident response, and other medical treatment surge
needs which may occur on an infrequent and unplanned basis. Medical HNS
could make a crucial difference during deployment and RSOI, when
deploying NATO medical facilities may not yet be fully operational and
provided casualties from hostile action will be relatively unlikely. However,
there will be many issues to resolve and medical staff, including personnel
experienced in medical logistics, should be intimately involved in this
process.
10.3. Authority and Responsibility
10.3.1. The Medical Responsibility of the Commander
1. As outlined in Chapter 1, provision of medical support within NATO is,

in principle, a national responsibility. Nevertheless, NATO commanders
share, together with TCNs, responsibility for the provision of appropriate
medical support to the multinational forces they command. Implicit in this, is
the responsibility of NATO commanders to ensure that the medical support
provided is in accordance with the medical principles, policies and directives
established and agreed by the Alliance as directed in MC 326/3 NATO
Principles and Policies of Medical Support.
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2. To be able to achieve this in practice, the NATO commander requires

the support of a dedicated medical staff sufficient in number, training and
experience. The NATO commander will, with the advice from this staff and
the TCNs’ medical representatives:
a. Establish the NATO medical support requirements.
b. Coordinate medical planning and support within the JOA.
3. The medical support requirement will determine the resources needed

to collect, evacuate, treat and hospitalize casualties occurring at agreed daily
rates for the deployed force. It will also include the resources needed to
provide preventive medicine services and force health protection support,
including readiness assessment of medical capabilities.
4. Medical planning should consider options for the provision of medical

support, including both national and elements as outlined above. Nations will
retain overall command of their own resources until such time as they are
released to the NATO commander. Each case will be different and the
specific rules regarding control authorities, responsibilities and funding need
to be established at an early stage during the planning process and well
before TOA.
10.3.2. The Authority and Responsibility of the Force Commander
1. For military command to be effective, responsibility must be aligned

with authority. Thus, a NATO commander assigned responsibility for a
specific operation must also be given the authority to determine the medical
support capability needed accomplish the mission.
2. This responsibility continues throughout the execution of the mission

itself, as on all operation the NATO commander will have a vested interest in
the overall health of the force as this will have a direct impact on its
operational effectiveness.
3. During NATO operations, units and formations should deploy and re-
deploy with a coherent medical structure tailored to their anticipated
employment. Under normal circumstances, nations will expect to have first
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call on their national medical assets. However, during peak periods when
patient numbers are above normal levels the force commander will need to
take appropriate action to utilize the full medical capacity and capability of the
force. This may include redistribution of assets within the force. The
authority to take such action is defined in MC 319/2 NATO Principles and
Policies for Logistics. If used, such authority should be exercised only
temporarily and in extraordinary situations.
10.3.3. Coordinating Authority
1. The NATO commander will typically be granted coordinating authority

over the medical assets deployed to support the assigned mission. In
coordinating the medical disposition of assets and activity involving two or
more countries, commands or services, the NATO commander can require
consultations to be conducted between the parties but will not normally have
the authority to compel agreement. In the event the commander is unable to
reach a consensus, the matter will have to be referred to higher authority.
This coordinating authority is exercised both during force generation and
execution of a given operation.
2. In exercising medical coordinating authority the NATO commander

may:
a. Evaluate medical intelligence/information about possible

deployment areas and incorporate this data into contingency
plans.
b. Determine the minimum standards of individual first aid, health

and hygiene to be achieved within the theatre.
c. Require reports on existing bi- and multilateral medical HNS

agreements that have been established, establish new medical
HNS requirements, as well as initiate, participate, coordinate, and
conduct negotiations for them.
d. Establish epidemiological health surveillance of the force

deployed.
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e. Direct appropriate education and training, and propose

immunisation policy and programmes for disease prevention and
control within the force.
f. Direct environmental monitoring/occupational hygiene measures.
g. Establish a specific medical C2 system to ensure continuous in

transit care during patient evacuation.
h. Make arrangements to ensure safe shelter, food, water and

sanitation within the joint operations area.
i. Determine the theatre holding policy.
j. Propose the use of CBRN medical counter-measures including

the administration of prophylactics.
10.3.4. Evaluation and Assessment Authority
1. The NATO commander will have oversight of all medical issues likely to
have an effect on the mission. Therefore, once deployed into theatre and for
the duration of operation, all assigned medical units must provide status
reports in a timely manner to the chain of command. This requires a
reporting mechanism that is both sufficiently detailed and yet easily
interpreted within a multinational force.
2. Such reports will follow agreed NATO standards but may require
augmentation with additional reports or procedures in order to meet the
needs of each mission. This may include:
a. Assessments of the status of the medical support structure and its

ability to provide for the health needs of the force.
b. Evaluation and promotion of opportunities for medical

coordination and cooperation between assets or TCNs.
c. Identification of key lessons relevant to TCNs and NATO, using

the lessons process of the NATO Joint Analysis and Lessons
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Learnt Centre (JALLC). Including the promotion of innovation and

recognised best practice across the force.
d. Identification of deficiencies, issues requiring command

awareness or action.
e. Establishing agreed standards for quality assurance across the

force, especially if multinational medical units are being used.
f. Ensured clinical governance, providing a framework in which

medical support capabilities, and individual medical staff, are
accountable for continuously improving the quality of their
services and safeguarding high standards of care by creating an
environment in which excellence in clinical care will flourish.
3. A NATO commander may choose to evaluate and certify MTFs located

within the joint operations area. Depending upon the nature of the mission
these evaluations could extend not only to NATO MTFs, but also to those
from non-NATO TCNs or HN assets. NATO’s standardized approach to this
process is detailed in STANAG 2560 - AMedP-27 Medical Evaluation Manual
(MEM).
4. This evaluation may include both core medical capabilities applicable

to all NATO operations as well as capabilities tailored to meet the needs of
specific operations, deployments, and exercises involving combined joint
forces. The evaluation may also serve as an important component of the on-
going force protection assessment programme covering such aspects as
physical security, safety, and health undertaken as a collaborative effort
involving the appropriate staff branches of the commander’s HQ.
10.3.5. Medical Responsibilities of the NATO Strategic Commands
The medical responsibilities of the NATO Strategic Commands (SCs), ACO

and ACT, are as follows:
a. Defence Planning. Guidance at the SC level is a Bi-SC

responsibility. Within this, ACT has the lead for military medical
aspects of the defence planning process, with medical support
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forming an independent planning domain. In turn, ACO leads on

military aspects of civil emergency planning as well as nuclear
planning.
b. Command and Control of Forces. C2 of forces, including

operational planning, is the responsibility of ACO. For force
generation, ACO in consultation with the Nations allocates
resources, including funding, to support the NATO commander’s
operational plan. ACO may assist in the coordination of medical
support provision to TCNs for specific national requirements,
especially if these are identified before or during the execution of
the operation.
c. Joint and Combined Medical Concepts and Doctrine. ACT is

responsible for NATO joint and combined medical concepts and
doctrine as well as assisting development of military medical
concepts by Partner nations. ACT leads the NATO medical
lessons process, supported by the technical expertise of JALLC.
Lessons identified in this way will inform medical concepts,
doctrine and capability development. Based upon these, ACO will
develop strategic medical directives and procedures for
operations, including Partner -related operations.
d. Medical Intelligence Support. ACO provides medical

intelligence support for operational planning and operations, while
ACT concentrates on long-term analysis of trends and
development of medical intelligence concepts and capabilities.
e. Medical Communications and Information Systems. ACT

guides NATO’s medical CIS strategy, concepts, capabilities and
architecture whilst ACO focuses on operational planning and is
responsible for identifying shortfalls in medical CIS capability.
10.3.6. Medical Responsibilities of Joint Commands and Combined

Joint Task Forces
1. Joint commanders have the operational level command. At this level,

based on strategic military guidance, military campaigns are planned,
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conducted, sequenced, directed and sustained in order to attain the identified

NATO end-state. During an operation the designated operational level
commander exercises their responsibility through a Joint Command (JC) HQ
that, depending on the characteristics of the operation (type, size, duration,
joint/combined character, location of the JOA will be either static or deployed
as a Joint Task Force (JTF) HQ.
2. A JTF HQ is deployable and its minimum framework staff (JTF HQ

nucleus) is contained in each JFC or JC HQ (parent HQ). The JTF HQ
nucleus can then expand in accordance with operational requirements,
through the provision of augmentation modules (containing additional staff
elements from other NATO HQs and/or nations) and support modules
(specialised support organizations, such as a HQ medical support unit).
3. Commanders at the operation level (in JFCs, JCs and JTFs) assume
the following responsibilities:
a. Contingency Medical Planning. Contingent operational level

medical planning will be conducted concurrently alongside the
development of medical strategic plans by ACO. There will be a
constant dialogue between the two levels of command to ensure
medical planning efforts are complementary.
b. Identification of Medical Support Requirements. The conduct

of mission analysis and the identification of medical support
requirements are essential. These requirements may include the
provision of medical support capabilities, medical intelligence,
medical communications, medical HNS or provision of local
resources and creation of SOFAs.
c. Medical Command and Control. Based on the medical planning

process and associated planning conferences, the operational
level of command details the medical C2 organization and, on
TOA, coordinates all aspects of medical support to a specific
operation.
d. Assessment of Medical Support Capabilities. The operational

level commander is responsible for the evaluation of medical
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support capabilities and certification of non-NATO TCNs’ medical

assets prior to deployment as well as the assessment of all
nations’ medical support capabilities during deployment.
e. Health Surveillance. Evaluation of the health status of the force

during deployment is a key responsibility of the operational
commander. The SCs will contribute through development of
mission specific assessment criteria and, in conjunction with the
nations, will execute epidemiological surveillance programmes
and other evaluation programmes of the health status of deployed
troops.
10.3.7. Medical Responsibilities of Component Commands
1. Component commands (CCs)56 will develop specific component

orientated medical planning for contingency operations as directed by the
Joint Commander.
2. Certain staffs of the CCs may provide medical augmentation to a

medical coordination cell, which is included in each joint HQ. Medical staff of
CCs may take part in operations as directed.
10.3.8. The Commander’s Medical Staff
1. To ensure the provision of appropriate medical planning and support to

the forces under command, the NATO commander must be provided with a
medical staff.
2. Development and implementation of a robust FHP policy requires that

the MEDAD is granted direct access to the commander and key staff
elements at all levels of command. If there are medical staffs at HQ level
embedded in other J staff cells, they are to follow technical directions given
by the MEDAD. The MEDAD’s staff must be capable of overseeing all
required medical functions and be successfully integrated into the HQ staff
structure.
56
This is applicable to a Joint Logistic Support Group (JLSG) as well, if such an entity is deployed in a
mission (see STANAG 2230 AJP-4.6 ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE FOR THE JOINT LOGISTIC SUPPORT
GROUP).
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3. During operations, the MEDDIR will be responsible for the

implementation of medical policy, plans, and coordination of medical support
within the commander’s area of responsibility (AOR). The relations between
the different medical staffs in theatre will be aligned to the authority and
responsibility delineated in the C2 architecture by relevant OPLANs, support
plans, and SOPs.
10.3.9. Responsibilities of Contributing Nations
1. Medical Support to Contributed Forces. While there may be a

variety of options to provide medical support to forces that nations have
contributed to a NATO operation, the TCNs remain accountable for the health
of their own personnel. If nations elect to support forces through a purely
national medical support system, it remains vital that they establish a national
medical element including a national senior medical officer that interfaces
with the NATO medical organization, and establishes permanent contact with
the NATO MEDDIR. The national senior medical officer’s location can be
mission and nation dependent and may include the additional responsibility of
serving as the command’s MEDDIR.
2. Contribution of Resources. With few exceptions all personnel and

equipment required to conduct an operation are provided by TCNs. Under
NATO procedures, nations transfer authority over their national force
contributions to NATO at an agreed time. This transfer may include medical
support capabilities that nations nominate as centralised or theatre assets.
Type and amount of medical assets and TOA limitations can significantly
affect the actual medical support concept for a NATO operation.
3. Planning. Nations are involved in the medical planning process from

the strategic down to tactical level. In developing the initial medical support
concept, nations need to be involved from the outset. This includes the
development of the medical C2 architecture, establishment of mutual support
arrangements, and the conclusion of HNS agreements. Inclusion of national
influence in the concept and plan development is essential to avoid shortfalls
and misunderstandings during the force generation process.
4. Lead Nation (LN) or Capability Specialist/Role Specialist (RS)

Mission. Nations may be called upon to coordinate and plan, as well as to
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provide actual support in specific functional areas, including medical support,

to other national forces. In all cases the assumption of these missions is
voluntary and coordinated in the planning process.
5. HNS. Nations may provide HNS, including medical HNS, to Article 5

operations and CROs.
6. National Support Element (NSE) Establishment. TCNs may wish to

establish a NSE to coordinate national logistic and medical support functions
with other TCNs and with NATO commanders’ medical staffs. In such cases,
coordination with the multinational medical C2 structure is required, along
with a reporting framework, to promote good communications between and
among levels of command, and their respective medical support elements.
10.4. Multinational Medical Command and Control Architecture
10.4.1. Multinational Medical Command and Control
1. Medical support to operations is a key enabling function. In order to

follow the NATO commander’s concept of operations, the establishment of a
flexible and dedicated medical C2 structure is necessary to coordinate
national and multinational medical support. Medical C2 activities must be
organised based on the operational mission requirements and closely
coordinated with nations to obtain full support and staffing for the structure.
For the sake of simplicity the layers of command should be kept as few as
possible and the responsibilities clearly delineated, fully understood and
agreed upon. The lines of medical accountability and C2 must be clearly
established in relevant OPLANs and agreed upon by TCNs.
2. The medical C2 organization in theatre must be capable of planning,

executing, controlling, sustaining and assessing the full range of medical
support functions. It must also be capable of passing prompt and accurate
operational medical advice to respective commanders and pertinent general
medical information to the NATO commander’s medical staff.
3. Medical decisions will have an operational and a logistic impact.

Likewise operational decisions of the commander will influence the medical
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support. The medical C2 structure must be able to provide the NATO

commander with visibility over all medical implications of his decisions.
4. The medical C2 structure demands granted visibility and autonomy, as

medical personnel face unique problems affecting the health of armed forces
reflecting the special and non-transferable medical responsibility for the
health of the force.
5. Other medical activities are compelled to a level of professional

confidentiality (patient medical data exchange) or timeliness (provision of
care), which call for specific qualifications, requirements and procedures.
6. Whilst overall policy, direction and control of medical activity are

vested in the various key medical offices, implementation is effected through
a comprehensive staff structure. To achieve a full operational and
coordinating capability, it is crucial that the medical personnel are identified
by the parent NATO HQ and TCNs, and fully trained in the medical
management of operations according to their assigned duties.
7. To accomplish their specific mission and tasks across the whole

medical C2 structure, the multinational MEDADs and their staffs work under
the authority granted to the commander they are assigned to, and exercise,
as directed, coordinating, assessment, inspection or visit and redistribution
authorities in the area of medical support. It should be noted that the
delegation of authority in terms of OPCOM and OPCON does not include a
delegation or change of administrative or logistic responsibilities. Any such
delegation or change must be specifically ordered, either separately or
together with the delegation of command authority. On occasion, changes to
the degree of command authority may require changes to administrative or
logistic responsibilities, and circumstances will arise in which administrative
or logistic considerations place constraints on operations. Therefore, a
delegating authority must always consider the possible administrative and
logistic implications of any intended operational arrangement.
8. The medical C2 architecture includes the SC MEDADs and extends

through the theatre level MEDDIRs and other multinational MEDADs (for
example divisional MEDAD, multinational maritime force (MNMF) MEDAD) to
all medical assets in theatre.
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10.4.2. Allied Command Operations Medical Advisor
At Strategic Command (SC) level, ACO medical representation may be

activated in the strategic operations centre (SOC), strategic coordination
team (SCT) and other coordination centres, such as the ACO Comprehensive
Crisis and Operations Management Centre (CCOMC). Depending on
circumstances, the medical representation in these elements should in
principle be permanent. The relationship between the ACO MEDAD and
those in subordinate formations is one of functional direction and
coordination; executive authority remains with the operational commander’s
J3 command chain.
10.4.3. Medical Director
1. The MEDDIR is responsible for:
a. Developing, setting and disseminating medical policies, plans and

directives for the theatre.
b. Monitoring and assessing of the medical situation of deployed

troops and the health situation in theatre.
c. Collection and assessment of the medical situation of deployed

troops and the overall health situation in theatre.
d. Collection and collation of medical reports from CC HQs and

related organizations, including IOs and NGOs.
e. Tracking of medical assets and capabilities, including AE.
f. Production of the theatre medical assessment report.
g. Collection of Medical Intelligence.
h. Contribution to short and longer term operational planning.
i. Establishing and maintaining medical interface/liaison with

relevant local authorities, IOs and NGOs.
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j. Coordinating and deconflicting multinational medical support to

the forces in theatre.
k. Provision of joint medical guidance through liaison with

multinational component command medical directors.
2. The MEDDIR will:
a. Coordinate all medical force-protection related actions (preventive

medicine, Medical Intelligence, epidemiological and
environmental survey, hygiene and sanitation, veterinary
services).
b. Ensure medical response within CIM and establish an overall

MASCAL Plan, in coordination with other HQ staffs.
c. Provide medical CBRN advice.
d. Direct the preparation and maintenance of a summary of the

medical support capabilities in theatre and other relevant medical
information (Theatre Medical Handbook) for theatre-wide
dissemination.
e. Coordinate with and support Civil-Military staffs in the area of

public health and humanitarian assistance throughout the theatre.
10.4.4. Combined Joint Medical Branch
1. To affect all medical support tasks the combined joint medical branch
(CJMED) supporting the MEDDIR requires the following functions:
a. MEDDIR (Chief CJMED)
b. Medical plans/Deputy MEDDIR
c. Medical operations 57
57
Section Head and sufficient personnel to man the medical desk in the combined joint operations centre
(CJOC), to sustain 24 hour manning if necessary. The number of personnel may be increased or reduced
10-23
AJP-4.10
d. Patient Evacuation Coordination 58
e. Force health protection and/or preventive medicine
f. Health advice/liaison for host nation health sector development 59
g. Medical logistics
h. Veterinary services functions
i. Administrative assistance and information management
2. The staff of the MEDDIR expands through national augmentees from a

nucleus to a full establishment, capable to address the whole spectrum of
medical issues that the operation demands.
3. During a JTF mission there will be generally the need for qualified
personnel to assess the health risk and to provide preventive and
environmental medicine support. As a theatre asset these personnel as well
as the relevant equipment will be found through the force generation process
and employed under the control of the CJMED public health officer.
10.4.5. Liaison with the HN and Civil Agencies and Organizations
1. Coordination and cooperation between NATO and HN military and

civilian authorities must be carried out at all appropriate levels to optimise
medical support. Cooperation requires a clear division of responsibility and,
in turn, a clear understanding of the various national capabilities and
limitations, and of the NATO medical support structure. Cooperation also
extends to governmental organizations, IOs and NGOs, which may operate
alongside NATO in the theatre.
depending on tempo, as determined by the estimate. Medical services personnel running the medical desk
require access to clinical expertise at all times.
58
Including patient regulation for TACEVAC between medical facilities, and co-ordination of STRATEVAC,
usually also based in the CJOC and sustained 24/7.
59
This health advisor might usually work within the branch responsible for reconstruction and development.
10-24
AJP-4.10
2. Specified points of contact and liaison with HN as well as other civil

agencies (GOs, IOs and NGOs) must be identified at every level of the
command structure.
3. Civil agencies and organizations may be involved in assisting the local

population, which may include medical services. Links are to be established
by the medical C2 architecture in theatre, at appropriate level in order to
coordinate efforts, share important medical information, and to optimize
resources in the achievement of adequate medical support.
4. Medical elements may contribute to host nation health sector

reconstruction and development. Although not their primary purpose, this
can promote stabilisation and the conditions for operational success. To
achieve this requires engagement with a broad range of experts, civilian and
military, from governmental organizations, IOs and NGOs.
5. Further details are provided in Chapter 7 as well as AJMedP-6 Allied

Joint Civil-Military Medical Interface Doctrine and AD 83-2 ACO Directive on
Military Medical Services Engagement in Humanitarian Assistance, and
Governance, Reconstruction and Development.
10.4.6. Medical Coordination Cell
The medical coordination cell (MEDCC) may be the executing body of the
medical organization for all JTF operations. The MEDCC coordinates
multinational, joint and multifunctional medical issues, including AE. The
MEDCC will be part of the respective HQ medical staff element.
a. The MEDCC is designed as a modular structure that

encompasses two cells, medical operations/plans cell and the
patient evacuation coordination cell. The MEDDIR may advise
according to the specific needs of the mission, on the number and
position of personnel employed within the MEDCC.
b. The main function of the MEDCC is the execution of medical

plans and the implementation of medical policies set by the
MEDAD. It coordinates implementation and execution of the full
spectrum of medical and health plans between all components of
the JTF.
10-25
AJP-4.10
c. The function of the ops/plans cell is to coordinate current medical

operations and develop medical support planning for future
medical operations as directed by the MEDCC. It develops and
updates the theatre-level MASCAL plan and cooperates with the
PECC in case of its execution. It provides the expertise required
to implement the preventive medicine and environmental policies
directed by the MEDDIR. The ops/plans cell coordinates the
activities of the Environmental Health Team. During a JTF
mission there will generally be the need for qualified personnel to
assess the health risk and to provide preventive and
environmental medicine support. As a theatre asset these
personnel with the relevant equipment will be found through the
force generation process and employed under the control of the
MEDCC environmental health officer.
d. The PECC provides the theatre level MedEvac coordinating and

regulating functions for all patients, moving beyond formation
boundaries, in conjunction with force components and theatre
logistic and movement control agencies. It is responsible for
patient tracking and the maintenance of the MTF capability
database. It must be operational 24/7. The PECC must have its
own dedicated communication links to the key nodes of the
evacuation system. Should a MASCAL situation arise the PECC
will implement the MEDDIR’s decisions and act as the interface
between the MEDDIR and the units involved in the MASCAL.
UK 10.1 Command. The health service support plan must be

coordinated by the headquarters that has sufficient situational awareness
and authority to allocate medical resources to respond to the casualty
demand, including controlling medical evacuation across organisational
boundaries. To be able to do this, medical staff representation should be
in every headquarters. Medical force elements are likely to be
commanded as medical groups (medical force elements from two or
more units grouped together to fulfil a specified mission or task) assigned
to operational and/or tactical level command groupings.
10-26
ANNEX A TO
AJP-4.10
ANNEX A – MEDICAL DOCTRINE ARCHITECTURE
A-1
ANNEX A TO
AJP-4.10
INTENTIONALLY BLANK
A-2
ANNEX B TO
AJP-4.10
ANNEX B – GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
See:
− AAP-6 NATO GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
− AAP-15 NATO GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS USED IN NATO

DOCUMENTS AND PUBLICATIONS
− AMedP-13 NATO GLOSSARY OF MEDICAL TERMS AND

DEFINITIONS
− NATO TERMINOLOGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
B-1
ANNEX B TO
AJP-4.10
INTENTIONALLY BLANK
B-2
ANNEX C TO
AJP-4.10
ANNEX C – GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS AND

ACRONYMS
This Glossary contains abbreviations and acronyms used in this document as

well as others commonly used in joint and combined operations. A
comprehensive list of NATO abbreviations is contained in AAP-15 NATO
Glossary of Abbreviations used in NATO Documents and Publications.
A
ACO Allied Command Operations
ACT Allied Command Transformation
AE Aeromedical Evacuation
AJP Allied Joint Publication
ALSS Advanced Logistic Support Site
AMedP Allied Medical Publication
AOR Area of Responsibility
AOO Area of Operations
APOD Air Point of Disembarkation
APOE Air Point of Embarkation
ASU Aeromedical Staging Unit
B
BC Battle Casualty
Bi-SC Bi-Strategic Commands
C
C2 Command and Control
C3 Consultation, Command and Control
CBRN Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear
CC Component Commands
CIM Critical Incident Management
CIMIC Civil-Military Cooperation
CIS Communications and Information System
CJMED Combined Joint Medical Branch
CJOC Combined Joint Operations Centre
CM Consequence Management
COA Courses of Action
COMEDS Committee of the Chiefs of Military Medical Services in NATO
CONOPS Concept of Operations
CRO Crisis Response Operations
CSU Casualty Staging Unit
C-1
ANNEX C TO
AJP-4.10
CT Computed Tomography
D
DCS Damage Control Surgery
DNBI Disease and Non-Battle Injury(ies)
DOB Deployed Operating Base
DR Disaster Relief
E
EIH Environmental and Industrial Hazards
EU European Union
H
HA Humanitarian Assistance
HN Host Nation
HNS Host Nation Support
HQ Headquarters
I
ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross
ICU Intensive Care Unit
IDRO International Disaster Relief Operation
IO International Organisation
J
JALLC Joint Analysis and Lessons Learnt Centre
JC Joint Command
JFC Joint Forces Command
JOA Joint Operations Area
JOC Joint Operations Centre
JTF Joint Task Force
L
LN Lead Nation
LOC Line of Communication
M
MASCAL Mass Casualty
MC Military Committee
MEDDIR Medical Director
MED Medical
MEDAD Medical Advisor
MedEvac Medical Evacuation
C-2
ANNEX C TO
AJP-4.10
MMU Multinational Medical Unit

MOU Memorandum of Understanding
MTF Medical Treatment Facility
N
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
NBC Nuclear, Biological and Chemical
NGO Non-Governmental Organisation
NRF NATO Response Force
O
OPCOM Operational Command
OPCON Operational Control
OPLAN Operation Plan
P
PAR Population at Risk
PECC Patient Evacuation Coordination Cell
PfP Partnership for Peace
R
R&D Reconstruction and Development
RFI Requests for Information
RSN Role Specialisation Nation
RSOI Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration
S
SC Strategic Command(er)
SHC Secondary Health Care
SOF Special Operations Forces
SOFA Status of Forces Agreement
SOP Standing Operating Procedure
SPOE Sea Point of Embarkation
STANAG Standardisation Agreement
T
TCN Troop Contributing Nation
TOA Transfer of Authority
W
WMD Weapons of Mass Destruction
C-3
ANNEX C TO
AJP-4.10
INTENTIONALLY BLANK
C-4
ANNEX D TO
AJP-4.10
ANNEX D – LIST OF REFERENCES
“THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS OF 1949”, (INCORPORATING THE HAGUE

PROTOCOLS OF 1907)
PO(2010)0169 THE ALLIANCE’S STRATEGIC CONCEPT

MC 133/4 NATO’S OPERATIONS PLANNING
MC 0319/2 NATO PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES FOR
LOGISTICS
MC 0326/3 NATO PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES OF MEDICAL
SUPPORT
MC 0327/2 NATO MILITARY POLICY FOR NON-ARTICLE V
CRISIS RESPONSE OPERATIONS
MC 0335 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE

CHIEFS OF MILITARY MEDICAL SERVICES IN
NATO (COMEDS)
MC 0343/1 NATO MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO
INTERNATIONAL DISASTER RELIEF
OPERATIONS (IDRO)
MC 0411/2 NATO MILITARY POLICY ON CIVIL-MILITARY
COOPERATION (CIMIC)
MC 0472 NATO MILITARY CONCEPT FOR DEFENCE
AGAINST TERRORISM
MC 0551 MEDICAL SUPPORT CONCEPT FOR NATO
RESPONSE FORCE (NRF)
MC 0572 NATO MILITARY MEDICAL VISION AND
OBJECTIVES 2007-2016
AAP-15 NATO GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS USED IN

NATO DOCUMENTS AND PUBLICATIONS
STANAG 1208 ED. 3 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF EMERGENCY

MEDICAL SUPPLIES ON BOARD SHIPS -
AMEDP-1.9 EDITION A (STUDY)
STANAG 2037 ED. 9 NATIONAL MILITARY STRATEGIES FOR
VACCINATION OF NATO FORCES - AMEDP-23
STANAG 2050 ED. 5 STATISTICAL CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES,
INJURIES AND CAUSES OF DEATH - AMEDP-51
STANAG 2061 ED. 5 PROCEDURES FOR DISPOSITION OF ALLIED
PATIENTS BY MEDICAL INSTALLATIONS
D-1
ANNEX D TO
AJP-4.10
STANAG 2087 ED. 6 MEDICAL EMPLOYMENT OF AIR TRANSPORT IN

THE FORWARD AREA
STANAG 2122 ED. 4 REQUIREMENT FOR TRAINING IN FIRST-AID,
EMERGENCY CARE IN COMBAT SITUATIONS
AND BASIC FORCE HEALTH PROTECTION FOR
ALL MILITARY PERSONNEL - AMEDP-79
EDITION A (STUDY)
STANAG 2126 ED. 6 FIRST-AID DRESSINGS, FIRST AID KITS AND
EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE KITS
STANAG 2128 ED. 6 MEDICAL AND DENTAL SUPPLY PROCEDURES
- AMEDP-1.12 EDITION A
STANAG 2131 ED. 4 MULTILINGUAL PHRASE BOOK FOR USE BY
THE NATO MEDICAL SERVICES - AMEDP-5
EDITION B
STANAG 2132 ED. 3 DOCUMENTATION RELATIVE TO INITIAL
MEDICAL TREATMENT AND EVACUATION -
AMEDP-8.1 EDITION A
STANAG 2179 ED. 3 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAL CARE
OF WOMEN IN JOINT/COMBINED OPERATIONS -
STANAG 2182 ED. 2 ALLIED JOINT LOGISTIC DOCTRINE - AJP-4
EDITION A
STANAG 2190 ED. 2 ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE FOR INTELLIGENCE,
COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY -
AJP-2 EDITION A
STANAG 2230 ED. 3 ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE FOR THE JOINT
LOGISTIC SUPPORT GROUP - AJP-4.6 EDITION
B
STANAG 2231 ED. 1 PATIENT DATA EXCHANGE FORMAT FOR
COMMON CORE INFORMATION - AMEDP-5.1
EDITION A
STANAG 2234 ED. 3 ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE FOR HOST NATION
SUPPORT - AJP-4.5 EDITION B
STANAG 2235 ED. 3 PRE- AND POST-DEPLOYMENT HEALTH
ASSESSMENTS - AMEDP-4.8 EDITION A
STANAG 2249 ED. 2 TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR HEALTH CARE
PERSONNEL IN INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS -
AMEDP-8.3 EDITION A
STANAG 2292 ED. 1 ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE FOR NATO ASSET
VISIBILITY - AJP-4.11
STANAG 2347 ED. 3 MEDICAL WARNING TAG - AMEDP-8.8 EDITION
A (STUDY)
D-2
ANNEX D TO
AJP-4.10
STANAG 2348 ED. 5 BASIC MILITARY HOSPITAL (CLINICAL)

RECORDS - AMEDP-8.2 EDITION B
STANAG 2437 ED. 7 ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE - AJP-01 EDITION D
STANAG 2451 ED. 4 ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE FOR CHEMICAL,
BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL AND NUCLEAR
DEFENCE - AJP-3.8 EDITION A
STANAG 2453 ED. 2 THE EXTENT OF DENTAL AND MAXILLO FACIAL
TREATMENT AT ROLES 1-3 MEDICAL SUPPORT
- AMEDP-35 EDITION A
STANAG 2464 ED. 3 MILITARY FORENSIC DENTAL IDENTIFICATION -
AMEDP-3.1 EDITION A (RATIFICATION DRAFT)
STANAG 2466 ED. 3 DENTAL FITNESS STANDARDS FOR MILITARY
PERSONNEL AND A NATO DENTAL FITNESS
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM - AMEDP-4.4 EDITION
A (RATIFICATION DRAFT)
STANAG 2474 ED. 2 RECORDING OF OPERATIONAL IONIZING
RADIATION EXPOSURE FOR MEDICAL
PURPOSES AND MANAGEMENT OF
DOSIMETERS - AMEDP-7.8 EDITION A
STANAG 2490 ED. 3 ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE FOR THE CONDUCT
OF OPERATIONS- AJP-3 EDITION B
STANAG 2506 ED. 3 ALLIED JOINT MOVEMENT AND
TRANSPORTATION DOCTRINE - AJP-4.4
EDITION B
STANAG 2509 ED. 2 ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE FOR CIVIL-MILITARY
COOPERATION - AJP-3.4.9 EDITION A
STANAG 2512 ED. 2 ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE FOR MODES OF
MULTINATIONAL LOGISTIC SUPPORT - AJP-4.9
EDITION A
STANAG 2523 ED. 2 ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE FOR SPECIAL
OPERATIONS - AJP-3.5 EDITION A
STANAG 2525 ED. 1 ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE FOR
COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION
SYSTEMS - AJP-6
STANAG 2526 ED. 1 ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE FOR OPERATIONAL-
LEVEL PLANNING - AJP-5
STANAG 2528 ED. 1 ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE FOR FORCE
PROTECTION - AJP-3.14
STANAG 2532 ED. 1 ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE FOR THE
DEPLOYMENT OF FORCES - AJP-3.13
STANAG 2538 ED. 2 ANIMAL CARE AND WELFARE AND
VETERINARY SUPPORT DURING ALL PHASES
D-3
ANNEX D TO
AJP-4.10
OF MILITARY DEPLOYMENTS - AMEDP-8.4

EDITION A (RATIFICATION DRAFT)
STANAG 2542 ED. 2 ALLIED JOINT MEDICAL PLANNING DOCTRINE -
AJMEDP-1 EDITION A (STUDY)
STANAG 2543 ED. 2 STANDARDS FOR DATA INTERCHANGE
BETWEEN HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEMS -
STANAG 2544 ED. 1 REQUIREMENTS FOR MILITARY ACUTE
TRAUMA CARE TRAINING - AMEDP-22
STANAG 2546 ED. 1 ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE FOR MEDICAL
EVACUATION - AJMEDP-2
STANAG 2547 ED. 1 ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE FOR MEDICAL
INTELLIGENCE - AJMEDP-3
STANAG 2548 ED. 2 PREVENTION OF POSTDEPLOYMENT
SOMATOFORM COMPLAINTS - AMEDP-63
STANAG 2553 ED. 2 NATO PLANNING GUIDE FOR THE ESTIMATION
OF CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL
AND NUCLEAR (CBRN) CASUALTIES -
AMEDP7.5 EDITION A (STUDY)
STANAG 2554 ED.1 HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV)
POST-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS MEASURES
STANAG 2559 ED. 2 HUMAN RABIES PROPHYLAXIS IN
OPERATIONAL SETTINGS - AMEDP-4.3 EDITION
A (STUDY)
STANAG 2560 ED. 1 MEDICAL EVALUATION MANUAL - AMEDP-27
STANAG 2561 ED. 1 ALLIED JOINT MEDICAL FORCE HEALTH
PROTECTION DOCTRINE - AJMEDP-4
STANAG 2562 ED. 1 MEDICAL COMMUNICATIONS AND
INFORMATION SYSTEMS (MEDCIS) - AJMEDP-5
EDITION A
STANAG 2563 ED. 1 ALLIED JOINT CIVIL-MILITARY MEDICAL
INTERFACE DOCTRINE - AJMEDP-6
STANAG 2564 ED. 1 FORWARD MENTAL HEALTHCARE - AMEDP-64
EDITION A (RATIFICATION DRAFT)
ACUTE STRESS DISORDER - AMEDP-68
(STUDY)
PSYCHOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT OF
POTENTIALLY TRAUMATISING EVENTS -
AMEDP-69 (STUDY)
STANAG 2565 ED. 1 A PSYCHOLOGICAL GUIDE FOR LEADERS
ACROSS THE DEPLOYMENT CYCLE
STANAG 2566 ED. 1 SUICIDE PREVENTION - AMEDP-66 (STUDY)
D-4
ANNEX D TO
AJP-4.10
STANAG 2571 ED. 1 MINIMUM TEST REQUIREMETS FOR

LABORATORY UNITS OF IN THEATRE MILITARY
MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITIES (MTFS) -
AMEDP-8.5 EDITION A
STANAG 2596 ED. 1 ALLIED JOINT MEDICAL DOCTRINE FOR
SUPPORT TO CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL,
RADIOLOGICAL AND NUCLEAR (CBRN)
DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS - AJMEDP-7 EDITION
A (STUDY)
STANAG 2598 ED. 1 ALLIED JOINT MEDICAL DOCTRINE FOR
MILITARY HEALTH CARE (MHC) – AJMEDP-8
EDITION A (STUDY)
STANAG 2939 ED. 5 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR BLOOD, BLOOD
DONORS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT
STANAG 3204 ED. 7 AEROMEDICAL EVACUATION
AAP- 6 ED 2014 NATO GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
(ENGLISH AND FRENCH)
ACO DIR 80-90 ACCESS TO CIVIL (CIVIL EMERGENCY

PLANNING) EXPERTISE
ACO DIR 83-1 (ED 1) MEDICAL SUPPORT TO OPERATIONS
(SEPTEMBER 2010)
ACO DIR 83-2 ALLIED COMMAND OPERATIONS (ACO)
GUIDANCE FOR MILITARY MEDICAL SERVICES
INVOLVEMENT WITH HUMANITARIAN
ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO GOVERNANCE,
RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT
(MARCH 2010)
ACT DIR 75-2/T MEDICAL JOINT FUNCTIONAL AREA TRAINING
GUIDE
AD 85-8 ACE MEDICAL SUPPORT PRINCIPLES,
POLICIES AND PLANNING PARAMETERS
(OCTOBER 93)
D-5
ANNEX D TO
AJP-4.10
INTENTIONALLY BLANK
D-6
AJP-4.10(B)(1)

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ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE FOR MEDICAL SUPPORT

WITH UK NATIONAL ELEMENTS

NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION

ALLIED JOINT PUBLICATION

NATO STANDARDIZATION OFFICE (NSO)

NATO STANDARDIZATION OFFICE (NSO)

NATO LETTER OF PROMULGATION

1. The enclosed Allied Joint Publication AJP-4.10, Edition B, Version 1,

2. AJP-4.10, Edition B, Version 1, is effective upon receipt and

3. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval

4. This publication shall be handled in accordance with C-M(2002)60.

Allied Joint Doctrine for Medical Support

Allied Joint Publication-4.10 (AJP-4.10), dated May 2015,

Director Concepts and Doctrine

Adopting NATO Doctrine

The need to achieve maximum coherence and interoperability within, and

‘We should use NATO doctrine wherever we can, and ensure

In response, DCDC revised the UK doctrine architecture. Our doctrine now

• NATO AJPs (may have directly replaced a JDP equivalent);

Where an AJP is adopted in lieu of a UK JDP the latter document will be

CHAPTER RECORD OF RESERVATION BY NATIONS

RECORD OF SPECIFIC RESERVATIONS

[nation] [detail of reservation]

CAN Page 9-4 para 2 cannot be implemented by Canada.

Although Canadian military dentists deployed on missions

Identification requires the legal authority which in Canada

ESP Spain will not implement Par.1.2.12 item 7d).

FRA Regarding Medical intelligence, the French doctrine

GBR • The UK uses the 10.1.2(+2) medical planning guideline

• The UK uses the term in-theatre surgery (vice primary

• The UK describes a Major Medical Incident (MMI) is an

• UK medical rules of eligibility use the term ‘life, limb and

• UK joint medical doctrine uses the term prolonged care to

NLD Chapter 8,8.4.1.2.: The Netherlands will add separate

Chapter 9, 9.5.4.: The Netherlands will not use the Medical

USA The US ratifies AJP-4.10(NB) with the following

(b). 2.b: Change “1 hour” to “as soon as practical.

1. Character of Doctrine. Doctrine is defined by the North Atlantic

2. Scope. NATO doctrine for medical support is primarily intended for

3. Meeting the Security Challenge. The Alliance continues to adapt to

4. Transforming NATO Medical Support. This edition of Allied Joint

5. Purpose. This publication sets out the fundamental principles

6. Target Audience. AJP-4.10 is intended primarily for use by

7. Doctrine Hierarchy. This publication is one of the supporting joint

8. Application. NATO medical support doctrine is deliberately written to

9. Amendment. AJP-4.10 is subject to regular review and can be

1.1. The Nature of Medical Support 1-8

1.4.7. J7 – Exercise Planning 1-83

Chapter 2 – Medical Planning 2-1

2.1. General 2-1

Chapter 3 – Medical Evacuation 3-1

3.1. Basic Principles of Medical Evacuation 3-1

Chapter 4 – Medical Intelligence 4-1

4.1. General 4-1

Chapter 5 – Force Health Protection 5-1