Deployment and Employment of the Combat Support Hospital
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FM 8-10-14 CHAPTER 4 DEPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYMENT OF THE COMBAT SUPPORT HOSPITAL 4-1. Threat for the sustainment of forces. Planning CHS is a continuous and demanding process. The hospital a. The military threat facing the US commander and his staff must constantly assess Armed Forces is massive. For years, the Com- new information for its impact on current and munist military forces were considered to be our future support requirements. Hospital comman- major adversary. Now we must not only remain ders must understand how their actions should cognizant of the potential threat of major global complement their higher headquarters plan. powers, but we must also maintain an awareness Misinterpretations can lead to counterproductive of the various threats and trouble spots of Third actions and potentially disastrous results. Two World countries. Once considered not to be a primary factors hospital planners must be knowl- major threat, the Third World regional powers edgeable of are the higher commander’s intent pose a threat to US security and interests world- and the mission, enemy, terrain, troops, and wide. These countries now have the capability of time available (METT-T). The planning process conducting hostile activities, and during wartime for future missions should not be isolated from or periods of crisis, of supporting espionage, current support actions. The planning process subversion, and sabotage operations. Highly should be flexible and adaptive to the situation destructive regional wars remain a danger. and the hospitals’ mission. Combat health Potential aggressors will be well armed with support elements should be deployed in the modern aircraft and armored forces. They will appropriate mix, in a logical sequence, based on likely be equipped with highly sophisticated and the supported forces. state-of-the-art weaponry systems. The prolifera- tion and use of NBC weapons by developing nations will continue to pose a threat. They could attack using NBC weapons, powerful conven- 4-3. Mobilization tional weapons, or an assortment of both. The US Army will most likely face regional threats a. Concept of Operations. attempting to expand their sphere of influence by force. (1) In the event of contingencies in support of OOTW or war, the DOD initiates b. Another major threat to US forces appropriate action for the deployment of forces in deployed outside continental United States response to the scenario. Based on the situation, (OCONUS) is that of a medical threat. Elements selected Active Component (AC) and Reserve of the medical threat include naturally occurring Component (RC) CSHs and other units are infectious diseases (also referred to as endemic alerted through command channels. For those diseases), environmental extremes, and combat units located in CONUS, the United States Army stress. For a detailed discussion of medical threat Forces Command (FORSCOM) uses the appro- elements, see FM 8-10. priate CAPSTONE trace and programs, the Time- Phased Force Deployment Data List (TPFDDL) 4-2. Planning Combat Health Support based on the theater commander’s requirements, Operations and the air and sea resources available. For deployable AC hospitals, an increase in readiness Combat health support is an integral part of the posture (defense readiness conditions [DEFCON]) force structure and is vital to all contingencies is directed by the post or installation commander, 4-1 FM 8-10-14 or by higher headquarters. For RC hospitals, Appendix F can be used as a guide for developing mobilization notification constitutes an increase deployment operation procedures in support of in readiness posture. movement by air and surface modes, or a com- bination thereof. The checklists are applicable to (2) Deployment operations for hos- both AC and RC units. The checklists are pital readiness validation are controlled through detailed only as a guide for commanders. the post or installation emergency operations Installation mobilization stations and/or higher center (EOC) according to established plans and headquarters may prescribe different procedures regulations. The EOC plans and coordinates all for your unit. deployment preparation support for the deploying hospital and monitors and controls all facets of (2) Active Component hospitals the deployment operation, to include reporting to maintain the capability necessary to achieve a higher headquarters. deployment posture in the time required by any alert warning order or deployment instructions (3) The hospitals may deploy by received. For planning purposes, the readiness land, sea, or air (or a combination of these posture maintained is consistent with the shortest modes) from locations designated by higher notification period presented in the mobilization headquarters. Priority of effort is given to those plan. modes of movement outlined in current plans. (3) Reserve Component hospitals (4) Active Component hospitals maintain the readiness posture necessary to meet maintain the capability for emergency deploy- planned deployment dates contained in current ment on short notice to execute assigned missions. FORSCOM and mobilization documents. Upon arrival at the designated mobilization site, hos- (5) RC hospitals must attain and pitals are placed in an increased or advanced maintain the capability for mobilizing on short deployability posture based on the published notice and arriving at their designated mobili- priorities of plans for which the hospitals are zation site according to unit mobilization plans. listed. The hospitals are managed through the RC chain of command, with input by the (6) Once mobilization is validated, mobilization installation commander during the hospitals prepare for deployment on short notice premobilization period. (72 hours or less). During validation, appropriate status reports are submitted to higher head- (4) All hospitals are scheduled for quarters. deployment validation by unit line number based on the published validation schedule. Hospitals b. Conduct of Operations. can be expected to deploy within 72 hours fol- lowing validation. Actual deployment date and (1) Commanders of deploying hos- times are as directed by higher headquarters. pitals develop movement plans and TSOPs to accomplish the necessary preparations for deployment. Provisions for accomplishing all 4-4. Deployment required training and other requirements to be accomplished during all phases of the deploy- a. When directed by higher head- ment are identified. The checklists contained in quarters through the port call or airlift message, 4-2 FM 8-10-14 the CSH will move to the port of embarkation • Personnel replacements. (POE) for deployment. Deployment from the POE will be as directed by the United States • Uniform requirements. Transportation Command. Upon arrival at the theater point of entry, it is essential that con- • Emergency warning signals. tact with the assigned medical brigade or group be made immediately. Normally, the medical • Religious support. brigade or group has liaison personnel to meet and assist the hospital staff with coordination and movement to its AO. As equipment and supplies • Vehicle and unit movement are off-loaded, they are moved to a designated requirements. receiving area for consolidation and movement. An inventory for accountability and damage • Geneva Conventions (see assessment is conducted. Vehicles are serviced Appendix G). and necessary repairs are made, or coordination is made with the supporting maintenance element • Supply support activities and for the repairs. Documentation for replacement procedures (all classes). of unusable supplies or equipment damaged beyond repair is initiated through the medical b. In a force projection Army, METT-T brigade or group headquarters element. Vehicle will drive the amount of supplies required to loads are adjusted for convoy operations. For support the force. For planning purposes, the equipment that was transported separately from hospital normally deploys with 10 days of medical the hospital, coordination is made for receiving supplies; the medical assemblage for each work and transporting it upon arrival. Once the hos- area contains a basic load of 3 days of supply; and pital has moved to its AO, the medical brigade or the medical supply set maintained by the supply group staff elements conduct formal personnel and service division contains a 7-day basic load in-processing and an orientation on current for the entire hospital. In a maturing theater, operating policies and procedures. The orien- medical resupply is accomplished by pre- tation includes information on the following: configured resupply packages until the corps MEDLOG battalion (forward) has been estab- • Mission update, to include geo- lished. These “push packages” are throughput graphical support area. directly to the hospital via the transportation system. These packages may be pre-positioned • Combat health support issues. “mobilization stocks,” or may be built and shipped from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) depot • Host-nation (HN) support. system. Hospital logistics personnel coordinate with their next higher command headquarters for all logistical support to include resupply. • Local laws and customs. Early deploying hospitals that arrive prior to their higher medical C2 headquarters must coordinate • Threat update. with port transportation personnel for shipment and receipt of supplies and equipment. Once the • Security requirements. MEDLOG battalion (forward) has been estab- lished, hospital logistics personnel coordinate