(a) Tactical considerations that prevent the use of aircraft for patient
EVAC during certain periods.
(b) Patients who cannot be evacuated by air.
(c)
Weather conditions.
(d) Lack of adequate or properly located airfields
(e)
Insufficient numbers of aircraft available.
(2) The alternative means of patient evacuation from the combat zone to the
COMMZ is by ground transportation--usually by field or bus ambulances from separate
medical ambulance companies and/or detachments assigned to the MEDCOM in the
COMMZ.
(a) Field ambulance. Field ambulances normally supplement air
movement. The appropriate MEDCOM and control headquarters provides the
necessary coordination and planning for patient evacuation missions utilizing the field
ambulances of medical ambulance companies.
(b) Bus ambulance. Bus ambulances are normally used in the
COMMZ in place of field ambulances when feasible. Under favorable conditions they
may be used to evacuate patients from combat zone hospitals. Bus ambulances are
also used within the COMMZ to transport patients between hospitals and
arrival/departure airfields.
(3) If ground ambulances must be used to transport large numbers of
patients to or within the COMMZ, the MEDCOM MRO must obtain road clearance
through the theater Army MCC, which is an agency of the theater Army transportation
command (TRANSCOM).
7-26. INTERTHEATER MEDICAL REGULATING
a. Reporting Patients for Evacuation. Many of the patients treated at general
hospitals will be returned to duty within the theater. However, those who cannot be
returned to duty within the theater EVAC policy must be evacuated to the ZI.
Communization zone hospital centers report daily to the MEDCOM MRO the number of
patients to be evacuated to the ZI. The MEDCOM MRO consolidates these reports and
submits his consolidated report to the JMRO (para 7-24). The JMRO coordinates the
bed requirements with the Armed Services Medical Regulating Office (ASMRO), located
in CONUS. The ASMRO, like the JMRO, is a joint agency consisting of representatives
from 'the US Army, USN, and USAF. The ASMRO will direct the distribution of patients
into CONUS hospitals.
MD0002
7-26