and unloading patients at airheads, hospitals, or other treatment facilities, and may be
employed in hospitals to move litter patients from one hospital section to another. In
division areas, the company may be used in support of special operations such as river
crossings, amphibious operations, or mountain operations.
5-24. MEDICAL AIR AMBULANCE COMPANY (TABLE OF ORGANIZATION AND
EQUIPMENT 8-137)
The primary mission of this unit is the aeromedical evacuation of patients; the
emergency movement of medical personnel, accompanying equipment, and supplies to
meet a critical requirement; and uninterrupted delivery of whole blood, biologicals, and
medical supplies when there is a critical requirement. Air ambulance companies
evacuate all categories of patients, normally on an "on-call" basis. Priority for this
evacuation is given to the seriously wounded. When available, and circumstances
permit, aeromedical means is the preferred method of patient evacuation. It gives
greater flexibility and responsiveness to the medical evacuation system. The company,
equipped with 25 UH-l helicopters, is allocated to corps based on one per four divisions
and one per task force. Additional aeromedical evacuation is provided by Team RA,
Helicopter Ambulance Detachment (TOE 8-660), based on two teams per division
supported or one per task force. This team has a capability equivalent to a platoon of
the air ambulance company (six helicopters).
Section V. MISCELLANEOUS UNITS
5-25. MEDSOM UNIT (COMBAT ZONE) (TABLE OF ORGANIZATION AND
EQUIPMENT 8-287)
a. General. The medical supply and maintenance system in the combat zone is
operated by the MEDSOM unit, combat zone, supporting each corps. The MEDSOM
unit combat zone and divisional medical supply activities are the major medical materiel
activities operating within the combat zone. The MEDSOM unit combat zone is under
the command and control of the major medical headquarters within and supporting the
corps. This headquarters is responsible for providing corps level medical supply, optical
and medical equipment maintenance support within the combat zone.
b. Operations.
(1) Each MEDSOM unit combat zone supporting a corps provides medical
supply, medical equipment maintenance, and optical fabrication and repair services for
corps units. This unit also establishes the corps Class VIII supply point in the corps
area to support division medical companies, CSH, EVAC hospitals, and other units
operating in the combat zone. Supply levels of the MEDSOM unit are kept to a
minimum to permit necessary relocation in order to provide close and timely service to
supported units. Normally, the MEDSOM unit combat zone maintains a 10-day stockage
objective (Stockage objective = operating level and safety level).
MD0002
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