moved closer to the patient; otherwise, faster, more efficient evacuation must be
provided. In either case, patients and treatment facilities must be brought together as
promptly as possible.
d. Flexibility. Health service support must be flexible. A change in TAC plans
or operations may require redistribution of health service support. The medical
commander and the medical staff planner must be able to shift health service support to
meet changing requirements. No more medical troops should be committed, or medical
facilities established, than are required for the task at hand or for the obvious needs of
the immediate future. Once committed, a limitation is imposed on the availability of the
medical unit for other employment.
e. Mobility. Contact with supported units must be maintained; therefore,
medical troops must have the same mobility as the units supported. Mobility may be
retained by the timely and rapid evacuation of patients.
(1) The mobility of a unit is measured by the extent to which it can move its
personnel and equipment with organic transportation.
(2) Once entirely committed, the mobility of a medical unit can be regained
only by the prompt evacuation of patients. When the mobility of a medical unit is
jeopardized by the accumulation of patients, it may be necessary to leave a small
holding detachment with patients when the main part of the unit is moved.
f. Conformity. Conformity with the TAC plan is one of the most fundamental
elements in the provision of field health service support. It is only by analyzing the
commander's plan of operation that the medical planner can determine his requirements
for medical units and prepare an adequate plan for health service support. Health
service support must always be available in the right place, at the right time, and in the
right strength.
4-4.
ORGANIZATION
a. Levels of Health Service Support. The field health service support
organization generally parallels the TAC organization in a TO. The functional levels of
health service support are unit, division, corps, and COMMZ levels. Levels of health
service support extend rearward from the line of contact in an integrated and continuous
system, to the CONUS (Figure 4-1).
MD0002
4-4