7-12. TEAM RA, HELICOPTER AMBULANCE
a. Mission. The mission of Team RA is to perform medical evacuation
functions where units of less than company size are required.
b. Assignment and Basis of Allocation. Team RA may be assigned to either
the theater Army MEDCOM or the corps medical brigade and further attached to
subordinate command and control headquarters as required. It is allocated on the basis
of two teams per division supported or one per separate brigade size task force not
otherwise supported. In the COMMZ it is allocated on the basis of one per hospital
center or as required.
c. Capabilities. The unit is staffed and equipped for highly mobile operations in
the combat zone. It provides an immediate response for battlefield aeromedical
evacuation and extrication of personnel and aeromedical evacuation of patients from
crashed aircraft. It accomplishes in-flight medical treatment and/or surveillance for
patients en route to treatment facilities. It furnishes aerial delivery of medical personnel
and/or materiel and, provides air crash rescue. The unit's six helicopters (UH-60A) are
each capable of transporting 4 litter or 7 ambulatory patients; however, the normal
combat load is 4 litter and 1 ambulatory patients.
d. Organization. Team RA is a small, highly mobile cellular organization that is
normally attached to another medical organization for training and administrative
support. It is normally commanded by a major, MSC. The team may be employed as
two sections with a lieutenant, MSC, as the leader of each section. The unit has an
enlisted complement that performs maintenance, airfield service, operations, and
communications services. Each 'helicopter has a crew chief and an air ambulance
aidman in addition to two pilots.
e. Concept of Operations
(1) Combat zone. The Team RA is employed as directed by the medical
brigade commander. The team is located within the combat zone, but specific
operational locations will depend upon the mission. The helicopter ambulance is
employed as far forward as the tactical situation permits. Evacuation of patients is to
division medical facilities or to a non-divisional medical facility, as professionally
indicated. Normally, in this type operation, the commander of the division medical
company will exercise operational control of the air ambulance team. Locating the unit
with the division medical company is considered desirable. When the division is in
reserve or otherwise withdrawn from combat, the team may be attached to an air
ambulance company. Team RA is ideally suited for operations with a separate task
force and under these circumstances may function under the direction of the task force
surgeon.
emergency evacuation of patients requiring urgent and special types of medical care
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