b. The corps surgeon's relationship to the division surgeons is primarily
technical. The corps surgeon exercises no command or operational control or authority
over the divisional health service support system. The corps surgeon influences health
service support in the divisions through the policies and directives of the corps
commander.
c. The division surgeons keep the corps surgeon informed of the health service
situation within the divisions.
d. The corps surgeon exercises medical technical control over the health service
support system of the entire corps. Technical control is defined as that specialized or
professional guidance exercised by an authority in technical matters.
e. In a practical sense, one can say that the corps surgeon has authority to deal
through technical channels of communication with surgeons of subordinate commands
in matters pertaining to the practice of medicine, with full expectation that his
instructions will be carried out.
f. Close cooperation must exist between the corps surgeon and the commander
of the MEDCOM in the COMMZ in areas of patient movement operations, boundary
changes, medical supply support, and reinforcement of corps level health service
support.
g. The relationship between the corps surgeon and the theater Army surgeon
MEDSOM commander is similar to that existing between the division surgeon and the
corps surgeon. In the normal chain of command, the corps commander replies directly
to the theater Army commander. Consequently, the corps surgeon coordinates directly
with the theater Army surgeon in technical and professional matters.
5-8.
THE MEDICAL BRIGADE
We have discussed what the mission and tasks are and who is responsible for
their accomplishment. Now we shall touch on how these tasks are accomplished as we
discuss MEDCOM and control.
a. A medical brigade normally exercises command and control of all corps level
medical units. The brigade consists of a headquarters and headquarters company and
such medical units as required to provide corps level health service support
(Figure 5-1). The medical brigade is tailored to the corps mission. Flexibility of
organization is inherent and permits rapid organizational adjustment to changing health
service support requirements. The brigade commander normally exercises control over
the health service support system of the corps through subordinate medical groups. A
medical brigade may include two or more medical groups, and when such is the case,
they may be designated as forward medical groups and rear medical groups. The
medical brigade commander attaches health service support units to these medical
groups so that command and controls divided into manageable packages. The medical
MD0002
5-8