LESSON 1
THE ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT
1-1.
BASIC MISSION OF THE ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT
The basic mission of the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) is to maintain the
health of the Army and to conserve its fighting strength. The Army Medical Department
must provide health care for its personnel in peacetime and also prepare for the health
support of the Army in time of war, international conflict, or natural disaster. In addition,
it is required to provide health services for non-Army agencies and organizations.
These responsibilities are to be carried out in accordance with AR 40-5. To accomplish
this mission, the Army Medical Department must:
a. Develop and carry out plans and programs designed to provide personnel
with the best possible medical service in war and peace. These plans and programs,
however, should not exceed available resources.
b. Establish health standards.
c. Select medically fit personnel and eliminate the medically unfit.
d. Practice preventive and curative medicine.
e. Execute the approved medical research, development, test, and evaluation
(RDTE) program.
f. Provide effective medical education and management.
1-2.
ASPECTS OF THE BASIC MISSION
The basic mission of the Army Medical Department has four primary approaches
or aspects: the selective aspect, the preventive aspect, the curative aspect, and the
rehabilitative aspect. These four aspects work together to enable the overall mission to
be accomplished.
a. The Selective Aspect. This aspect deals with the physical and mental
qualifications for entering and remaining in the Army. It starts before the Army accepts
a person and continues for as long as the person serves. In order to be accepted in the
Army, an individual must pass certain mental and physical examinations. Once in the
Army, soldiers must pass either an annual physical examination or periodic physical
examinations in order to remain qualified for Army service. In addition, certain Army
duties specify particular physical requirements. Physical examination results are used
to determine who is qualified to perform these duties. For example, a person who
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