MEDICAL READINESS AND SUPPORT REPORT

File: aaayi_05.txt
Page: 05
Total Pages: 7
medical system could not satisfy the requirement. USEUCOM/SG met with
the Component Surgeons on 16 Aug 90, to plan support for CENTCOM while	
maintaining medical care for US personnel and their families in
Europe. Because of USAFE's foresight in establishing responsive
wartime medical capability, USAFE/SG was tasked to provide 3,740 beds
for CENTCOM support, more than 2/3 of EUCOM's total tasking.  USAFE/SG
accomplished this by expanding four peacetime medical treatment
facilities (MTFs) and activating four USAFE contingency hospitals
(CHs).

	USAFE/SG was further tasked to develop aeromedical evacuation
staging requirements, conduct a feasibility study on the use of
aeromedical staging beds as augmenting minimal care beds in the United
Kingdom (UK), and establish blood donor and blood transshipment
centers.

	Upon mission analysis, USAFE's medical staff augmentation
requirements were identified and active duty AF personnel in USAFE and
the CONUS, as well as AF Reserve and Air National Guard Forces were
tasked. Those alerted were either moved at the first opportunity or
held on-call pending the decision to deploy.

	In early January 1991, USAFE medical planners joined in
developing support concepts for Joint Task Force (JTF) PROVEN FORCE,
the Turkish-based offensive action against Northern Iraq. Air Force
medical activities in JTF PROVEN FORCE are addressed in a separate
section.

	With facilities, plans, and procedures in place, the challenging
process of turning USAFE into the Air Force's largest medical system
began.

COMMAND AND CONTROL

	AF medical command and control during DESERT SHIELD were vested
at HQ USAFE and the unit level until the decision was made to activate
contingency hospitals and aeromedical staging facilities (ASFs) on the
continent and in the UK. Given this significant increase in medical
operations, the Command Surgeon offered to establish temporary
Numbered Air Force (NAF) Surgeon's Offices. The NAF/CCs accepted, and
a two-person NAF/SG staff was established at 3AF in the UK, at 17AF in
GE, and at 16AF in Spaln.

	The USAFE Deputy Command Surgeon and a staff medical readiness
officer were designated for the 3AF Surgeon's Office. The Individual
Mobilization Augmentee to the Deputy Command Surgeon, already
activated under the lnitial Guard and Reserve call up, and a staff
medical readiness officer were designated as the 17AF Surgeon's
Office. Due to the anticipated lesser workload in 16AF, a staff
officer was detailed to the Commander of the 401TFW Hospital, who also
served as the 16AF Surgeon.

				2