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Subject: MEDICAL  OPERATIONAL                                            

Box  ID: BX000511

Document Number:         10

Folder Title: D-S  SPEC STUDIES PROJECT GENERAL OFFICER STEERING COMMITTEE                                    

Folder Seq #:          7

Unit: ARCENT      

Parent Organzation: CENTCOM     






          ISSUE: Deficiencies in organization, materiel, leader
          development and/or training adversely affected the Army medical
          Department (AMEDD) Command and Control (C2) function.

          DISCUSSION:
             a. Deficiencies in the organization, materiel leader
          development and/or training for executing the AMEDD C2 function
          existed at every level. Lack of communications capability was a
          common deficiency at all levels. Medical units throughout the
          force lacked the quality and quantity of radio communications
          required to effectively execute the C2 mission. The problem was
          both a shortage of authorized equipment and insufficient
          quantities on authorization documents. Shortages included
          communications security equipment. Corps level units, even of
          company size, frequently have support elements deployed across a
          broad front or in such depth that there is a need for a
          communications link with each subordinate element to effectively
          perform the C2 mission. Corps medical battalions and medical
          groups always have this requirement and have no more robust
          communications than some companies. There are additional
          requirements in medical groups, brigades and Corps hospitals to
          communicate information critical to patient regulating, medical
          supply and the blood program. The Theater Army Medical
          Management Information System (TAMKIS) requires the AN/GRC 193A
          Improved High Frequency Radio (IHFR) and ancillary equipment to
          be an effective system. The equipment is not authorized in most
          units which caused problems in fielding and use of TAMMIS in the
          Theater. The paucity of communications equipment in medical
          units also caused delays in receipt of evacuation missions and
          dispatching resources to accomplish the mission. C2 headquarters
ehicles or redundancy in other equipment to
          establish a jump tactical operations center or to provide
          adequate C2 on the move. Both capabilities were required to
          support the fast long ranging offensive operations of Operation
          DESERT STORM.
             b. The Army Medical Department is the only organization that
          requires a change of command in units during critical operations.
          AMEDD policy dictates that a physician command any unit that
          provides direct patient care. The commander requirement on
          Tables of organization and Equipment (TOE) for forward support
          medical companies in the Division Support Command, Corps medical
          clearing companies and Corps hospitals is for a Medical Corps
          officer. Modified TOEs authorize a Medical Service Corps officer
          as the commander. Medical Service Corps hospital commanders are
          selected through the Lieutenant Colonel command selection
          process. Company commanders usually have experience from
          multiple TOE unit assignments. Medical Corps commanders are
          identified through the Professional Officer Filler System
          (PROFIS), and seldom command a TOE unit prior to deploying for
          contingency operations.  Medical Corps officers are obviously

                                         J-8

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Document 10 f:/Week-32/BX000511/D-S SPEC STUDIES PROJECT GENERAL OFFICER STEERING COMMITTEE/medical operational:09069614063528
Control Fields 17
File Room = aug96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-32
Box ID = BX000511
Unit = ARCENT
Parent Organization = CENTCOM
Folder Title = D-S SPEC STUDIES PROJECT GENERAL OFFICER STEERING COMMITTEE
Folder Seq # = 7
Subject = MEDICAL OPERATIONAL
Document Seq # = 28
Document Date =
Scan Date = 17-AUG-1996
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 06-SEP-1996