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File: 123096_sep96_decls2_0021.txt
Subject: MEDICAL OPERATIONS DURING OPERATION DESERT STORM 9 NOV 91
Unit: VAR. BUMED
Parent Organization: BUMED
Box ID: BX303801
Folder Title: VARIOUS BUMED DOCUMENTS FOLDER 6
Document Number: 2
Folder Seq #: 10
The change in FH-5 destination from Dhqhran to Al Jubayl by operational
commanders delayed construction. Once it began, FH-5 construction time was
increased because of initial problems in obtaining water and fuel/lubricants for
generators. Construction time was also increased by a shortage of vehicles, lack of
platform training (FH-5), missing supplies/equipment, and site modification.
Despite these obstacles, the Navy demonstrated its ability to deploy significant
medical capability rapidly to an operational theater.
The deployment identified some deficiencies in the manpower authorizations
(MPAS) and ship manning documents (SMDS) for deployable medical platforms and
some difficulties in implementing the staT:Lng plans. In addition, many active-duty
personnel arrived in theater without adequate g on their mobilization plat-
form. Some medical personnel required general medical and follow-on training,
such -as advanced cardiac lffe support (ACI.S), basic life si;pport (BLS), intra-
venous (IV), medication, and suture certification for their operational billets. Many
lacked training in firefighting and damage control. The prolonged buildup of forces
during Desert Shield allowed essential training to take place in theater. The next
operation, however, may unfold more quickly and not,offer the same opportunity for
training after deployment.
The Navy deployed both active-duty and reserve personnel to staff theater
medical units and platforms. BUMED met initial requirements for medical aug-
mentation with active-duty personnel. On 9 August, two surgical tevitn- received
esimr were part
of the mobile medical augmentation readiness teams ( T) program, which
normally provides surgical and other teams of health care specialists to support
rapid, short-term medical augmentation requirements in peacetime.
BUMED activated the Medical Personrel Unit Augmentation System (MPUAS)
to meet most other personnel staffing requirements for medical platforms deployed
in Desert Shield. Under MPUAS, active-duty medical personnel assigned to
CONUS =s and dental treatment facilities (DTFS) are identified to meet the
specific manning requirements of deployable medical platforms, including the
organic Fleet Marine Force (FM7) units, hospital ships, fleet hospitals, and CRTSS.
The first wave of augmentation began in early August. By the first week of
November, the Navy had provided over 4,200 personnel to support medical capabil-
ity in theater. Table 7 summarizes. the distribution of the 3,600 medical personnel
.12-
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Document 57 f:/Week-37/BX303801/VARIOUS BUMED DOCUMENTS FOLDER 6/medical operations during operation desert storm:1217961126393
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-37
Box ID = BX303801
Unit = VAR. BUMED
Parent Organization = BUMED
Folder Title = VARIOUS BUMED DOCUMENTS FOLDER 6
Folder Seq # = 10
Subject = MEDICAL OPERATIONS DURING OPERATION DESERT STORM
Document Seq # = 2
Document Date =
Scan Date =
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 = 17-DEC-1996