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File: 123096_sep96_decls2_0034.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
FH-5. Without an AELT, the hospital ships reassigned other personnel from their
primary duties to assist in this flmction.
Hospital ship and fleet hospital personnel identified other potential weaknesses
of the regulating and evacuation system, including the lack of dedicated transporta-
tion assets, inadequate communications equipment, and lack of personnel trained in
air operations. The most efficient access for patients to the hospital ships under
way or at anchorage was by helicopter. Although the Blackhawks were sufficient for
transporting patients to and from the ships, no dedicated transportation assets were
available to return fit-for-duty personnel to their commands. Airlift of opportunity
did not prove itself capable of meeting the demand. All platforms reported signifi-
cant difficulties in communicating with the JMRO and other theater platforms
because of atmospheric conditions and inadequate equipment.
Both the hospital ships and fleet hospitals lacked adequate personnel trained in
air tralec control, preparation of landing sites, and other functions necessary for
helicopter operations. Hospital ship air-division manning was based on the assump-
tion of 16 hours of operation each clay with augmentation by cross-trained personnel
from the ship's company. In theater, the hospital ship staffs believed that sufficient
manning for continuous 24-hour air operations without augmentation by sl-ap's
company was necessary for safe operations, Fleet hospitals do not have air-division
personnel to support helicopter operations. Instead, FH-5 trained organic personnel
to assume these duties. The addition of a properly manned air division is required.
d because the low number of casualties allowed medical person-
nel to assume these duties.
LOGISTRICS SUPPORT
Fleet hospitals, hospital ships, and other Navy ships, carry medical anci
dental materiel identified on an authorized medical or dental allowance list (AMAL
and ADAL). The AMALs and AD@ are special supply blocks tailored to the uriit's
normal mission, crew size, onboard medical and dental facilities, and the number
and type of medical department personnel assigned. The Naval Medical Logistics
Command (NMLC) manages class VIU(A) medical supplies for all Navy and
Marine Corps medical and dental units. The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA@,
through the medical directorate of the Defense Personnel Support Center (DPSC), is
responsible for meeting supply support requirements for class VIH(A), which they
manage centrally for the military services.
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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