Military Discussion Post 250 Words And Responses To 2x Provided Classmate Post

Module 3, Case Study 3, The Army Health System

To prepare for the upcoming deployment to Nakhchivan, it will be important to educate the unit on the various types of threats both, general and health threats. By identifying the various threats, only then can we ensure prevention and mitigation through training, actions and planning.

The health and general threat influences the character, types, and severity of wounds and injuries to which our forces may be exposed to, along with the enemy’s ability and willingness to disrupt AHS operations and to respect the conditions of the Geneva Conventions in regards to the protection of medical personnel while engaged in the humanitarian mission.

General threats include elements that our adversaries may employ that may be blended to achieve an end. There are four categories of general threat and our adversaries may use elements from within each of the threat groups to achieve an end.

In this scenario, the types of General Threats we can anticipate include Irregular threats and Disruptive threats. There is a potential, not likely, but a potential we could face a Catastrophic threat involving a chemical weapon. To prepare for these threats

Irregular threats are posed by an opponent employing unconventional methods and means to counter traditional US advantages, such as terrorist attacks, insurgency, and guerrilla warfare. The following medical capabilities are required to mitigate this threat:

· Medical mission command for synchronization

· Hospitalization/area medical treatment

· Combat and operational stress control

· Medical evacuation with enroute medical care

· Medical logistics and blood management

· Preventive Medicine/Reemerging and new health threat

· Medical laboratory services to detect health threat

Disruptive threats involve an enemy using new technologies that reduce US advantages in key operational domains. The following medical capabilities are required to mitigate this threat:

· Medical mission command for synchronization

· Hospitalization/area medical treatment

· Casualty prevention activities

· Medical evacuation

· Medical logistics and blood management

Catastrophic threats involve the acquisition, possession, and use of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) weaponry, often referred to as weapons of mass destruction. The following medical capabilities are required to mitigate this threat:

· Medical mission command for synchronization

· Mass casualty management

· Hospitalization

· Casualty prevention to include stress to rescuers and care givers

· Medical logistics and blood management

· Evacuation and enroute medical care

· Veterinary services

· Role 1 and Role 2 area medical support

The remaining General threat, we would not necessarily anticipate in today’s current operating environment is the traditional threat. Traditional threats emerge from states employing recognized military capabilities and forces in understood forms of military competition and conflict. If we were to encounter this threat, the following medical capabilities are required to mitigate this threat:

· Medical mission command for synchronization

· Role 1, Role 2, and forward surgical team trauma care

· Essential care provided by theater hospitalization

· Medical evacuation with enroute medical care

· Medical logistics and blood management

· Casualty prevention activities (preventive Medicine, combat and operational stress Control, dental)

· Veterinary services

· Diagnostic laboratory resources

The health threat is a combination of adversary or enemy actions, adverse environmental, occupational, geographic, and weather conditions; diseases, and CBRN weapon employment that have the potential to affect the short or long-term health, including mental health, of Soldiers which could render a Soldiers combat ineffective, which can ultimately result in the unit being unable to satisfactorily complete its mission. The following are types of health threats we could encounter:

· Diseases to include: Endemic and epidemic, Foodborne, Waterborne, Arthropod borne, Zoonotic, and Vectors and breeding grounds

· Occupational and Environmental Health Hazards to include: Climatic (heat, cold, humidity, and significant elevations above sea level), Toxic industrial materials, Accidental or deliberate dispersion of radiological and biological material, Disruption of sanitation services/facilities (such as sewage and waste disposal), Disruption of industrial operations or industrial noise

· Poisonous or Toxic Flora and Fauna to include: Poisonous reptiles, amphibians, arthropods, and animals and Toxic poisonous plants and bacteria

· Medical Effects of Weapons to include: Conventional Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear warfare agents, Directed energy, and Weapons of mass destruction

· Physiologic and Psychological Stressors to include: Continuous operations, Combat and operational stress reactions, Wear of mission-oriented protective posture ensemble, Stability operations, and Home front issues

As a medical leader, it is our responsibility to consider all aspects of the threat and ensure that the unit we support are aware of these threats and can counter them through direct action or avoidance. We should analyze our Area of Operation and become aware the medical threats associated with that AO. All medical plans and orders should include an analysis of the both the general and health threat.

References:

HQ, Department of the Army, ATTP 4-02, Army Health System, October 2011

SGT Cruz, Jane