Page 18 - JSOM Spring 2026

First Island Chain Experiences
Using Team Awareness Kit (TAK) for Medical Communications

Adam Brust, MD *; Jacob Cole, MD ; Scott Hughey, MD ;
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Joshua Kotler, MD ; Kyle Checchi, MD ; Chase Tabor ;
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Darryl Arfsten, PhD, MS ; Andrew Lin, MD 8
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ABSTRACT
The Team Awareness Kit (TAK, also called Tactical Assault TAK allows users to view and share geospatial data, including
Kit) has significant potential to improve medical regulation in maps, imagery, and tactical overlays. It supports messaging,
combat operations. TAK is a software package able to be used voice communication, and file sharing, which are crucial for
by individuals in the field which provides geospatial infra- efficient coordination in dynamic operational environments.
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structure and military situational awareness. While it is widely Additionally, TAK can be customized with plugins to track
used by non-medical military units, most medical forces have combat casualties through the continuum of care within the
not yet integrated it, particularly for casualty tracking. TAK Joint Trauma System (JTS), optimizing triage, transportation,
offers better emission control and detailed medical data than and treatment. 4,5
traditional communication systems. Two examples of its use
described in this report are from exercises with III Marine The United States Marine Corps (USMC) employs a hierar-
Expeditionary Force (MEF) in the Indo-Pacific. Key lessons chical medical structure that ensures effective casualty care
included: 1) full integration of TAK into Health Services Sup- across various echelons. This structure includes Battalion Aid
port (HSS) for improved patient outcomes, 2) managing in- Stations (BAS) for Role 1 care and surgical platoons for Role
formation overload through standardized workflows, and 3) 2 care that evacuate to larger US Navy, Army, or Air Force
clear medical control (MEDCON) to optimize casualty care. medical facilities for Role 3 care. Role 1 care involves first
Recommendations include establishing a communications responder medical capability involved with initial triage,
plan, regulating communication between care echelons, and treatment, and evacuation. Role 2s provide advanced trauma
standardizing TAK workflows for casualty care and medical management and resuscitation, with a greater capability than
logistics. TAK proved to be a low-cost, effective tool for med- the Role 1. Role 3 facilities are typically larger and capable of
ical command and control, and should be further considered providing definitive surgery, providing a larger scope of care,
for adoption across Joint and Partner Forces. and holding capacity. Effective communication between these
units is critical for safe, timely, and efficient casualty move-
Keywords: military medicine; medical command and control; ment through the continuum of care.
trauma systems; telemedicine
TAK can facilitate this communication, enabling better med-
ical command and control (C2) and supporting decision-
making despite the operational challenges, such as the geo-
Introduction
graphic isolation faced in Expeditionary Advanced Base Oper-
Emerging technologies significantly enhance operational com- ations (EABO) in the Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM)
manders’ ability to maintain situational awareness on the area of responsibility (AOR). EABO operations will involve
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battlefield, thereby improving decision-making and opera- medical teams operating in dispersed and isolated environ-
tional efficiency. In the medical domain, these technologies ments, requiring more coordinated casualty movement and
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can boost awareness of the medical battlespace, streamline the advanced planning. 8
movement of Class VIII (medical) supplies, and increase the
survivability of combat casualties. One such technology is the A typical USMC infantry regiment consists of three battalions,
Team Awareness Kit (TAK, also called Tactical Assault Kit), each with an organic Role 1 capability in the form of a BAS.
a versatile off-the-shelf tool that facilitates real-time tracking, The Battalion Medical Officer (BMO) provides medical over-
communication, and coordination, enhancing both situational sight and coordinates casualty care within the battalion. At
awareness and operational decision-making. 2 the regimental level, the Regimental Medical Officer oversees
*Correspondence to Adam Brust, 6000 US-98, Pensacola, FL, 32512 or adam.k.brust.mil@health.mil
1 CDR Adam Brust is affiliated with the Department of Anesthesiology, Naval Hospital Pensacola, Pensacola, FL, and the Naval Biotechnology
Group, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, VA. LCDR Jacob Cole is affiliated with the Naval Biotechnology Group, Naval Medical
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Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, VA, and the Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD. LCDR Scott Hughey is affiliated with the Naval
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Biotechnology Group, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, VA, and the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Naval
Hospital Okinawa, Okinawa, Japan. LCDR Joshua Kotler is affiliated with the Naval Biotechnology Group, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth,
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Portsmouth, VA, and III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. LCDR Kyle Checchi is affiliated with the Naval Biotechnology Group,
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Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, VA, and the Department of Surgery, Naval Hospital Okinawa, Okinawa, Japan. MIDN Chase
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Tabor is affiliated with the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. CAPT Darryl Arfsten is affiliated with Naval Medical Center Camp
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Lejeune, Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, NC. CAPT Andrew Lin is affiliated with Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune, Camp Lejeune, Jackson-
ville, NC.
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