Page 232 - 2022 Ranger Medic Handbook

Tactical Medical Support Plan Development
Understand the Tactical Commander’s Plan. The tactical medical planner must understand the overall scheme of ma-
neuver of the forces arrayed on the battlefield. This understanding is gained by attending all of the operations planning
meetings and ensuring that medical operations are well synchronized into the tactical plan. Tactical plans may evolve
rapidly, so the medical planner must keep abreast of changes, and should participate in course of action development to
determine how the various options can be supported medically.
Casualty Estimation. Medical and tactical planners should predict where casualties are likely to occur and develop ca-
sualty management and evacuation plans for all phases of the operation (infiltration, assault, clear/secure, consolidation,
exploitation, defense, and exfiltration). Other key elements to consider are the layout of the target and template of enemy
positions as projected by intelligence and operations staffs. Understanding the commander’s tactical plan will indicate how
best to develop the medical support plan.
Casualties should be expected and planned for in all phases of any tactical
operation from en route, infiltration, assembly, assault, actions on the objective,
consolidation, defense, exfiltration, and return to base.
The casualty estimation also includes projecting possible disease nonbattle injuries (DNBI). Based on known medical
threats, unit activities, previous events, and individual health profiles, determine the potential nonbattle injuries that may
occur. DNBIs can also include traumatic injuries that did not occur as a result of firefights such as parachute landing
injuries or vehicle accidents. Keep in mind that some minor casualties may not come to the attention of the Medic until
post mission after return to base. Include in your plan a post mission screening for potential casualties who may require
medical treatment.
To assist medical planners with causality estimation, ATP 4-02.55 recommends the medical casualty estimation tool
(MACE). The United States Medical Center of Excellence developed the automated MACE tool to assist medical planners
with medical and casualty estimation. The MACE tool provides medical and casualty estimates based on parameters such
as length of operations and engagements, weather, and terrain based on historical casualty data.
The requesting individual must contact the Computational Sciences Division for access to the MACE tool via email (NIPR)
mail to: usarmy.jbsa.medical-coe.list.cdid-ops-admin@mail.mil; usarmy.jbsa.medical-coe.list.cdid-ops-admin@mail.mil and
address your request with ATTN: CSD.
CASUALTY ESTIMATION
■ Analyze the target and the templated enemy positions
■ Analyze the commander’s assault plan
SECTION 7 ■ defend, exfiltration).
Plan to take casualties during every phase of the operation (infiltration, assault, clear/secure, consolidate,
Where do you foresee taking casualties?
É
É
Do you need to task organize your medical team?
É Where is it most critical for the Medics to be located?
É Where does the unit need to establish CCP’s?
É What evacuation methods need to be considered?
É Where is the closest HLZ or AXP?
É Where do you emplace and preposition medical assets/augmentation?
■ Review preventive medicine issues and anticipate DNBI
É What are the health threats?
É What actions will prevent or decrease disease and non-battle injuries?
In addition to casualty estimates, the U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM) has developed supple-
mental planning tools to forecast CLS VIII requirements, water consumption, and fuel consumption calculators for evacu-
ation planning. CASCOM website: https://cascom.army.mil/asrp/sust-est.html
Tools:
1. QLET – Quick Logistics Estimations tool (has CLS I water and CLS VIII forecasting based on unit UIC)
2. Food and Water Tool (may assist with nutrition planning to prevent DNBI, confer with S4/G4 unit commodity specialist
The Special Operations Forces (SOF) Logistics handbook is also available on the website for reference.

218 SECTION 7 MEDICAL PLANNING & CASUALTY COLLECTION OPERATIONS