HEALTH SERVICE SUPPORT OPERATIONSMCWP4-11.1

By: HMC(FMF/SW) GLASPIE

Health Services Support Operations

Purpose:

Marine Corps War fighting Publication (MCWP) 4-11-1, Health Service Support Operations, disseminates information on the mission, functions, structure, and concept of employment of HSS units

HSS Mission

• The HSS mission is to minimize the effects that wounds, injuries, and disease have on units, effectiveness, readiness and morale

• The mission is accomplished by a preventive medicine program that safeguards personnel against potential health risk and by establishing an HSS system

» MEF, MARDIV, MAW and MEDLOG

Marine Expeditionary Forces

• The MEF surgeon, medical planner, medical administrative officer, preventive medicine officer, and hospital corpsman are responsible for establishing HSS requirements

• HSS beyond the organic capabilities of the GCE and ACE are normally provided by task-organized units of the medical and dental battalions of the MLG

• Support may be needed from designated casualty receiving and treatment ships (CRTS) e.g. LHA/LHD class ships, fleet hospitals, hospitals ships, or medical treatment facilities (MTFs) of other Services

Marine Division

• The medical staff of the division headquarters has a division surgeon, medical planner/administrator, psychiatrist, and hospital corpsmen

• Medical staff responsibilities are similar to the MEFs but are more specifically related to the activities of the Ground Combat Element (GCE)

Marine Aircraft Wing

• The medical staff of the Marine aircraft wing (MAW) headquarters has a wing surgeon, medical planner/administrative officer, and environmental health officer, industrial hygienist, optometrist, and hospital corpsmen

• A MAW has four Marine aircraft groups (MAGs) • Each MAG has flight surgeon and several hospital corpsman• Each MAG is supported by a Marine wing support squadron

(MWSS) of the Marine wing support group (MWSG)• The flight surgeon is the squadron's commander’s special

staff officer responsible for the aeromedical safety and HSS for the squadron

Marine Logistics Group

• The MLG surgeon advises the commander on the health of the command and the adequacy of internal MLG HSS

• MLG has the majority of the MEF’s medical assets/capabilities

• It has a medical battalion with three surgical companies (Surg Co) and eight shock trauma platoons (STPs) to provide intial resuscitative care for casualties

• Dental Battalion provides field dentistry when deployed and also advises on dental issues

• Medical Logistics Companies (MEDLOG) provides supply support with regards to: authorized medical allowance list (AMAL) and authorized dental allowance list (ADAL)

QUESTIONS &ANSWERS