THE AREA SUPPORT MEDICAL BATTALION - A CONCEPT VALIDATED BY OPERATION DESERT SHIELD STORM

Operation Desert Shield/Storm provided an opportunity to evaluate current medical assets and doctrine in support of Army air-land battle operations. The missions assigned to a medical company (clearing) during Operation Desert Shield/Storm demonstrated the value of the area support medical battalion as authorized under Medical Force 2000. The battalion, with a few personnel additions and advanced training, could have met all the challenges faced by the medical company (clearing). With the military's drawdown, units must be created which can operate efficiently and react to anticipated demands.