Mission Command, Army Health Systems, and Military Briefings

Mission Command System Components

  • The Mission Command System is comprised of four primary components that facilitate the exercise of authority and direction by commanders:

    • People

    • Process

    • Networks (referred to as the Control System Component)

    • Command Post

Mission Rehearsals

  • There are four specific types of mission rehearsals utilized within army operations:

    • Backbrief

    • Combined arms rehearsal

    • Support rehearsal

    • Battle drills

Army Health System (AHS) Principles and Functions

  • Force Health Protection vs. Health Service Support

    • Health Service Support (HSS) and Force Health Protection (FHP) are the two primary pillars of the Army Health System.

    • Dental services serve as a notable example of a medical function that falls under both Force Health Protection and Health Service Support.

  • The Six Principles of the Army Health System

    • These principles are essential for the planning and execution of medical operations and are found within the specific evaluation rubric. It is recommended to create a dedicated acronym to ensure retention of all six:

      • Flexibility

      • Control

      • Mobility

      • Complaint

      • Annuity

      • Parsnipity

Roles of Medical Care and Evacuation Policy

  • Overview of Medical Roles

    • Role 1: Initial medical treatment at the unit level.

    • Role 2: Includes the capability for a 7272-hour hold for casualties.

    • Role 3: Hospital-level care where the duration of a patient's stay is dictated by the specific evacuation policy of the theater.

    • Role 4: Definitive care; the final stage of medical treatment within the system.

  • Theater Evacuation Policy

    • The Theater Evacuation Policy is established by the Combatant Fact Check (Combatant Commander).

    • The Combatant Commander determines this policy based on advice provided by the Set death (Command Surgeon).

    • Short-term Theater Evacuation Policy: This policy involves having fewer medical beds available within the theater because the primary goal is a high evacuation rate, moving patients out as quickly as possible.

    • Long-term Theater Evacuation Policy: This involves longer holding times within the theater and more robust medical infrastructure. This type of policy is increasingly expected in current and future operational environments.

Army Briefing Types and Procedures

  • The Four Types of Army Briefs

    • Information brief

    • Decision brief

    • Mission brief

    • Staff brief

  • The Briefing Process

    • The execution of any military brief follows a standard four-step process: Plan, Prepare, Execute, and Assess.