Evacuation of the Sick and Wounded (FM 8-35)

Evacuation of the sick and wounded is accomplished using numerous assets and can involve multiple branches of the Armed Forces. A soldier at the battle-front is evacuated by a buddy system to a casualty collection point, where a medic makes an initial assessment.

If the medic deems evacuation to be necessary, the soldier is taken by unit level organic vehicle (which may or may not be an actual ambulance) to the BAS for treatment by a Physicians Assistant (PA).

If the PA feels that he cannot return the soldier to duty within 24 hours, the soldier will then be evacuated by the Forward Support Medical Company Ambulance platoon to the FSMC for further treatment by a Physician.

If the Physician feels that the soldier cannot be returned to duty within 72 hours, the soldier will be evacuated either to: a CSH or MASH if surgery is deemed necessary, an EVAC hospital or Air Force MASF (Mobile Air Staging Facility) pending further evacuation by Air Force assets to a General Hospital located in COMMZ or Continental US (CONUS).

At any point in the treatment process, the medical care providers have the ability to call in a MEDEVAC (Air evacuation) for more critically injured soldiers, enabling the soldier to more quickly get the care required.