text: Chapter 1
  1-29. Air movement operations reduce risk to ground logistics units through economy of force, enable
  operations in areas with limited ground LOCs, allow faster repair and sustainment of combat power, and
  support forward positioning of key leaders to exercise mission command.
  EVACUATE WOUNDED OR RECOVER ISOLATED PERSONNEL
  1-30. As a vital component of the overall health service support (HSS) mission, medical evacuation
  (MEDEVAC) provides the linkage between roles of medical care. MEDEVAC is performed by dedicated
  platforms (ground or air) with medical professionals capable of providing timely, efficient movement and
  en-route care of the wounded, injured, or ill. DA is the sole component directed to provide intra-theater
  aeromedical evacuation (AE) in the patient movement system within the Department of Defense. Intra-
  theater AE is conducted by Army air ambulance units in support of the joint force while conducting
  offensive, defensive, stability, and DSCA operations throughout the depth and breadth of the AO. Army
  Aviation brigades and battalions provide oversight of Army medical air ambulance units conducting intra-
  theater AE according to combatant commander priorities, theater evacuation policies, and Department of
  Defense directives.
  1-31. The speed, flexibility, and en-route care capabilities of Army AE provides HSS more options in the
  allocation of medical treatment facilities (MTFs) by mitigating the effects of extended distances between
  points-of-injury and MTFs, or between MTFs while maintaining a continuum of care. AE is a non-
  combatant, humanitarian mission and is provided special protections under the Law of War and the Geneva
  Conventions.
  1-32. Army Aviation utility, heavy lift, and FW units may conduct casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) when
  required in support of the joint force during offensive, defensive, stability, and DSCA operations.
  CASEVAC, as a secondary component to the patient movement system, is the unregulated movement of
  wounded, injured, or ill personnel using non-medical assets that are dedicated to or designated in support of
  CASEVAC operations. Opportune use of non-dedicated platforms is the lowest level of CASEVAC
  operations. In contrast to MEDEVAC assets, CASEVAC assets may or may not include the provision of
  en-route care, depending on the availability of medical augmentation personnel and equipment. CASEVAC
  may include carry-on medical equipment to accompany medical personnel, but the equipment and supplies
  are dependent upon availability at the time of the mission. As a non-medical platform, CASEVAC aircraft
  retain their legal combatant status in an AO; therefore, use of these assets includes the acceptance of
  additional risk to the patient (who is a non-combatant). Without standardized equipment or en-route
  medical care, CASEVAC generally lacks the assurance of continuity of care when moving a patient to a
  MTF. Even with these limitations, CASEVAC is an essential part of the overall patient movement system,
  and may be the first step in moving an injured Soldier from the point of injury. MEDEVAC and
  CASEVAC support requires detailed assessment and planning in order to achieve an effective patient
  movement plan.
  1-33. Army commanders designate, train, and posture their units to effect recovery of isolated personnel.
  Personnel recovery (PR) missions are joint operations and may require the employment of the full range of
  unified action partner capabilities prior to and during execution. Aviation units are often tasked to support
  the recovery of isolated personnel by transporting PR security elements or recovery forces during
  immediate, deliberate, or external supported recoveries. This support may also include AE, attack,
  reconnaissance, UAS, and C2 support assets to support the PR methods of unassisted, immediate,
  deliberate, and external supported recovery.
  1-34. Evacuation missions can be conducted in support of a variety of operations, to include foreign
  humanitarian assistance, foreign disaster relief, DSCA, non-combatant evacuation, and all combat
  operations across the range of military operations and conflict continuum. Evacuation and recovery
  operations reduce risk and increase survivability of the combined arms team while enabling greater
  freedom of action.