text: Chapter 4
  understand the various support relationships described in the OPORDs to ensure that a seamless continuum
  of health care is established and can be maintained.
  4-20. The MEDEVAC plan for the tactical operation includes both rotary-wing air ambulances and ground
  ambulances. The preferred means of evacuation is the air ambulance; however its availability can be affected
  by air superiority issues and environmental factors such as visibility, winds, and dust. The evacuation plan
  must address the use of ground ambulances when feasible and/or the simultaneous use of both platforms. For
  example, if a wounded Soldier cannot be evacuated by air ambulance for at least 1 hour, the combat medic
  may evacuate the patient first to the supporting Role 1 (or Role 2) MTF to arrive within 20 minutes for TCCC
  performed by the physician assigned to the battalion aid station to further stabilize the patient before he is
  evacuated by air ambulance.
  OFFENSIVE TASKS
  4-21. An offensive task is a task conducted to defeat and destroy enemy forces and seize terrain, resources,
  and population centers. The direct action offensive tasks are depicted in Table 4-2 along with key medical
  considerations for these types of tasks. For additional information on offensive tasks, refer to FM 3-0.
  Table 4-2. Offensive tasks, purposes, and key medical considerations
  Offensive tasks Purposes Key medical considerations
  Movement to contact Dislocate, isolate, disrupt, and All medical functions fully synchronized.
  destroy enemy forces.
  Attack Medical information management to document
  Seize key terrain. health threat exposures and medical
  Exploitation
  encounters, to report health surveillance data
  Deprive the enemy of
  Pursuit and information on the health of the command,
  resources.
  and to accomplish medical regulating and
  Develop intelligence. patient tracking operations.
  Deceive and divert the Locate, acquire, stabilize, treat, and evacuate
  enemy. injured or ill Soldiers from the battlefield to
  Create a secure environment facilitate the operational commander’s ability to
  for stability tasks. exploit opportunities on the battlefield.
  Trauma care, forward resuscitative care, and en
  route medical care to sustain the patient
  through medical evacuation to the appropriate
  role of care.
  Responsive medical logistics which facilitates
  and sustains the treatment of patients during
  the fight.
  Theater hospitalization to provide essential care
  in theater to all categories of patients.
  DEFENSIVE TASKS
  4-22. A defensive task is a task conducted to defeat an enemy attack, gain time, economize forces, and
  develop conditions favorable for offensive or stability tasks.
  4-23. Army Health System support operations for defensive tasks are similar to those for offensive tasks;
  however, normally the timeframe in which the tasks must be conducted is compressed. The only means for
  increasing the mobility of AHS units is to evacuate the patients they are holding. When it is anticipated that
  rapid shifts will occur in the OE, AHS units must evacuate patients from the potentially affected units to
  ensure their agility and to enhance their capacity for newly arriving patients. Table 4-3 (on page 4-9) depicts
  the defensive tasks, purposes, and key medical considerations when preparing for these types of tasks.