text: Medical Intelligence
  For the AHS planner, the civil considerations must be thoroughly explored and analyzed, even if the
  immediate mission does not recognize a requirement for the provision of health services to a host-nation
  population. The AHS planner must be prepared to provide support or have a plan in place in the event a
  civilian medical emergency should arise and the military forces are directed to provide support. Without
  prior planning, the diversion of military medical assets to support civilian medical emergencies will adversely
  impact the AHS support provided to deployed forces and could potentially overwhelm available medical
  resources. The AHS plan must not only conform to the tactical commander's concept of operation and
  scheme of maneuver, it must also be in consonance with the CCDRs theater engagement strategy so that any
  humanitarian activities conducted are not done haphazardly and are part of the regional strategy for the AO.
  GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION
  D-9. Geospatial information includes hydrological data, elevation data, soil composition, and vegetation.
  GEOGRAPHY AND WEATHER
  D-10. The geography and weather factors include climate, weather, terrain (to include urban terrain), and
  altitude. They may also contain information on possible weather/environmental threats such as earthquakes,
  volcanoes, monsoons, or other such conditions.
  CLIMATE AND WEATHER EFFECTS
  D-11. Information contained in the climate and weather effects includes the effects of extreme
  heat/cold/humidity; effects of the predominant weather patterns (such as monsoons) on AHS operations (such
  as MEDEVAC effects of heavy rains or snow; the phase of the moon and its effect on operations (such as
  fullness/brightness when military forces are infiltrating an area); how the weather may affect enemy
  biological and chemical warfare agents use; and climatic effects on medical supplies and equipment.
  TERRAIN ANALYSIS
  D-12. Terrain analysis includes determining the effect on friendly/enemy maneuver capability; effect on
  friendly/enemy ability to sustain health care; effects on timely MEDEVAC; and natural lines of patient drift.
  Lines of patient drift refers to natural routes along which wounded Soldiers may be expected to go back for
  medical care from a combat position. (ATP 4-02.2). Terrain analysis also impacts on MTF site selection
  factors; where the mobility corridors are located and their effects on friendly/enemy actions; effects of
  weather conditions on terrain/mobility; effect of overhead cover (canopy) and vegetation; effect of projected
  action on terrain/mobility; and where potential sources of potable water are located.
  ALTITUDE EFFECTS
  D-13. Altitude effects include effect of high-altitude operations on force capability, rotary-wing MEDEVAC
  assets, MEDEVAC procedures and methods (higher incidence of litter evacuation and longer evacuation
  times for manual evacuation), and standard medical treatment protocols.
  DESCRIBE THE BATTLEFIELD EFFECTS
  D-14. The purpose of this phase of the IPB process is to analyze and integrate various factors of the OE.
  Conducting a detailed analysis of these factors helps commanders and planners understand how the
  significant characteristics the OE can affect friendly and threat operations. The AHS planner will focus on
  identifying the medical aspects of battlefield effects on friendly and threat forces and operations.
  LIMITS OF COMMAND
  D-15. The AO is the geographic area where the commander is assigned the responsibility and authority to
  conduct military operations. The AHS planner must identify the—
  * Geographic AO that may include the macroview or the microview depending upon the level of
  command and the size of the geographic area.