text: Army Health System Command and Control
  Chief of Staff Section
  2-54. The chief of staff section plans, directs, and coordinates the execution of staff functions. It reviews
  organizational activities and recommends changes, as necessary, to the MEDCOM (DS) commander. This
  section ensures synchronization of staff activities and ensures that required coordination is accomplished.
  Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel
  2-55. The deputy chief of staff, personnel serves as the advisor to the commander on personnel issues and
  provides administrative services for the command.
  Personnel section
  2-56. This section is responsible for establishing, monitoring, and assessing MEDCOM (DS) human
  resources policies. This section coordinates responsibility for MEDCOM (DS) strength management;
  finance support; casualty management; casualty estimates; morale, welfare, and recreation activities;
  education; safety and accident prevention; alcohol and drug abuse programs; and equal opportunity activities.
  Further, this section provides overall administrative services for the command, to include: personnel
  administration, mail distribution, awards and decorations, and leaves. This section coordinates with elements
  of supporting agencies for finance, human resources, and administrative services, as required. This section
  receives and processes actions including promotions, reassignments, awards, personnel accounting, and
  strength management. The section prepares the MEDCOM (DS) personnel estimate and recommends
  priorities of fill for replacement to the MEDCOM (DS) commander and the deputy chief of staff,
  security/plans/operations.
  Personnel Management and Actions Branch
  2-57. Personnel management and actions branch develops personnel policies for promotions, appointments,
  demotions, classifications, assignments, reassignments, decorations, awards, and separations for the
  MEDCOM (DS) according to theater policy. It maintains continuous personnel loss data and obtains
  summarized personnel information for use in preparing support plans. In coordination with the CA section,
  this branch provides policy and guidance on procurement, administration, and utilization of civilian personnel
  in the command. This branch is also responsible for establishing and monitoring Family readiness groups.
  Deputy Chief of Staff, Security, Plans, and Operations
  2-58. Deputy chief of staff, security, plans, and operations is the principal staff section in matters concerning
  security, plans, intelligence, operations, organization, training, and CBRN defensive activities. It prepares
  broad planning guidance, policies, and programs for command organizations, operations, and functions. This
  section is responsible for plans and operations, deployment, relocation, and redeployment of the MEDCOM
  (DS). It directs and coordinates MEDEVAC operations, both ground and air. It provides 24-hour continuous
  operations capability. This section develops policies and guidance for training and training evaluation of the
  command. This section has four principal functional elements: the current operations branch, the plans
  branch, the intelligence and operations branch, and the theater patient movement center.
  Current Operations Branch
  2-59. The current operations branch is responsible for all operational planning functions to include
  deployment, relocation, and redeployment of the MEDCOM (DS).
  Plans Branch
  2-60. The plans branch provides security, plans and operations, deployment, relocation, and redeployment
  of the command. This branch exercises staff supervision over medical activities, assists the commander in
  developing and training the unit’s mission essential task list, and identifies training requirements based on
  medical missions and the unit’s training status. This branch is responsible for developing and implementing