Medical Center of Excellence Publishes Its Medical Company (Role 2) Doctrine Publication

By Mr. Lawrence M. Johannik, MEDCoE Doctrine Developer (Medical)November 16, 2022

Medical Center of Excellence Publishes Its Medical Company (Role 2) Doctrine Publication
Medical Center of Excellence Publishes Its Medical Company (Role 2) Doctrine Publication. Courtesy graphic. (Photo Credit: Jose Rodriguez) VIEW ORIGINAL

As the U.S. Army’s culture shifts from counterinsurgency or limited contingency operations to large-scale combat operations, medical forces must optimize Army Health System support at echelon for maximum effectiveness. Large-scale combat operations demand a flexible and agile medically ready force, with the supporting medical force being equally flexible and agile to provide Army Health System support.

Army Techniques Publication 4-02.6, The Medical Company (Role 2), is one of the medical treatment cornerstone Army Health System publications that provides doctrinal guidance of capabilities and capacities at each role of medical care. This publication outlines training considerations to help strengthen AHS support for units conducting division close operations. It provides more detailed tactics, techniques, and procedures to conduct brigade-level medical support than previous medical company doctrine.

The dynamic and rapid evolution of current combat operations will demand competent Role 2 medical company leaders. Of equal if not greater importance is how we educate, organize, train, equip, and professionally develop medical leaders at the platoon and company level. This publication is designed to be the foundation for leaders and Soldiers to build their training and through training gain the experience necessary to be successful in multidomain operations. This publication serves as the catalyst for leaders to perform now, develop competence in their leadership capabilities, and shape how to successfully support future operations at the Role 2 medical company.

The medical company must be manned, equipped, and trained to support the Army forces as the Army supports the joint force during combat operations. Just as the Army seeks dominance in volatile, complex, and ambiguous environments, operational medicine is redefining how the Army Health System evolves to support these emerging challenges. Observations, insights, and lessons at major training events demonstrated the need for a company-level publication that drives the transition from the medical mission in support of operations the Army has grown accustomed to over the last 20 years to a much more difficult medical mission in support of large-scale combat operations.

The material presented in this publication reflects enduring practices in providing timely Army Health System support to the tactical commander. This publication is the third of four publications that depict Army Health System support operations from the point of injury through the Role 1 medical treatment facility to the Role 2 medical treatment facility and initiating evacuation to the Role 3 medical treatment facility.

Doctrine is only one aspect guiding how we medically support the warfighter; however, doctrine is useless without the leaders and Soldiers trained and educated in its application, and a bottom-up approach to doctrine begins at the foundations with cornerstone publications. For this reason and in response to the directive of the Commanding General, Combined Arms Center, the Medical Center of Excellence Doctrine Literature Division has developed Army Techniques Publication 4-02.6, The Medical Company (Role 2), to outline the tactics, techniques, and procedures, along with the training, leadership, and education considerations, to help strengthen platoon and company leaders in providing AHS support to units conducting division close operations.