Urban Augmentation Medical Task Forces

What is it?

Urban Augmentation Medical Task Forces (UAMTF) provide an expeditionary, deployable and scalable medical staff to reinforce impacted communities across the nation. Each 85-Soldier unit provides critical capability in support of the Joint Force Land Component Commander (JFLCC) COVID-19 response.

UAMTFs are comprised of medical professionals from Army Reserve units assigned to 3d and 807th Medical Commands (Deployment Support), and Army Reserve Medical Command

What are the current and past efforts of the Army?

The Army mobilized more than a dozen UAMTFs to support the coronavirus relief efforts and curb the spread of the disease in impacted cities, including New York City, Newark, Boston, Detroit and Philadelphia. Each is capable of meeting unique local requirements, from augmenting hospital staffs to supporting up to 250 patients at FEMA medical stations nationwide. These non-doctrinal formations do not come with equipment, medicines, or ICU capability; however, UAMTF’s do provide:

• High-end medical capability: including clinical staff, operational medicine, infectious disease, preventive medicine, nursing, respiratory therapist, clinical psychologist, occupational therapy, dietician, pharmacist, and other medical specialists.
• Resident expertise: highly tailorable and adaptable to a range of evolving requirements, augmenting medical capacity at hospitals and long-term care facilities.

What continued efforts does the Army have planned?

Army Reserve formations will continue to support the nation in the fight against COVID-19 with capabilities such as logistics, engineering, military intelligence, aviation, legal, and military history expertise:

• 377th Theater Sustainment Command: has an operational mission to support U.S. Northern Command during contingency operations, including logistics and sustainment operations.
• 76th Operational Response Command: serves as a regional lead for the ARNORTH-led federal response efforts within the western United States.
• Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers: About 180 officers coordinate the Army’s ongoing response among Department of Defense, federal, state and local governments, and nongovernmental organizations.
• 4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary): oversees regional administrative and integration operations.
• 505th Military Intelligence Brigade: Soldiers using analytical skills to gather information for Defense Support to Civil Authorities.
• 412th and 416th Theater Engineer Commands: are providing engineering planning and experience.
• Army Reserve Aviation Command: Fixed-wing aviators are transporting military medical personnel to some of the hardest-hit areas.

Why is this important to the Army?

UAMTFs validates Army Reserve’s Ready Force X construct and demonstrates its capability as both a global force provider to the JFLCC, and an agile, adaptable asset in the homeland. Specifically created to respond in times of crisis, UAMTFs augment the civilian medical community in the fight against the coronavirus. Bringing enhanced civilian skills, training, and experience, Army Reserve Soldiers are uniquely suited to address this mission requirement.

Resources:

• Army Reserve
• READY FORCE X
• Army Reserve Medical Command
• Reserve COVID-19 website
• US Army: COVID-19

Related articles:

• Army deploys medical task forces to help hard-hit communities
• Urban Augmentation Medical Task Forces