Medical Support to Joint Operations

1 Medical Support to Joint OperationsJDP 4-03 Second EditionMedical Support toJoint OperationsJoint Doctrine PublicationSecond Edition4-03 Designed and produced by theDevelopment, Concepts and Doctrine Centre JDP 4-03 i 2nd Edition Joint DOCTRINE PUBLICATION 4-03 (2nd Edition) Medical Support TO Joint Operations Joint Doctrine Publication 4-03 (JDP 4-03) 2nd Edition, dated January 2007, is promulgated as directed by the Chiefs of Staff Director General Development, Concepts and Doctrine CONDITIONS OF RELEASE 1.

2 This information is Crown copyright and the intellectual property rights for this publication belong exclusively to the Ministry of Defence (MOD). No material or information contained in this publication should be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form outside MOD establishments except as authorised by both the sponsor and the MOD where appropriate. 2. This information may be subject to privately owned rights. JDP 4-03 ii 2nd Edition AUTHORISATION The Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre (DCDC) is responsible for publishing Joint Doctrine Publications (JDPs) within a hierarchy of similar publications.

3 Readers wishing to quote JDPs as reference material in other work should confirm with DCDC Doctrine Editor whether the particular publication and amendment state remains authoritative. Comments on factual accuracy or proposals for amendment are welcomed by the Doctrine Editor at: The Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre Ministry of Defence Shrivenham SWINDON, Wilts, SN6 8RF Telephone number: 01793 314216/7 Facsimile number: 01793 314232 E-mail: DISTRIBUTION Distribution of JDPs is managed by DSDC(L) Llangennech, Mwrwg Road, Llangennech, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, SA14 8YP. Requests for issue of this publication, or amendments to its distribution, should be referred to DSDC(L). All other DCDC publications including a regularly updated CD Joint Doctrine Disk (containing both JDPs and Allied Joint Publications (AJPs)) can also be demanded from DSDC(L). Telephone number: 01554 822368 Facsimile: 01554 822350 All publications (including drafts) are available for viewing/download at Defence Intranet.

4 JDP 4-03 iii 2nd Edition Joint DOCTRINE PUBLICATIONS The successful conduct of military Operations requires an intellectually rigorous, clearly articulated and empirically-based common framework of understanding that gives advantage to a country s Armed Forces and its likely partners in situations involving containment, confrontation, crisis and conflict. This common basis of understanding is provided by doctrine. UK policy states that national doctrine should, as far as is practicable and sensible, be consistent with NATO doctrine, terminology and procedures (except when the UK has elected not to ratify NATO doctrine).

5 However, national doctrine needs to cover those areas not adequately covered by NATO doctrine and, by continuously and rigorously reviewing existing doctrine and operational practice, influence the development of Allied doctrine. This requirement is addressed in Joint Doctrine Publications (JDP).1 Interim Joint Doctrine Publications (IJDP) are published to meet pressing needs for doctrinal guidance in a timescale that precludes full staffing or endorsement; they are duly caveated to reflect evolving or planned changes in policy, imminent legislation or in anticipation of future lessons. Short-term, urgent requirements for doctrine are published in Joint Doctrine Notes (JDNs). JDNs do not represent an agreed or fully staffed position, but are raised in short order by the Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre (DCDC) to establish and disseminate current best practice. They also establish the basis for further development and experimentation, and inform Operations and exercises.

6 Details of the Joint Doctrine development process and the associated hierarchy of JDPs are to be found in Defence Instructions and Notices (DINs) and in the Joint Doctrine Development Handbook (JDDH). 1 Formerly named Joint Warfare Publications (JWPs). JDP 4-03 iv 2nd Edition RECORD OF AMENDMENTS Amendment Number Date of Insertion Initials JDP 4-03

7 V 2nd Edition PREFACE Purpose 1. JDP 4-03 (2nd Edition) Medical Support to Joint Operations describes how Medical , dental and veterinary Support is prepared, planned and delivered during Joint It is primarily aimed at the operational level, but includes strategic and tactical doctrine (where relevant). Whilst concentrating on Operations , it also introduces the notion of health as a military , national and global security issue, thereby placing the actions of the Defence Medical Services (DMS) within the wider strategic context. 2. The delivery of health care to UK Armed Forces personnel before, during and after Operations is a statutory obligation, fundamental to operational effectiveness. Fit and healthy people underpin the moral and physical components of fighting power, in particular Force Generation3 and Force Protection (FP).

8 4 Defence medicine is subject to both internal and external influences, with Medical personnel having to act within military and professional constraints, against a backdrop of increasing public, Ministerial and international expectation. On Operations , a sequence of clinical personnel may attend to a patient at different points in the treatment chain, so a shared understanding and overarching doctrine are needed. Scope 3. JDP 4-03 retains a high level focus, describing why a Joint Medical framework is needed and how it can most effectively be employed on deployed Operations . The publication identifies how Medical functions interact and contribute to operational success, and it is aimed primarily at: Joint operational planning staffs, particularly Medical ; Joint Force Logistic Command (JFLogC) staff; Component Medical staff; Medical staff in the Front Line Commands (FLC) and Defence Equipment & Support (DE and infrastructure and personnel Support staff.)

9 JDP 4-03 will assist health personnel, many of whom reside in the Reserve services and/or in Other Government Departments (OGD), as well as members of Non-governmental Organisations (NGO) with whom the DMS frequently interact. Finally, JDP 4-03 should Support equipment capability managers in the development and procurement of Medical capabilities, as well as enabling the development of tactical doctrine and training requirements for DMS personnel. 2 The term Medical Support covers all Medical , dental and veterinary services provided, directly or indirectly, to contribute to the health and well-being of patients or a population. 3 Force Generation is the process of providing suitably trained and equipped forces, and their means of deployment, recovery and sustainment to meet all current and potential future tasks, within required readiness and preparation times.

10 (JDP ) 4 FP is the means by which operational effectiveness is maintained through countering the effects from adversary, natural and human hazards, including fratricide, in order to ensure security and freedom of action. (JDP ) JDP 4-03 vi 2nd Edition 4. JDP 4-03 Medical Support to (as opposed to on) Joint Operations recognises that Medical preparedness commences before deployment and includes preventive and risk-reduction practices, as well as reparative treatments and evacuation chains.