Health service support in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm

Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm have brought into focus a number of difficulties with the medical support of U.S. Army tactical forces. These difficulties include inadequate preparation of Medical Corps officers for command, inadequate medical training of field medical unit personnel, and problems utilizing available equipment to support Operation Desert Storm tactical operations. This paper will discuss these difficulties, potential solutions for these difficulties, and some unresolved issues created by or despite these potential solutions.