Evolving Medical Strategies for Low Intensity Conflicts - A Necessity

Military medicine is the development within the art and science which is designed to carry out a specialized, essential and a highly significant mission under the adverse conditions of war. Low Intensity Conflict (LIC) is a mode of warfare which has come to stay and the Indian Military has to confront it as such. It is a campaign of nerves, less military and more psychological, with soldiers inevitably fighting with hands behind their back. The dichotomy the soldier faces, results in high levels of frustration leading to various stress disorders. The key in casualty survival lies in correct and timely psychological first-aid for which every section and platoon commander should be trained. Post Trauma Stress Disorder caused as a result of traumatic experience can deplete unit's efficiency and therefore needs monitoring for early detection and treatment. Evolving medical strategies for Low Intensity Conflict Operations (LICO), therefore assumes significance.