scope:

Special operations missions are conducted by specially organized, trained and equipped military forces to achieve military, political, economic or psychological objectives by unconventional means in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive areas. Whether operating from a main operating base (MOB), intermediate staging base (ISB), forward staging base (FSB), forward operating base (FOB), fire base (FB) or a combat outpost (COP), AFSOC medical assets provide medical Expeditionary Combat Support (ECS) and casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) during operational missions for Air Force Special Operations Forces (AFSOF) and other SOF. AFSOC medical teams and designated line units support SOF by providing both mission operations support as well as SOF base operations support. These capabilities include initial, trauma stabilization, ongoing combat trauma care including surgical capability and CASEVAC, limited patient holding for post-operative or seriously ill patients awaiting transport, as well as more routine preventive and acute medical care for deployed SOF personnel.