scope:

Allied Joint Medical Planning Doctrine (AJMedP-1) is the primary source for all medical planning within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Command Structure. It provides the framework for the medical aspects for the operations planning process (OPP) at all levels of combined joint operations. It is applicable to NATO Article 5 Collective Defence and Non-Article 5 Crisis Response Operations.

The nature of the medical contribution to operational planning is twofold. First is the input of medical expertise to the general planning process. Chapter 2 describes the medical input during the various phases of the Commander's OPP. Second is the development of a Medical Support Concept and Medical Support Plan for the operation. Chapter 3 provides the details required to conduct the in depth medical analysis and planning.

This document does not address medical planning for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN) environments. This is found in AJMedP-7 Allied Joint Medical Doctrine for Support to Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defensive Operations (STANAG 2596), and AMedP-7(D) Concept of Operations of Medical Support in Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Environments (STANAG 2873).

Purpose

This publication sets out the fundamental principles required to plan and conduct medical support to NATO operations. Medical support remains a national responsibility; however, NATO commanders have come to share this responsibility during recent operations. This brings with it a range of additional responsibilities ranging from the treatment of casualties in different operating environments to the implementation of force health protection measures, interactions with civil organizations providing health services to affected populations, and the increased public expectations of high quality outcomes in the treatment of casualties. Further, the use of multinational medical solutions creates additional planning challenges.

The overall aim of medical support planning is to:

a. Define the medical support concept to include the broad categories of prevention, treatment, and evacuation.

b. Determine the organisation and structure required for medical support.

c. Identify health threats and possible shortfalls, requirements and necessary arrangements to medically support and sustain NATO operations.

d. Determine the requirements and availability of civil-military cooperation, including host nation support and local contracting.