I understand the need to flatten the curve and the fear of overwhelming the healthcare system. Does the military not have excess capacity of qualified personnel and equipment to assist in this situation? I would think the ICU type facilities would be available in larger numbers with military involvement. Am I on the wrong track?

The way the military handles healthcare doesn't really work that way. The majority of our healthcare assets at the unit level are focused more on preserving life from trauma and injury not disease. Installations have hospitals on them similar to civilian hospitals, not over stocked with ventilators and anti-virals.

.....and the military already uses whatever excess capacity it does have to treat military retirees, which will include those who get the virus, so that capacity is already factored into the overall medical system.

The US medical system will free up additional capacity if the situation requires by delaying all routine, nonessential treatment until the crisis passes, but that won't create much more of the specialized medical equipment that may be necessary to treat virus cases.

74OA said:

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.....and the military already uses whatever excess capacity it does have to treat military retirees, which will include those who get the virus, so that capacity is already factored into the overall medical system.

The US medical system will free up additional capacity if the situation requires by delaying all routine, nonessential treatment until the crisis passes, but that won't create more of the specialized medical equipment that may be necessary to treat virus cases.

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Thanks for the replies. I was wondering specifically about equipment more than long term care. I would think that your typical "Dustoff" has some type of intubation capabilities.

Yes, they do.

A Role 2 unit, what you could picture from the show MASH, has ~5 ventilators. Not that many in the grand scheme of things, but I could see those being pulled into a larger hospital.

Naveronski said:

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Yes, they do.

A Role 2 unit, what you could picture from the show MASH, has ~5 ventilators. Not that many in the grand scheme of things, but I could see those being pulled into a larger hospital.

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Why couldn't they Mobilize field hospital type situations if the SHTF in a real way. We also have incredible lift capabilities that could distribute the critical load around the country to relieve places that are swamped.

I would think that a country that is prepared to fight a 2 front war against near peer adversaries would have the medicinal capabilities to sustain that effort.

I'm certain some of the chemical battalions could absolutely aid in testing and decontamination.

Decon is their mission.

I was speaking to a military member from A&M/Masters work in counter intelligence...

I asked the same question on a global perspective.

I stated that, "I am surprised not to see a more significant military presence given all that is going on...why not take the initiative in Italy, Spain...soon the UK? We have before why not for this threat? "


His response was sobering and concurrent.

Quote:

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The US Military is not the logistical medical stronghold you would think it is. It is good at it's job, but cannot perform the necessary medical services better than a civilian unit in America, or any other country for that matter. It is trained for a wartime theater and performs best under such circumstances. ...

Involving them in this current pandemic would produce more instability than resolve...here or abroad.

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I certainly did not see that coming..

Most conus military instillation clinics aren't much more than a glorified urgent care. There's a few exceptions in some places. Also from my understanding most are staffed by PAs. Wouldn't know much since I haven't gone in to a clinic in probably 3-4 years now that our annual physicals are done entirely online.