Chapter 5

Logistics and Combat Service Support

Mountainous terrain poses great challenges to combat service support

(CSS) forces and complicates sustaining operations. Existing roads and
trails are normally few and primitive, and cross-country movement is
particularly demanding. Highways usually run along features that have
steep slopes on either side, making them vulnerable to disruption and at-
tack. Rivers become major obstacles because of rapid currents, broken
banks, rocky bottoms, and the lack of bridges. Landslides and ava-
lanches, natural as well as man-made, may also pose serious obstacles to
CSS operations. Mountainous areas have wide variations in climate and
are subject to frequent and sudden changes of weather that may preclude
reliance on continuous aviation support. Together, these conditions com-
pound the obstacle-
producing effects of CONTENTS
mountainous terrain and Section I – Planning Considerations .......... 5-3
create major challenges Section II – Supply ........................................ 5-5
for the CSS planner. Supply Routes........................................... 5-6
Therefore, the forward Classes of Supply ..................................... 5-7
distribution of supplies Section III: Transportation and
may depend upon the Maintenance .............................................. 5-9
Section IV – Personnel Support ................ 5-10
knowledge, skill, and
Section V – Combat Health Support ......... 5-11
proficiency of CSS
Planning ................................................... 5-11
personnel in both basic Evacuation............................................... 5-12
mountaineering and aerial Mountain Evacuation Teams ................. 5-12
resupply operations. Treatment................................................. 5-13

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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
The Importance of Lines of Communications: The Satukandav Pass
(Soviet-Afghan War, November-December 1987)
One of the characteristics of the Soviet-Afghan War (December 1979 - Feb-
ruary 1989) was the attempt by both sides to control the other’s lines of com-
munications (LOCs). In an effort to deprive the guerrillas of their source of
sustainment, the Soviets used various methods to drive the rural population
into exile or into cities. For their part, the Mujahideen regularly interdicted sup-
ply routes through the establishment of blocking positions and vehicular am-
bushes. In some regions, they were able to effectively interdict supply routes
for weeks, months, and even years at a time. The Soviet main supply route
was a double-lane highway network winding through the rugged and inhospi-
table Hindu Kush Mountains. The continued Soviet presence in Afghanistan
depended, in large part, on their ability to keep the roads open. Therefore,
much of heavy Soviet combat was a fight for control of this road network, with
this control often changing hands during the course of the war.
In the fall of 1987, the Mujahideen had established a series of blocking posi-
tions that severely limited the supply of weapons, ammunition, and food to So-
viet forces in the Khost district. In response, the Soviets planned and

MRR
N
1st ABN CO
010700 DEC
ABN BN
AAG 011430
ABN BN
3400 DEC
011000 DEC

3rd ABN CO
40th ARMY 011200 DEC

TO GA
RD E Z
ABN BN
1 2 km 011800 DEC

DARI TO K
HO ST
DAG
SATUKANDAV PASS
ABN
DIV

Figure 5-1. Satukandav Pass

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conducted Operation Magistral, “main highway,” to open the LOCs (see Figure
5-1). The guerrilla forces had established strong positions in the Satukandav
Pass, virtually the only way through the mountains between Gardez and
Khost. For the operation, the Soviets massed a motorized rifle division, air-
borne division, separate motorized rifle regiment (MRR), separate airborne
th
regiment, various 40 Army regiments, special forces, and other subordinate
units, and regiments from the Afghan Armed Forces. On 28 November, in or-
der to determine the location of Mujahideen positions, particularly air defense
systems, the Soviets conducted a ruse in the form of an airborne assault us-
ing dummy paratroopers. When the Mujahideen fired at the dummies, Soviet
artillery reconnaissance was able to pinpoint enemy strong points and firing
positions. The Soviets hit these positions with air strikes and a four-hour artil-
lery barrage. The next day, however, an MRR failed to make its way up the
foothills to seize the dominant terrain along the crest, and suffered heavy
th
casualties. The 40 Army Commander, General Gromov, nevertheless, de-
st
cided to continue to press his advance using the 1 Airborne Battalion and a
battalion of Afghan commandos. On 1 December, two airborne companies
captured key terrain and used this to support the decisive operation against
the dominant peak to the south. This flanking attack took the Mujahideen by
surprise and they began to withdraw. While calling in artillery fire on the re-
treating guerrilla forces, primarily on the reverse slope and along the probable
avenue of approach for the commitment of enemy reserves, the Soviet bat-
talion commander used this hard-won, key terrain to support a simultaneous,
two-prong attack to the south toward the Satukandav Pass. Now it was the
Soviets who were in a position to cut off supplies, especially fresh drinking
water, from the Mujahideen. The latter were forced to withdraw, and the two
battalions captured the pass. However, while the operation itself was a suc-
cess, Soviet and Afghan Army forces could keep the road open for only 12
days, after which the Mujahideen once again cut off the supply route to Khost.
Both sides recognized the vital importance of LOCs, and this shift of LOC
control was a constant feature throughout the entire duration of the Soviet-
Afghan War. The Mujahideen’s ability to interdict the LOCs prevented the So-
viets from maintaining a larger occupation force there, a key factor in the
eventual Soviet defeat.
Compiled from The Other Side of the Mountain and The Bear Went Over the Mountain.

SECTION I – PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS

5-1. Mountainous areas of operations dictate that commanders foresee

needs before demands are placed upon CSS personnel. The main logistical
differences between mountain operations and operations in other terrain are
a result of the problems of transporting and securing material along difficult
and extended lines of support. Logistics support must emphasize a
continuous flow of supplies to specific locations, rather than the build-up of
stocks at supply points along the main supply routes. Supply point operations
alone are insufficient; the proposed support structure must plan for
redundancy in the ability to distribute supplies directly to units operating
from predetermined supply routes. If possible, commanders should plan to

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use multiple supply routes designed to support maneuver elements moving

on separate axis.

5-2. Commanders must be concerned not only with the sustainment of

current operations but also with the support of future operations. A detailed
logistics preparation of the theater (LPT) to identify the potential lines of
communication plays a major part in determining the conduct of CSS
operations. A detailed reconnaissance should be conducted to determine:

• The type and maximum number of vehicles that the road network can
support in the area. New roads may need to be constructed or
improvements made to existing ones to support protracted operations
in isolated areas.

• Classification of bridges.

• Suitable sites for drop zones (DZs), loading zones (LZs), and short,
tactical airstrips.

• Availability of water sources.

• Availability of local resources, facilities, and service and support

activities.

5-3. Because of terrain constraints, it may be necessary to disperse support

units over a wider area and ensure that supplies are positioned closer to
supported units. Dispersion reduces vulnerability of CSS assets, which also
creates problems with command, control, and security. CSS units are often
high-priority targets, and must ensure adequate protection against ground
and air attacks.

5-4. In mountainous terrain, battalion CSS elements are normally

echeloned into combat and field trains to increase responsiveness, provide
adequate space, and decrease the logistics footprint. Combat trains are
routinely located in ravines or valleys on the rear slope of the terrain
occupied by the unit. This permits the personnel officer (S1) and logistics
officer (S4) to operate in close proximity to the tactical operations center
(TOC), and allows them to keep abreast of unit requirements.

5-5. In the mountains, unresolved logistical problems can quickly lead to

mission failure. Ground operations may increase fuel consumption rates of
individual vehicles by 30 to 40 percent, requiring more frequent resupply
operations. The operation of equipment in mountainous terrain has proven
that maintenance failures far exceed losses due to combat, and most
breakdowns can be attributed to operator training. Air operations are
characterized by a significant increase in lift requirements; however,
increased elevations decrease aircraft lift capabilities.

5-6. Commanders must carefully consider combat loads in the mountains,

based upon a thorough mission analysis. Excess equipment and supplies
reduce the efficiency of the individual soldier and seriously impede

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operations. In steep terrain above

1,500 meters (5,000 feet), soldier • Limit supplies to essentials.
loads may need to be reduced by • Lighten the individual soldier’s
nearly 50 percent. Commanders combat load.
must develop priorities, accept • Improvise methods and supply
risk, and require the combat force sources, to include utilizing
to carry only the bare essentials captured enemy supplies and
needed for its own support. equipment.
Nonessential equipment should be • Use aviation assets to increase
identified, collected, and stored responsiveness.
until it is needed. In situations • Anticipate maintenance
where there are conflicts between requirements.
the weight of ammunition and • Develop plans that place
weapons, experience has shown realistic demands on the CSS
that it is better to carry more system.
ammunition and fewer weapons.
In the mountains, commanders Figure 5-2. Mountain Supply
should strive to achieve the Imperatives
imperatives indicated in Figure 5-2.

SECTION II – SUPPLY

5-7. Units operating in mountainous terrain transport supplies by a

combination of wheeled vehicles, oversnow vehicles, indigenous pack animals
and personnel (see FM 3-05.27), assisted by Army and Air Force lift assets.
These combinations depend on equipment availability, location of combat
units, type of terrain, and weather. However, any combination of resupply
usually includes combat soldiers man-packing supplies to their positions.

5-8. Since combat operations in the mountains are decentralized, CSS

operations are correspondingly decentralized. This decentralization serves to
create heavier man-loads, while rough, steep terrain decreases the amount
soldiers are able to carry. Although most soldiers are eventually able to
acclimate themselves to higher elevations, their pace and subsequently the
overall pace of the entire operation slows down as elevation increases.

5-9. Mountain warfare is highly dependent on accurate logistical planning if

supply operations are to function smoothly. To win in any area of operations
(AO), commanders normally seek to move and strike as rapidly as possible.
Rapidly changing tactical situations may cause long supply lines, resulting in
delay or complete disruption of supply operations. To mitigate these risks,
situational understanding, rapid decisions, and continuous coordination
between tactical and logistical planners are essential. Stockpiling and caching
supplies may also help to decrease the risks to resuppply.

5-10. The total tonnage of supplies required by the force may also decrease.
For example, while individual vehicle petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL)
consumption may increase, overall consumption may decrease because of
lower vehicle movement. The quantity of supplies needed by the individual
soldier normally increases. Soldiers consume more food because of increased

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energy expenditure, and need many additional items of equipment, such as

extra clothing, sleeping bags, climbing equipment, tents, and stoves, all of
which must be stored and transported.

SUPPLY ROUTES
5-11. Main supply routes are generally limited to the roads located along
major valleys and, through necessity, to the smaller, more restrictive trails
that follow or parallel the ridgelines. The limited number of routes increases
the volume of traffic and places heavy demands on engineer units to maintain
them. In most cases, engineer units require assistance in clearing and
developing, as well as in securing, these routes. Travel times for ground
transportation assets are significantly increased due the generally poor
quality of mountain roads and trails, frequent switchbacks, and steep grades
that require lower vehicle speeds. Traffic control assumes increased
importance due to the limited number of routes in the mountains, and may
require an increased number of military police dedicated to the task of
battlefield circulation control. In particular–

• Existing roads should be rapidly analyzed for bottlenecks, deployment

areas, passing places, and turnarounds for various vehicles.

• Routes should be classified as one- or two-way, and schedules

developed for the use of one-way routes.

• Signs should be placed for both day and night moves on difficult and
dangerous routes.

• Whenever possible, separate routes should be designated for

vehicular and dismounted movement. Additionally, separate routes
should be designated for wheeled and tracked vehicles, particularly if
the latter are likely to damage road surfaces.

5-12. The enemy will emphasize destroying logistical units and interdicting
supply activities. Enemy units will infiltrate and seize key terrain that
dominates supply routes in an effort to disrupt and isolate units from their
logistics support. Using mountain trails and roads without securing the high
ground on both sides invites ambush. Patrols must be continually conducted
at irregular intervals to verify the status of roads and prevent enemy
infiltration. Patrols must be continuously alert for ambush and they must be
skilled at locating and identifying mines. However, a combination of patrols
and aerial reconnaissance is the best means of providing route security.
Observation posts on dominant terrain along supply routes are also essential
for early warning of enemy infiltration into rear areas.

5-13. Most often, units have to use the narrrow ridge trails as alternate
supply routes, in some instances as main supply routes, to reduce the volume
of traffic on the main supply routes located along valley floors. This involves
movements in much more restrictive terrain and exposure to excellent
observation and fire by the enemy. Supply columns moving along separate

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routes face the same problems as combat units; they face the difficulties of
being able to provide mutual support due to compartmented terrain, should
one column come under attack. Movement of supplies at night may reduce
vulnerability to enemy attack, but night marches present other hazards due
to the difficult terrain, and require daylight reconnaissance, careful route
preparations, and using guides.

CLASSES OF SUPPLY
CLASS I: RATIONS AND WATER
5-14. The strenuous activities required during mountain operations increase
caloric requirement to 4,500 calories or more per day. Improper or too little
food means soldiers will lack the stamina to accomplish the mission. Although
combat rations are normally used, unitized group rations (UGRs) should be
provided once a day if the situation permits. Individual packages of oatmeal
and dehydrated soup mixes should be issued if the UGR cycle cannot be
maintained.

5-15. In abrupt ascents to high altitude, soldiers do not have time to

acclimate themselves, so their entire circulatory system labors to supply
oxygen to the body. In this situation, standard rations are hard to digest and
special rations, such as the ration, cold weather (RCW), that allow soldiers to
eat light and often should be procured. The totally self-contained operational
ration consists of one full day’s feeding in a flexible, white-camouflaged meal
bag. It contains cooked, freeze-dried, or other low moisture entrees, as well as
a variety of items such as oatmeal, a nut-raisin mix, and fruit-cookie bars.
The RCW provides sufficient calories (approximately 4,500 kilocalories) to
meet the increased energy expenditure during heavy exertion, while limiting
sodium and protein content to reduce the risk of dehydration. Because of
rapidly changing weather conditions and the difficulty of resupply, each
soldier may need to carry two to three days’ supply of rations. However, this
increases the soldier’s load by approximately 10 to 15 pounds.

5-16. Proper water production, resupply, and consumption are essential and
a constant challenge during mountain operations. In low mountains, planners
should count on at least four quarts of water per soldier per day when static
and up to eight quarts per day when active. In high mountains, planner
should increase those requirements by about two quarts per soldier. In the
mountain environment, medical care often requires an increased water
supply and must be considered as part of the original planning and
contingency factors.

5-17. Units should always be prepared to use natural water sources to help
reduce the logistics burden. However, far above the timberline, water is
extremely difficult to find. Special measures must be taken to protect it from
freezing in cold weather, such as placing canteens in the chest pockets of the
extended cold weather clothing system (ECWCS) coat, hanging a two-quart
canteen on a strap under the coat, or utilizing a camel-back type,
commercially available, canteen under overgarments. Purification and
chemical sterilization are always necessary no matter how clean mountain

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water may appear. Micro-organisms present in mountain water may cause

serious illness and rapidly degrade the strength of a unit. If above ground
water sources cannot be located or are not reasonably available, drilling for
underground sources may become a critical engineer task. Once engineer
units access the water, quartermaster units have responsibility for
completing the water points and purifying the water.

CLASS II: GENERAL SUPPLIES

5-18. General supplies include expendable administrative items, individual
clothing and equipment, tentage, and other items authorized by common
tables of allowance. All units must deploy with enough Class II items to last
until routine resupply can be established. Special items, such as extended
cold weather clothing, gloves, climbing equipment, extended cold-weather
sleep systems, batteries, and one-burner cook stoves, will be in great demand.
Due to the rugged nature of the terrain, mountain operations also increase
requirements for replacement items of individual clothing and equipment.
Combat boots, for example, may be expected to last approximately two weeks
in harsh rocky terrain.

CLASS III: FUEL AND PACKAGED PETROLEUM PRODUCTS

5-19. Individual vehicles need much more fuel in mountainous terrain.
However, limited road nets and steep slopes reduce the volume of vehicle
traffic and overall fuel consumption. The heavy reliance on aviation assets for
resupply and movement increases aviation fuel requirements. A commander
must routinely plan for the emplacement of a forward arming and refueling
point (FARP) within their AO to support intensive aviation operations.
Battalions should establish a fuel point in the field trains using collapsible
fuel drums. These drums should be operational as soon as the field trains are
established and prepared to receive fuel from the forward supply company as
soon as it arrives. When terrain makes refueling operations vulnerable to
attack, units should conduct forward refueling using supply point
distribution, and dispense fuel to unit vehicles using the tailgate technique.
The lack of suitable terrain normally increases the percentage of forward
refueling done by this method.

5-20. At 600 meters (2,000 feet), multi-fuel cook stoves operate at about 75
percent efficiency. When soldiers refuel cook stoves, they must avoid using
automotive fuel. Fuel points must supply units with refined or white gasoline
that is specifically produced for pressurized stoves. Relatively large quantities
of this fuel will be used when procuring water and preparing food. Adequate
quantities of five-gallon cans, nozzles, and one-quart fuel bottles must be on-
hand before deployment.

CLASS IV: CONSTRUCTION, BARRIER, AND FORTIFICATION MATERIALS

5-21. Soldiers should make maximum use of local materials to reduce Class
IV requirements and demands on the transportation system. Gabion-type
material is especially versatile during mountain operations. Gabions are
widely used in the mountains for constructing obstacles, fighting positions,

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anchors, mountain installations, traverse platforms, and helicopter LZs; for

creating landslides or rockfalls; and for repairing roads. Units should stock
adequate quantities of easily transportable sizes of reinforcing mesh and
other suitable materials for constructing gabions.

CLASS V: AMMUNITION
5-22. Because of terrain, ammunition resupply is difficult, making strict fire
control and discipline an absolute necessity. Ammunition transfer points need
to be as far forward as possible without revealing friendly unit locations or
placing ammunition stocks at risk of capture or destruction. Direct delivery to
the user may be required using aerial resupply. Innovation and flexibility are
critical. In the mountains, the traditional mixes of tank ammunition may be
less effective. Depending upon the specific threat, more rounds may be
needed to attack light vehicles and fortified positions and less may be needed
to engage tanks. Ammunition consumption for direct fire weapons may be
low, however, consumption of indirect fire munitions, such as grenades,
mortars, and artillery, may be high because of the dead space common to
mountainous terrain. Planners must ensure that increased consumption of
indirect fire munitions is included in computating required supply rates.

CLASS VII AND IX: MAJOR END ITEMS AND REPAIR PARTS
5-23. Rugged terrain and climate extremes cause an increase in repair parts
consumption. However, overall vehicle utilization decreases in many
situations. Because it is difficult to transport large end items to forward
units, the commander must place additional emphasis on preventive
maintenance and repair.

CLASS VIII: MEDICAL SUPPLIES

5-24. The medical platoon obtains medical supplies for the battalion from the
supporting forward support medical company (FSMC) or similar task
organized medical element. Medical supply organizations may distribute
supply by various means: supply point distribution, unit distribution, or a
combination of both. Mountainous terrain necessitates using supply point
distribution to a great extent. Medical supply activities must maximize use of
empty evacuation assets moving forward to execute unit distribution of
supplies as often as possible. The terrain will severely constrain ground
movement operations. Pre-planned unit distribution via air assets is a must
for emergent situations, such as mass casualty scenarios. Medical supplies
must have a high priority for movement. Distribution of Class VIII via air
lines of communications (LOCs) should occur as often as tactically feasible.

SECTION III – TRANSPORTATION AND MAINTENANCE

5-25. Transportation assets for mountain operations are often limited, and
their use requires sound planning. Although vehicles are used to move
supplies as far forward as possible, they may not be able to reach deployed
units. Using smaller cargo vehicles with improved cross-country mobility and

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dedicated aircraft is paramount to sustaining units in the mountains. Locally

obtained animals, indigenous personnel, or combat soldiers must often move
supplies from roads and trails to unit positions. The poor quality of road
networks requires increased engineer effort. The rugged mountain terrain
aids in infiltration increasing security requirements along the route.

5-26. Air resupply should always be considered to reduce the transportation

burden on ground assets. Therefore, support personnel should be well-trained
in aerial resupply and sling-load operations. Aerial resupply, either by
parachute drop, free drop, or cargo helicopter, may be available for a variety
of tactical situations. However, unpredictable weather and air currents, cloud
cover, and lack of suitable landing zones make aerial delivery unreliable, and
higher elevations decrease overall aircraft lift capabilities. The integrated use
of available helicopter transport should be used for forward transport of mail,
replacements, returnees, and personnel service support providers, such as
chaplains and finance support teams.

5-27. Fixing equipment as far forward as

• Tires
possible takes on added importance during
• Tracks
mountain operations. In low mountains,
• NVG Batteries
equipment recovery and maintenance teams
• Communications
are critical in keeping limited routes clear
Equipment
and returning damaged vehicles to the
• Cooling Systems
battle in the shortest possible time. In high
mountains, these teams are generally less
Figure 5-3. Key Repair Parts
critical to units operating there because
terrain often limits vehicle use. Helicopter repair teams are critical in all
mountainous environments due to helicopters flying at or near the maximum
limits of their operational capabilities to meet increased needs for helicopter
support. In all cases, maintenance turn-around time increases to compensate
for fatigue and the other effects of the environment on maintenance
personnel. Figure 5-3 lists some of the critical repair parts that often fail or
require frequent replacement during mountain operations.

5-28. Drivers well trained in proper maintenance and driving techniques

eliminate a great deal of unnecessary maintenance and reduce maintenance
requirements and vulnerable bottlenecks. All soldiers must devote increased
attention to applicable FMs and TMs for their weapons and equipment and
must conduct preventative maintenance, to include the availability and use of
suitable cleaning solvents and lubricants, appropriate for the weather and
terrain conditions.

SECTION IV – PERSONNEL SUPPORT

5-29. Personnel support in the mountains is not unlike that provided to other
types of operations except for the limitations on soldiers and equipment posed
by the environment. Key personnel support missions are to provide manning
and personnel service support to unit commanders, soldiers, and Army
civilians.

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5-30. Personnel units normally depend on large quantities of automation

equipment to successfully accomplish their mission. Adverse weather and
rugged terrain may decrease their reliability and commanders should take
extra precautions to protect this equipment. Additionally, the difficulty in
establishing and maintaining communications may require an increased
reliance on manual strength reporting until communications and automated
systems are firmly established.

5-31. Postal services establish the link between soldiers and their family and
friends and assist in defeating the isolation caused by the compartmented
terrain and the resulting dispersion of units. However, the limited lines of
communications in mountainous terrain may adversely affect mail
distribution. Inefficient distribution of mail can quickly undermine morale,
regardless of the AO. The timely delivery of mail is especially important in
countering the shock of entering a new environment. Commanders should
consider devoting a high priority to the distribution of mail on arrival in the
theater of operations. FM 1-0 describes in detail the critical personnel
systems and functions essential to providing manning and personnel service
support.

SECTION V – COMBAT HEALTH SUPPORT

PLANNING
5-32. Combat health support (CHS) in the mountains is characterized by–

• Difficulty in accessing casualties in rugged terrain.

• Increased need for technical mountaineering skills for casualty

evacuation.

• Longer periods of time needed for casualties to be stabilized.

5-33. When planning CHS, commanders must consider the tactical situation,
the nature of the terrain, and speed of movement along the chain of
evacuation. Aid stations should be centrally located in relation to supported
units. The exact location should be based on the ability to provide shelter
from the elements, cover and concealment from the enemy, ease of
evacuation, and expected casualty rates.

5-34. The decentralization in the mountain area of operations also forces the
decentralization of CHS. Commanders may need to establish casualty
collection points, operated by aidmen from the evacuation section, to support
isolated elements. These points are designated at intermediate points along
the routes of evacuation where casualties may be gathered. Additionally,
multiple ambulance exchange points may be required to transfer casualties
from one type of transportation to another.

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EVACUATION
5-35. Aeromedical evacuation remains the preferred form of casualty
evacuation in mountain operations. Aircraft provide the best capability of
evacuating casualties from isolated locations and transporting them to
treatment centers. However, in many instances, even lightly wounded
personnel may not be able to move unassisted over rough terrain and LZs
may not be available.

5-36. Medical evacuation teams must

complete reconnaissance and install • The patient’s condition
necessary evacuation systems along • Anticipated casualty rate
each evacuation route before the onset • Importance of rapid
of casualties. Litter relay stations may movement
be required at predetermined points to • Number of available
conserve the stamina of litter bearers evacuation teams
and accelerate evacuation. The • Number of evacuation
evacuation plan must include measures routes available
to care for wounded soldiers at points • Transportation assets
along the route of evacuation where and equipment available
delays are possible. The plan must also • Availability of suitable
depict all evacuation routes and provide and secure LZs
for proper disposition of medical Figure 5-4. Factors Affecting
personnel along the lines of evacuation Evacuation Systems
(see FM 4-02.2). Evacuating the
wounded from mountain combat zones normally requires a larger number of
medical personnel and litter bearers than on flat terrain. The number and
type of evacuation systems depend on mission, enemy, terrain and weather,
troops and support available, time available, civil considerations (METT-TC)
and the factors listed in Figure 5-4.

MOUTAIN EVACUATION TEAMS

5-37. As the battle to control the heights evolves, combatants attempt to
exploit technical aspects of terrain. Consequently, commanders must
anticipate the need for evacuation teams, normally Level 2 mountaineers,
that have the capability to reach, stabilize, and evacuate casualties in rugged
terrain. Ground evacuations are generally classified as steep slope (non-
technical) or high angle (technical). The mission of trained mountain
evacuation teams is to move casualties over cliffs, obstacles, and other
technical terrain that would significantly impede the mobility of standard
litter bearers. Using evacuation systems to negotiate obstacles shortens
routes and increases the speed of evacuation.

5-38. Because units normally deploy over a wide area and the availability of
qualified technical evacuation teams is likely to be limited, all soldiers should
be trained to conduct less technical, steep-slope evacuations. Two of the most
qualified evacuation teams should be identified in each battalion-sized unit
prior to planned operations. They should be designated as the battalion's
technical evacuation assets and should undergo more advanced

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mountaineering training and rigorous evacuation training. These soldiers can

also develop and teach a program of instruction that will increase the
proficiency of the company evacuation teams.

5-39. Mountain evacuation teams must install the necessary evacuation

systems before casualties occur. They must man the systems, move casualties
over the obstacle until the evacuation
route is no longer required,
disassemble the system, and redeploy
as necessary. Depending on the
specific terrain, evacuation teams
may demand extensive additional
training in some of the areas listed in
Figure 5-5.

TREATMENT
5-40. Treatment of the wounded in
forward areas by medical personnel
is extremely difficult in restrictive
terrain, since even a single company
is often deployed over a wide area. • High-angle ascending and
Combat in the mountains demands a descending techniques.
greater reliance on self-aid, buddy- • Anchor points and
aid, and unit combat lifesaver systems.
techniques. Emphasis must be placed • Litter rigging.
on lifesaving and life-preserving • Lowering and raising
measures to be performed before systems.
medical personnel arrive. Unit • Avalanche search and
combat lifesavers must be identified rescue.
and trained to perform in the
absence of medics. Units operating in
Figure 5-5. Mountain Evacuation
mountainous areas should strive to
Team Tasks
meet or exceed Army standards for
the number of combat lifesavers required for their specific unit. See FM 4-
02.92 for more information on combat lifesavers.

5-41. Soldiers in mountain regions are exposed to many and varied types of
illnesses and injuries. Appendix A describes the cause, prevention, symptoms,
and treatment of common mountain illnesses and injuries.

5-13