A study of Fleet Surgical Teams readiness posture in Amphibious Readiness Groups

• Main Author: Tennyson, Ruby M.
• Other Authors: Gates,William R.
• Language: en_US
• Published: Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School 2012
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10945/9386; http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA378754

This thesis describes and evaluates Fleet Surgical Teams (FSTs). It examines how Navy Medicine adapted FSTs to changing support requirements associated with the Total Health Care Support Readiness Requirement (THCSRR) and its deployability posture in Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) contingency taskings. The FSTs are dedicated medical and surgical assets assigned to the Fleet Commanders-in-Chief (CINC) to increase efficiencies in meeting mission readiness requirements. The FSTs' medical readiness was evaluated against Status of Resources and Training System (SORTS) criteria that included personnel, training, equipment, supplies, and fleet Support operations. The SORTS streamlined resource tracking and reporting to improve FST's capability in delivering continuum of healthcare for the Operating Forces. The analysis showed no glaring deficiencies and determined that FSTs contribute positively to overall ARG medical readiness by increased efficiencies through consolidating and integrating Navy and Marine Corps medical units' support capabilities. The Commander, Amphibious Task Force (CATF) Surgeon must continue to monitor both FST and ARG medical readiness, and pay particular attention to the ship's medical department Authorized Minimal Medical Allowance List (AMMAL) inventory levels.