WHEN THE “GOLDEN HOUR” IS DEAD: PREPARING INDIGENOUS GUERRILLA MEDICAL NETWORKS FOR UNCONVENTIONAL CONFLICTS

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Authors
Lyon, Regan F.
Subjects
guerrilla medicine
unconventional warfare
combat trauma
austere medicine
Advisors
McCormick, Gordon H.
Porter, Wayne
Date of Issue
2021-12
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The capability to treat and recuperate casualties to return to combat is a vital component of a force’s defense strategy. The current luxury of large specialized medical teams and expedient patient evacuations will no longer be available in future unconventional (UW) and guerrilla warfare (GW) conflicts. It is the goal of this research to determine how to prepare a resistance medical network for unconventional conflict. First, historical guerrilla medicine cases are used to show the irrelevance of the current NATO roles of care. A more applicable framework to GW/UW based on treatment goals is proposed. Then, tangible requirements were determined through systems dynamics analysis and modeling. The developed model provides casualty statistics based on these tangible requirements for planners to optimize their medical network. Social network analysis was utilized to determine non-tangible considerations for each stage of care. Finally, these analyses were synthesized into a decision support algorithm to determine the best possible level of care for a given conflict’s medical system. These analyses supported conclusions from historical cases that battlefield mortality is based on the movement of patients and of supplies in denied environments. Ultimately, improving medical interoperability, enhancing the movement of people and supplies, and preparing medical personnel for clandestine operations are required to decrease mortality in denied environments.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
NPS Outstanding Theses and Dissertations
Department
Defense Analysis (DA)
Organization
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NPS Report Number
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Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.