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DESERT SHIELD/STORM LESSONS LEARNED REPORT #S
 
POC: J. HERBERTSON/SGR/6490
 
TITLE: Preassignment of Medical IMAs 
 
OBSERVATION: Preassignment of medical IMAs does not allow the flexibility necessary in a 
conflict like Operation Desert Shield/Storm. 
 
DISCUSSION: Preassignment by mobilization PAS is no longer valid. During Operation 
Desert Shield/Storm, preassignment was too restrictive. We needed the capability to 
assign IMAs wherever we had a requirement. This may or may not be at the MAJCOM of 
preassignment. Preassignment to the 100 person casualty treatment hospitals was based on 
a global scenario. This concept is now outdated. As it turned out, placing IMAs as near 
their homes as possible was a priority. If we were to stick with preassigned location, 
this would not have been possible. What often happened was that we mobilized IMAs to 
their preassigned MAJCOM and then the MAJCOM base sent them TDY to a base closer to 
their home. This further compounded the problems because the JUMPS pay system did not 
catch up with the member, causing delays in pay. Mobilization to the unit of attachment 
may be a viable option where possible. 
 
LESSONS LEARNED: Preassignment of medical IMAs is not an effective practice. 
 
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: Strongly recommend the elimination of 
IMA preassignment. Base medical IMA mobilization 
assignments on the needs of the time. Mobilize them to 
their unit of attachment whenever possible. If the MAJCOMs 
insist on the guarantee of IMAs during a contingency, 
provide them AFSCs and numbers, but no names. 
HQ ARPC/RC RELATED ITEM: 6 

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