AFTER ACTION REPORT I MEF CASUALTY SECTION 9 APR 91

File: 970725_dec96_decls30_0036.txt
Page: 0036
Total Pages: 52
Subject = AFTER ACTION REPORT  I MEF CASUALTY SECTION  9 APR 91           

Parent Organization = MCCDC       

Unit = WDID        

Folder Title = MCLLS SEQUENCE 01058  01059  WDID SWA 0113                                                      

Document Number =          1

Box ID = BX600150





                                  UNCLASSIFIED
Revidwed by DON GWDP on 7-May-1997
   0                               POINT PAPER
     Subject: Use of Personal Computers (PC's) and the Local Area Network
               (LAN) System for tracking Marine Casualties/Hospital
               Admissions "In-Country" During Desert Shield and Desert
               Storm 1990-1991



     Background:

               Subsequent to the initia 1 buildup of Marines in the Saudi
     Arabian area of operations, 'letter" field company hospitals were
     established in the northern sector and Fleet and Army hospitals were
     established in the southern sector to process hospital admissions ind
     medevac's. By the end of February, 1991, and prior to the ground
     assault into Kuwait, four field companies (F/G/K/L) had been formed in
     a line West of Al Mishab and were in constant movement northward.
     Three Fleet Hospitals had been constructed - two in and around the     'Al
     Jubail area and one located on the island nation of Bahrain. In
     concert, one Army hospital was in operation on the island of Bahrain.
     Two Navy ships, the USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy were also involved in
     this effort, but are not subjects of this paper due to their
     communication isolation with the I MEF Casualty Section while afloat.
     In addition to accepting, treating, discharging and evacuating battle
     and non-battle injuries these hospitals treat walk-in patients on a
      ily'15a'sis. The Commanding General, I MEF, approved the concept of
      tablishing a I MEF Casualty Section and to staff - from their
     assets - each hospital with Marine liaison personnel to administer the
     needs of I MEF patients and to track administratively their progress
     through the hospital systems, either back to a duty status in the AO,
     or final medevee to the United States (CONUS). At the end of
     operations, th6 I MEF Casualty Section would have a complete,
     computerized data-base on all Battle and Non-Battle Casualties and
     hospital admissions derived from Personal Casualty Reports (PCRs),
     hospital reports (both in the AO and Europe) and Marine Liaisons.

     Discussion-

               Prior to formation of the Casualty Section, initial
     administrative procedures recorded PCRs and hospital reports to a
     data-base, with limited information being passed to-those with a need
     to know. At the time, information received outside of these two
     reports were not recorded for further use (confirmation, inquiries for
     PCRS). As the Casualty Section formed and the scope of its mission
     grew, the need for capture and dissemination of all types of
     information on a timely basis became essential. To meet these goals,
     requests were made for an international telephone line for Europe and
     CONUS commands; Plain Language Address Directory's (PLADS) for our
     hospital liaison teams to transmit messages independent of the
     hospitals; Tactical ????? Communications (TAC) lines for
       mmunications with units forward and an Electronic ???? (ELMS) and
     6-al Area Network (LAN) line for detailed and lengthy communication
     with, at the time, higher echelons.

               Of all the lines of communication, the ELMS/LAN capability
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