REQUEST MEDICAL
EVACUATION
081-831-0101 (SL2)
TASK: Transmitted a MEDEVAC request, providing all necessary information within 25
seconds. Transmitted, as a minimum, line numbers 1 through 5 during the initial contact
with the evacuation unit. Transmitted lines 6 through 9 while the aircraft or vehicle was en
route, if not included during initial contact.
CONDITIONS: You have a casualty requiring medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and a patient
pickup site. Necessary equipment and materials:
operational communications equipment, MEDEVAC request format, a standard scale
military map, a grid coordinate scale, and unit signal operation instructions (SOI).
STANDARDS: Transmitted a MEDEVAC request, providing all necessary information within
25 seconds. Transmitted, as a minimum, line numbers 1
through 5 during the initial contact with the evacuation unit. Transmitted lines 6 through 9
while the aircraft or vehicle was en route, if not included during initial contact.
OVERVIEW
MEDIVAC is the evacuation of casualties using a dedicated military medical vehicle
and Medical personnel are aboard to monitor casualty.
 A MEDIVAC request is transmitted over the SINGARS radio, on a dedicated frequency,
requesting that medical evacuation take place to remove your casualty from the
battlefield.
A standard, special, pre-set format is already established by the medical community
and used world-wide. So an RTO in Kabul, a Contractor on range Control in FT Drum,
NY, and a Medic sending one from Baghdad will all be using the same format.
Sometimes a MEDEVAC cannot be conducted due to Mission phase, weather, or
enemy fire. If this is the case, the CLS needs to monitor and take care of the patient
until the Command can evacuate the casualty.
The Mission and the fighting does not stop due to an injury. The Mission will always
come first!!!
PROPER CLASSIFICATION
Proper casualty classification is needed to ensure that the casualties get
picked up in the right order.
What you think is critical may not be critical compared to another
casualty in another location with a more severe wound.
Over classification has historically been, and IS still a continuing
problem.
EXAMPLE: You have a casualty who was in a vehicle roll-over, and has a
broken leg, broken arm, and minor head wounds, but alert and oriented.
In another location another casualty may have suffered an explosive IED,
and has a traumatic amputation of the leg, and has lost blood, and needs
surgery immediately
PREPARING A MEDEVAC REQUEST
Each line has a number Brevity code. This keeps Medevac requests
quick, thereby helping to clear the channel up for the next one
coming in, and also to help reduce the chance of jamming by the
enemy.
You should utilize “Breaks” after every line.
There are two formats. One for Peacetime and one for wartime.
Before an Air Ambulance lifts off the ground or will launch, lines 1-5
must be transmitted. The rest can be transmitted to the ground or air
ambulance while they are en-route if time/mission doesn’t permit.
9 LINE MEDEVAC REQUEST
1. Grid Location of the Pick Up site.
2. Radio frequency, call sign, and suffix.
3. Number of patients by precedence.
4. Special equipment required.
5. Number of patients by type.
6. Number and type of wounds (Peacetime).
6. Security of Pick Up site (Wartime).
7. Method of Marking Pick Up site.
8. Patient nationality and status.
9. Terrain description (Peacetime.)
9. NBC Contamination (Wartime).
Line 1 (Pickup Site)
The location of the pick up site. This information is sent using
the UTM grid system. A minimum of a 6 digit grid coordinate
with grid zone identifier should be used. This information can
be obtained through the use of a GPS or use of land navigation
skills and a map.
EXAMPLE: “Line 1: PY 93408765. I say again PY93408765. Break”
LINE 2 (RADIO FREQUENCY/CALL SIGN/SUFFIX)
Your radio frequency call sign and suffix. This should
be standardized and contained in your Tactical SOP or
SOI/ANCD
EXAMPLE: “Line 2: This is W64M on 2-0-8-0-0. Break”
LINE 3 ( #OF CASUALTIES BY PRECEDENCE)
This line is a little more involved than the preceding two. It requires a
thorough understanding of the definition of each precedence. The
assignment of precedence provides the supporting medical unit and
the controlling headquarters with information that is used to
determine priorities for committing their evacuation assets. Correct
assignment of precedence is a must. The senior service member or
medical personnel present assigns precedence.
EXAMPLE: “Line 3: 4 alpha- break. 2 Charlie- break”
LINE 3 ( #OF CASUALTIES BY PRECEDENCE)
CONTINUE. . . .
(A) PRIORITY I URGENT- Emergencies that need to be seen within 2 hours in order to save Life, Limb, or
Eyesight.
(B) PRIORITY II URGENT SURGICAL- Emergency cases that need to be evacuated within 2 hours to the
nearest surgical unit.
(C) PRIORITY III PRIORTIY- Sick or wounded casualties that need to be evacuated within 4 hours or their
medical condition will deteriorate and become an Urgent
(D) PRIORITY IV ROUTINE – Sick or wounded casualties requiring evacuation, but whose condition is not
expected to deteriorate significantly. They need evacuation in 24 hours.
(E) PRIORITY V CONVENIENT – Persons being evacuated for medical convenience rather than necessity. (
example: A scheduled dental appointment, or Unit PA requests that the soldier be evacuated for follow up
treatment).
LINE 4 (REQUEST SPECIAL EQUIPMENT REQUIRED)
You will obtain information on special equipment requirements. This is
done under the advisement of the medic or the senior service member
person present, and is part of the patient evaluation process. This
information is needed to ensure the proper equipment is placed on
board the evacuation vehicle prior to the start of the mission.
- (a) None
- (b) Hoist
- (c) Extraction equipment
- (d) Ventilator
EXAMPLE: “Line 4: delta- break.”
LINE 5 (REQUEST NUMBER OF PATIENTS BY TYPE)
You will obtain information on patients by type, and the number of
each from the medic or senior service member present. For example,
A1 represents one patient who is ambulatory, or able to sit, this
information is required to determine the appropriate number of
evacuation vehicles to be dispatched to the pick-up site. The
information is also needed to configure the MEDEVAC asset correctly.
(A)= # of Ambulatory (L)= # of Litter
EXAMPLE: “Line 5: 3 Alpha and 3 Lima. Break”
LINE 6: (SECURITY OF PICK UP SITE)
Line 6 is the first time that difference appears.
Peacetime – safety of US military and civilian personnel outweighs the
need for security.
Wartime – safety and survivability of the unit must be weighed against
the need for the evacuation of the patient.
In general peacetime missions allow for an expanded description of the
injuries, in wartime, the focus is on an in-depth security assessment of
current enemy activity.
LINE 6: NUMBER AND TYPE OF WOUND, INJURY, OR
ILLNESS (PEACETIME)
In Peacetime, we provide more information about the patients,
including specific information regarding patients wounds by type. Also,
report serious bleeding.
EXAMPLE: “Line 6- 2 shrapnel wounds. Break”
LINE 6: SECURITY OF PICK UP SITE (WARTIME)
This information is required to assist the evacuation crew in assessing
the situation and determining if assistance is required. More definitive
guidance can be furnished to the evacuation crew upon direct radio
contact, while they are en route.
(N) No enemy troops in area
(P) Possibly enemy troops in area; approach with caution
(E) Enemy troops in area; approach with caution
(X) Enemy troops in area close by; armed escort required
EXAMPLE: “Line 6: X-ray. I repeat X-ray. Break”
Line 7 (METHOD OF MARKING THE LZ)
 Indicates the method of marking the pick up site, which is based on
the situation and the availability of materials. It is usually determined
by the medic or senior service member present. It identifies the
specific location of the pick up site, for security reasons the evacuation
crew should identify the color of the marking, and the unit should
verify the color.
- (A) Panels ( use orange side, and use NATO approved symbols)
- (B) Pyrotechnic signal ( e.g. Phosphorous grenade)
- (C) Smoke ( again ask Helicopter or FLA to identify the color used)
- (D) None
EXAMPLE: “Line 7: Smoke. Break”
Line 8 (CASUALTY NATIONALITY AND STATUS)
 You obtain the information that is.required in planning for the
destination facilities and the need for guards. The unit requesting
evacuation support should ensure that there is an English speaking
representative at the pickup site. The number of patients in each
category need not be transmitted.
(a) United States Military
(b) US Civilian
(c) Military other than US Military
(d) Civilian other than US Civilian
(e) Enemy Prisoner of War ( EPW)
EXAMPLE: “Line 8: alpha-break. Echo-break.”
Line 9 MEDEVAC Request Key Differences Line
 Is the other line that changes depending on whether the request is
sent in the peacetime or wartime format. During peacetime , line 9
generally allows for a better description of the nearby terrain or the
landing zone if aerial evacuation is used during peacetime. During
wartime, line 9 provides an assessment of NBC contamination
present.
LINE 9: MEDEVAC REQUEST TERRAIN DESCRIPTION
(PEACETIME)
In peacetime, include details of terrain features in and around the
proposed landing site. If possible, describe the relationship of the site
to prominent terrain or manmade features.
EXAMPLE: a lake, mountain, or tower
LINE 9: MEDEVAC REQUEST NBC CONTAMINATION
(WARTIME)
In wartime, this information is required to assist in mission planning. It
helps determine which evacuation vehicle will be sent and when
evacuation assets will be able to arrive at the pickup site. Information
concerning the vehicle to be used and the time of arrival can be obtained
from the evacuation unit. (*Note: Include this line only when contamination exists.)
N= Nuclear
B=Biological
C=Chemical
EXAMPLE: “Line 9: None. I say again: None. Break”
QUESTIONS
PRACTICAL EXERCISE #1
Situation: You are participating in an exercise and you are located at
grid coordinates EG 05959122 near the end of a dirt road in a flat area
surrounded by swamps. You must request medical evacuation for two
Soldiers from your unit. The call sign you use is X69 and the frequency
is 36.90. One casualty has a shrapnel wound to the chest with difficulty
breathing and the other has a fracture of the right arm. Medical
personnel state that the first casualty needs a ventilator and immediate
surgery and the other casualty is routine. Contact with the enemy has
been limited for the past 8 hours but there may be some hostile troops
in the area. No CBRN contamination has been detected in the area.
Smoke will be used to mark the location
PRACTICAL EXERCISE #2
Situation: You are participating in a training exercise east of Fort
Gordon, Georgia Military Reservation. You are the RATELO in
operations and SGT Smith, call sign X69, frequency 36.90 is the RATELO
of a subordinate unit. SGT Smith is located in a clearing at the edge of
the tree line, grid coordinates LG70368730. SGT Smith calls you and
asks that you request a MEDEVAC for him. He relays the following
information: He has three burned Soldiers. Two are burned badly and
he thinks they require immediate surgery; one needs a ventilator. The
third Soldier is a priority precedence evacuation. All three Soldiers
should be considered litter patients. SGT Smith’s unit will mark the LZ
with smoke. Aggressor (enemy) troops are known to be in the area.