Field Manual FM 4-02.4 (FM 8-10-4) Medical Platoon Leaders' Handbook Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures including Change 1 December 18th, 2003

This field manual (FM) provides information on the structure and operation of all medical platoons and medical sections that are organic to combat and combat support (CS) battalions and squadrons. It is directed toward the medical platoon leader and medical platoon members. The tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) provided are not all-inclusive. They provide a way of performing a particular mission, but may require modification based on mission, enemy, terrain, troops, time available, and civilian considerations (METT-TC).

This publication provides information on the organization of the division and how medical platoons and sections organic to division units provide combat health support (CHS). It outlines the responsibilities of medical platoon/section leaders. It provides definitive information on planning, rehearsing, and conducting CHS at Echelon I. It provides TTP for directing, controlling, and managing CHS at the medical platoon/section level. It describes the troop-leading procedures for CHS operations and identifies interface and coordination requirements with other brigade medical elements. This publication provides doctrine for the Force XXI medical platoon.

This FM is not a stand-alone reference. It is a doctrine publication that speaks to the current Army of Excellence (AOE) Division and the Force XXI Digitized Division and Brigade CHS and will require the user to be familiar with FMs 4-02.21, 8-10, 8-10-1, 8-10-3, 8-10-5, 8-10-6, 8-10-7, 8-10-9, 8-10-26, 8-42, and 8-55.