Field Manual FM 4-02.25 (FM 8-10-25) Employment of Forward Surgical Teams: Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures March 2003

The forward surgical team (FST) is a 20-man team which provides far forward surgical intervention to render nontransportable patients sufficiently stable to allow for medical evacuation to a Level III hospital (combat support hospital [CSH]). There are 57 patient condition codes (Appendix A) that identify patients with the type of injuries that would benefit most from FST intervention. Surgery performed by the FST is resuscitative surgery; additional surgery may be required at a supporting Level III hospital in the area of operations (AO). Patients remain at the FST until they recover from anesthesia, once stabilized they are evacuated as soon as possible. The postoperative intensive care capacity of the FST is extremely limited, there is no holding capability. The FST is not a self-sustaining unit and must be deployed with or attached to a medical company or hospital for support. Further, the FST is neither staffed nor equipped to provide routine sick call functions.

This field manual (FM) outlines doctrine for the employment of the FST. It is the primary reference document for the Active Component (AC) and the Reserve Component (RC) of the Army. It presents tactics, techniques, and procedures for employing FSTs. It is primarily intended for the use of the FST chief, his team, and the medical company/troop commanders and their staff. Other intended users include senior medical commanders, senior medical staff advisors, and joint and Army health service support (HSS) planners.

This publication is fully compatible with Army operations doctrine in war and stability operations and support operations as outlined in FM 3-0. It is also compatible with combat service support (CSS) and HSS doctrine outlined in FM 4-02, FM 100-10, and FM 100-15. This publication assumes that the user has a fundamental understanding of FM 4-02, FM 100-10, and FM 100-15; it does not repeat the concepts contained therein except to explain operations unique to the FST.