Medical Support System In Military Operations Other Than War Of Foreign Armies And Its Use For Reference

Non-traditional security threats such as tsunami, hurricane, earthquake, terrorism now occurred more and more frequently, which have brought great disasters and damage to human beings, influencing the safety and stability of countries and districts, thus expanding the military tasks. Many countries realized that, as one of the critical strategic resource, military forces took part in military operations other than war (MOOTW), through which the military could satisfy national strategic objectives while helping to promote its position and function during peacetime. Therefore, MOOTW has increasingly become an important way to practicing military forces as well as a common theoretical research subject. As one of the critical strength in MOOTW, medical service plays a decisive role. It was the U.S. army who first put forward the definition of MOOTW, and they subsequently conducted comprehensive and systematic theoretical research on it. Following the U.S. army, armies of other foreign countries including Russia, Britain, Germany and Japan also developed MOOTW theories, and included it into their combat regulations. However, MOOTW theoretical research in China was still at its initial stage, neither theory nor practice of MOOTW medical support has been studied comprehensively by far. In view of this, it is of great significance to study the experience and lessons learned from medical support system in MOOTW of foreign armies.By using the methods of intelligence research such as information survey, expert consultation and comprehensive induction, the present research, with MOOTW as its background, clearly investigated the development of MOOTW theory in both foreign and Chinese armies, systematically investigated foreign military medical support system in MOOTW from perspectives of command, medical evacuation, sanitation and epidemic prevention and medical material support, and comprehensively analyzed and evaluated the characteristics and experiences of medical support system in MOOTW of foreign armies. On the basis of the above research, we retrospectively studied the current situation of Chinese military medical support system in MOOTW, as well as problems exist, then we put forward some corresponding suggestions for development of our medical support system in MOOTW.The present thesis falls into five parts.The first part was the investigation of the development of MOOTW theory and the characteristics of medical support in MOOTW. By using information survey and comprehensive induction, we reviewed the evolution and development of U.S. MOOTW as well as other foreign armies, analyzed and evaluated foreign MOOTW theories and brought forward some lessons drawn from it for development of Chinese army in MOOTW. MOOTW theory was first put forward by U.S. army, and they had conducted systematic research. U.S. Military doctrines comprehensively illustrated the definition, range, types and principles of MOOTW. Besides the U.S., other coutries such as Russia, India, Britain, Japan and Germany brought forward similar theories. However, with great differences in political diplomatic policy, military cultural background, as well as military tradition among countries, MOOTW theory varied greatly. Therefore, we should do the research of MOOTW on the basis of Chinese national characteristics, analyze dialectically and construct the MOOTW system with Chinese characteristics. The medical support in MOOTW are characterized in rapid medical service response, heavy medical support task, frontline of medical service command, complex medical service coordination and severe psychological problems.The second part was the study of the medical support system in MOOTW of foreign armies. With information survey, expert consultation and comprehensive induction, the characteristics, content and operation of medical support system in MOOTW of foreign armies were explored from the aspects of command, medical evacuation, sanitation and epidemic prevention, psychological intervention and medical material support. We found that, command of medical support in MOOTW of foreign armies were included in national emergency command system and laws and regulations related to medical service command were elaborative and complete; aeromedical evacuation was adopted as the main evacuation mode in patient movement, with fewer echelons of patient care; sanitation and epidemic prevention system was sound and military epidemic surveillance was included in national system; psychological relief was also operated at national level, with its position defined by laws and regulations; blood service was independent from medicinal support and belong to the category of medical material support.The third part was analysis and evaluation of medical support system in MOOTW of foreign armies. The objects, importance, contribution, mode and practice of medical support in MOOTW of foreign armies were analyzed and evaluated; meanwhile, the evolutionary development of medical support system in MOOTW of foreign armies was discussed. The study demonstrated that the objects of medical support in MOOTW of foreign armies included military members, joint force servicemen, U.N workers, civilian employees, reserved members as well as both foreign and domestic civilians. Medical support in MOOTW of foreign armies had strong political features with prominent support position, heavy operational tasks with dual functions of combat and support, and complete laws and regulations to ensure the position of medical support. The modes of medical support contained the following types: managing at national level; military assisting local performing medical relief; highly cooperated medical relief and depending mainly on medical service strength. Analysis of the practice of medical support in MOOTW of foreign armies such as disaster response of hurricane Katrina, Sarin toxicant incident in Tokyo railway, Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident and Indian Ocean Tsunami showed that foreign armies recently paid special attention to participation of medical support in MOOTW and summarized experiences timely. Then, they reformed military medical support system through establishing new functional institutions, developing professional relief components and performing frequent exercises.The fourth part was the reference study of medical support system in MOOTW of foreign armies. Based on the current situation, practice and existing problems of medical support system in MOOTW of Chinese PLA, some lessons were drawn from foreign armies. In recent years, by actively participating in MOOTW, rich experiences were accumulated in medical support development, but it still need to be improved in some aspects, such as coordination of medical command, operating mechanism of aeromedical evacuation, sanitation and epidemic prevention system, emergency medicinal support system, psychological intervention mechanism and health related laws and regulations. Then, we put forward the following suggestions for the improvement of medical support system of Chinese army in MOOTW: improving medical support system in MOOTW with Chinese characteristics; reinforcing emergency medical support strength construction; enhancing law and regulation promulgation; strengthening medical support theoretical research as well as education and training.The fifth part was the conclusion of the present research. Main findings and research conclusions were summarized briefly and limitations in the study were also discussed.