F-6. Establishment of the Company Headquarters
a. In establishing the company headquarters, the command element must ensure that communication is established with BSB units and other supported units, as required. All security precautions and requirements must be met according to BSB and SBCT TSOP. Only essential equipment is set up to support the BSMC operations. If the failure to camouflage endangers or compromises tactical operations, the camouflage of the Level II MTF may be ordered by a commander of at least brigade level or equivalent (refer to STANAG 2931). Dispersion of shelter systems and equipment is accomplished to the maximum extent possible.
b. The command element supervises the establishment of the company. The commander monitors all elements as the company sets up. He ensures the BSMC is established according to the unit layout and the TSOP. The XO and the 1SG assist the company commander. The XO supervises and monitors the establishment of the company area for compliance with BSB TSOP and SBCT guidance. The XO coordinates with supporting units/elements for support requirements. The commander and XO coordinate the medical support mission with the BSB support operations and the brigade surgeon’s sections. This coordination ensures the timely forward deployment of BSMC evacuation and treatment elements in support of the SBCT. For synchronization of CHS operations, medical company leaders must conduct direct interface with maneuver battalion medical platoon leaders and other brigade medical elements.
c. The 1SG focuses his attention toward ensuring all unit security requirements are accomplished.
The 1SG supervises the establishment of the company headquarters and the troop billeting areas and monitors field sanitation team activities. The support operations element assists in establishing the company headquarters. The NBC NCO supervises the company NBC team by monitoring its activities and use of unit NBC-monitoring and decontamination equipment. He coordinates with other BSB units and monitors the placement of early warning devices for the detection of chemical agents. He supervises and monitors unit personnel for compliance with correct wear of MOPP ensemble according to the current MOPP level and TSOP.
d. Unit personnel set up communications equipment and establish the NCS for the company.
They establish contact with the battalion headquarters and with supporting and supported units. Unit personnel also establish the internal wire communications net. They connect to the MSE area system at the wire subscriber access point operated by the area support signal element.
e. The logistics element establishes the general supply for the company and establishes a Class VIII supply distribution point for all medical elements operating in SBCT AO. This element ensures that supplies are secured, properly stored, and protected from the environment. Further, it establishes the unit POL and water points.
F-7. Preventive Medicine Section
a. The PVNTMED section (Table F-2) is responsible for supervising the unit’s PVNTMED program as described in FM 4-02.17. The section is primarily responsible for medical threats/medical surveillance support and conducting occupational and environmental surveillance. This section is responsible for assessing the health risk associated with medical and health hazards and recommending protective measures.
b. The PVNTMED section provides advice and consultation in the area of health threat assessment, force health protection, environmental sanitation, epidemiology, sanitary engineering, and pest management.
Through routine surveillance, they identify actual and potential health hazards, recommend corrective measures, and assist in training SBCT soldiers in disease and nonbattle injury prevention programs. For additional information on the operations and function of the PVNTMED section refer to FM 4-02.17.
c. Preventive medicine activities begin prior to deployment and continue during deployment and redeployment to minimize DNBIs. Actions taken include, but are not limited to—
• Supporting command awareness of potential medical threats and implementation of appropriate protective measures.
• Ensuring the deployment of a healthy and fit force.
• Monitoring the command’s immunization status (see AR 40-562).
• Monitoring the status of individual and small unit PVNTMED measures (see FMs 4-25.12 and 21-10).
• Monitoring against heat and cold injuries, occupational and environmental health hazards, arthropodborne diseases, and NBC contamination of water and food, (see FMs 4-02.17, 4-02.33, 8-250, TM 5-632, TBs (Med) 81, 507, 530, and 577).
• Ensuring unit’s training in PVNTMED to counter the medical threat.
• Monitoring the use of prophylaxes such as antimalarial tablets.
• Monitoring, analyzing, and reporting medical surveillance information.
d. Preventive medicine support operations are prioritized based on the METT-TC, medical threat, and assessment of data collected (through medical surveillance, occupational and environmental health surveillance, monitoring unit and individual protective measures, inspecting, and reporting observations). Under the oversight of the brigade surgeon, the PVNTMED section ensures implementation of the brigade PVNTMED program.
Table F-2. Preventive Medicine Section Depicting Personnel, Major Equipment, and Communications/Automation Enablers
F-8. Mental Health Section
a. The MH section (Table F-3) is responsible for assisting commanders in preventing/controlling COSC through brigade mental health. The COSC team operates under the direction of the BSMC commander and provides brigade-wide MH services. See FM 8-51 for details on COSC/CSC duties. The behavioral science officer and MH specialist are especially concerned with assisting and training maneuver unit soldiers and small unit leaders, to include members of unit ministry teams, members of forward deployed medical platoons/sections, and medical treatment personnel of BSMC.
Table F-3. Mental Health Section Depicting Personnel, Major Equipment, and Communications/Automation Enablers
b. The BSMC MH section provides training and advice in the control of stressors, the promotion of positive combat operational stress behaviors, and the identification, handling, and management of misconduct stress behavior and BF soldiers. It coordinates COSC training for supported units. The section collects and records social and psychological data and counsels personnel with personal, behavioral, or psychological problems.
c. The MH section uses the brigade Level II MTF as the center for its operations, but is mobile throughout the AO. The section’s priority functions are to promote positive stress behaviors, prevent unnecessary evacuations, and coordinate RTD for recovered stress-related soldiers. Through the treatment and ambulance platoon leaders and the company commander, the section keeps abreast of the tactical situation and plans and projects requirements for COSC support when units are pulled back for rest and recuperation. For definitive information on COSC/CSC operations, see FMs 8-51, 22-51, and 6-22.5.