Army Force Health Protection: Past, Present, and Future

Traditionally, force health protection (FHP) in the Army has been considered a health service support task belonging to the surgeon’s section and, therefore, a sustainment function. However, recent changes to Army doctrine introduced six new warfighting functions including: mission command, movement and maneuver, intelligence, fires, sustainment, and protection. Under this arrangement, FHP moved from the sustainment to the protection warfighting function.

The protection warfighting function is defined as the related tasks and systems that preserve the force so the commander can apply maximum combat power to accomplish the mission. The Army Protection Program is a management framework to synchronize, prioritize, and coordinate protection policies and resources. It includes twelve non-warfighting functions, most notably: emergency management, critical infrastructure management, antiterrorism, law enforcement, safety, and FHP. Current FHP functions include: preventive medicine, veterinary services, combat and operational stress control, dental services, and laboratory services.

Under the protection warfighting function and APP, Army FHPs officers may now find themselves conducting their responsibilities under the responsibility of the protection cell/working group rather than the surgeon’s section. There his/her responsibilities will include planning, preparing, executing, and assessing FHP strategies, policies, and measures designed to preserve the health and readiness of the force. These responsibilities must be thoroughly integrated into the operational process and closely coordinated with the surgeon’s section and available medical assets.

Sister services personnel, interagency personnel, and other partners need to be aware of the FHP doctrinal change. Further, they must understand how to tap into FHP and protection assets and how-to best leverage them to accomplish shared missions and goals.