Which facility type provides initial medical response for combat operations?

The Role 1 facility is designated as the initial medical response point for combat operations. This level of care is focused on providing immediate, lifesaving measures to injured personnel on the battlefield. Role 1 encompasses basic medical care, including first aid, triage, and resuscitation, along with essential medical supplies and equipment necessary to stabilize patients before they are evacuated to higher levels of care.

Additionally, Role 1 facilities are typically operated by forward deployed units and may be found at or near the point of injury, facilitating rapid medical response to treat tactical combat injuries right away. This foundational level of care is essential for maintaining a capable and responsive medical support system during combat operations, ensuring that wounds are managed as quickly as possible to improve survival rates.

Other facility types, such as Role 2, Role 3, and Role 4, offer advanced care, which is provided after initial treatment has taken place and injuries have been triaged and stabilized at the Role 1 level.