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The article discusses the delivery of medical care to U.S. military personnel involved in expeditionary sea-based operations. The author notes logistical problems of providing seaborne care, and offers relevant historical context concerning World War II, the Korean War, and the Falklands war between Great Britain and Argentina. Recommendations are presented.

The article provides information concerning the joint medical command in the U.S. In response to the broad set of complex national security challenges of the 21st century, the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) report of February 2006 has advised that all the organizations, processes, and practices within the Department of Defense should be given a high degree of agility, flexibility, responsiveness, and ultimately effectiveness in supporting the joint war fighter and future national defense goals.

The article discusses medical command and control in sea-based operations. In an attempt to transform itself to meet the demands of the twenty-first century, the Navy is adhering not only increased readiness, but also the capability to deploy naval forces quickly in response to conflicts and crises around the world. Sea-basing is considered as an effective measure in the swift delivery of military aids.

Focuses on the usability of U.S. and British hospital ships. Availability of lifesaving treatment in tank landing ships during World War II; Role of U.S. Navy hospital ships as seaborne ambulances; Medical evacuation system in hospital ships during the Vietnam War; Factors causing the decreasing dependability of hospital ships.

The article underlines the reality that losses to malaria and other preventable diseases among Allied forces operating in the China-Burma-India far exceeded the number of casualties inflicted by enemy action. Today, as the global war on terrorism evolves, a similar failure to appreciate noncombat environmental threats--including mosquitoes and other disease carrying insect vectors--will once again degrade combat effectiveness of deployed forces. The significance of this caveat was amply demonstrated in August 2003, when a U.S. Marine Corps team, while conducting stabilization operations in Liberia, was hit by a surprise disease outbreak when almost 30 percent of the deployed military personnel contracted malaria.

Focuses on modern littoral operations and its role in ground-based maneuvers and evacuation of casualties to ships. Rules of logistics in the doctrinal context of Operational Maneuver from the Sea; Influence of air, sea and ground-launched missiles on seaward evacuation and care of combat casualties; Landing craft air cushion vehicle as the linchpin of the United States' surface amphibious assault capability.