Combat support hospital

Ideally, the CSH is located as the bridge between incoming helicopter ambulances and outgoing air force aircraft.

Current medical doctrine does not encourage wounded soldiers, if they are not expected to quickly return to operational status, to stay in the combat zone.

Military aircraft constantly fly into a theater of operations loaded with equipment and supplies, but often lack a back cargo.

This company consists of approximately four platoons of ground ambulances commanded by a Medical Service Corps officer.

The ground ambulance company in cooperation with available air ambulances Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) is responsible for the movement of sick and wounded from the battalion aid station and other forward-deployed locations to the CSH, as well as evacuation through an established medical treatment chain leading ultimately, for those seriously sick or wounded, to hospitals in the Continental United States in cooperation with resources in the U.S. Air Force.

In 1973 and 1974, the 28th Surgical Hospital (Mobile) (Army) (MASH) helped phase-in new designs for operating rooms and patient facilities from the previous canvas tents.

During the Cold War, with conflict possible against the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact, active duty MUST units were staffed by all the basic personnel necessary (e.g., medics, X-ray techs, pharmacists, cooks, clerks).

The unit would be flown to West Germany, withdraw pre-positioned complete hospital MUST equipment and military vehicles from warehouses and then deploy.

Under the 1980s "Army of Excellence" Table of Organization and Equipment, the MASHs had the task of providing enough emergency, life-saving surgery so that patients could live to be evacuated to hospitals further to the rear from the fighting line.

General Hospitals in the Communications Zone (if one were established) or in the Continental United States would provide definitive care.