Medical personnel designation

[rationtin440]

I'm curious if anyone knows the means of identifying "medics" who serve in the armed forces of the countries represented in forums. Here in the U.S., medics were once issued the red cross armband, until it was found that they made good aiming points for enemy snipers. I'm curious as to how medics are identified (besides their aid bags) in the ground forces of UK, Germany, France, Russia, Red China, and others. Thanks for any info.

[housil]

German Bundeswehr also use the Red Cross armbands:





but not in Afghanistan. Taliban don´t care about "international law of war"...

[rationtin440]

Cool pics housil, thanks! Actually when I was in the sandbox during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, I noticed that the Saudi's medivac vehicles, ambulances and evac helicopters were designated with a large red crescent stenciled on their sides, and the enlisted Saudi medics we met had the crescent on a white background armband. It was an interesting cultural contrast however that we did not see any Saudi women in uniform, nor in any kind of medical-related jobs. I believe that medical personnel are required to wear some distinguishing/identifying patch or device or else they can be in big trouble if they are captured by the enemy, but depending on who the enemy is, that might be a moot point anyway.

[rationtin440]

This discussion of medical personnel reminded me of a rather interesting exercise that my national guard unit participated in in 1989; the scenario was that NATO forces were advancing rapidly thru enemy territory and we suddenly came across an enemy field hospital which was clearly marked with red crosses. Unfortunately my ambulance had to evac a soldier with acute appendicitis, so my crew and I did not get to see exactly what happened, but it would make for an interesting field problem; what exactly would a commander do if his forces came across an enemy field hospital.

[rationtin440]

I'm curious housil, are these pics of a Battalion Aid Station or a field hospital unit? With 9 people in the first photo, I was thinking maybe a medical section attached to an infantry unit?

[housil]

I'm curious housil, are these pics of a Battalion Aid Station or a field hospital unit? With 9 people in the first photo, I was thinking maybe a medical section attached to an infantry unit?

It´s an (Battalion?) Aid Station I was in 2009.

They come with a truck and a trailer


Inside the truck is

inflateable tent, power supply, water supply and all medical equipment



The container from the truck

has the treatment room inside

[rationtin440]

Very cool pics, housil! That pic with the females standing near the side of the truck, are they taking photos for a newspaper? Was not sure if the Bundeswehr had a newspaper like our Army Times. Our infantry battalions (basically 3-4 companies of about 100 or so and a HQ company) here each have a battalion aid station of about a dozen or so medics, ambulances, and tentage. Are your tents self-contained for chem protection?