SETUP AND CONTROL OF MEDICAL EVACUATION
(MEDEVAC)
Medical evacuation and casualty care are
responsibilities shared by everyone involved with
command and control activities. All personnel
assigned to the unit must be aware of casualty facilities
and medical evacuation procedures (MEDEVAC). A
well-developed MEDEVAC plan will not only save
lives but will also ensure the unit is ready for present
and future missions. The loss of any Seabee because
of a poor MEDEVAC plan is inexcusable and can
result in a disastrous lack of firepower when it is most
needed. This chapter covers in depth the setting up of
a landing zone, the landing zone brief, the medical
evacuation request, and the medical evacuation
procedures.
Figure 3-1.--Helicopter landing zone (LZ).
LANDING ZONE/SITE/POINTS
site and one landing point for resupplies, troop
A helicopter landing zone (LZ) is a specified
movement, or medical evacuations.
ground for landing helicopters to embark or
disembark troops or cargo. A landing zone is
PREPARATION OF THE LANDING ZONE
designated by a code name. It may include one or
more landing sites.
When planning the preparation of an LZ, you
should take several factors into consideration. First,
Depending upon the terrain and the size of the
you should know what type of helicopters will be
Seabee unit, you can divide the LZ into several
using the landing zone. The Combat Operation Center
landing sites. A landing site is a specific location
(COC) can provide this type of information. Second,
within a landing zone in which a single flight of
you must consider the Seabee unit's position in
helicopters may land to embark or disembark troops
relation to the enemy. Security troops must establish
or cargo. Landing sites are designated by color, such
a 360-degree perimeter around the landing zone to
as landing site red. A landing site contains one or
defend the LZ. A third factor is the time it will take
more landing points (fig. 3-1).
to prepare the landing zone. And a fourth factor
considered is the equipment needed to prepare the LZ.
A helicopter landing point is an area within a
landing site where an individual helicopter can land.
Approaches and Exits
Landing points are designated by two-digit numbers,
such as landing point 12. For pathfinder purposes, the
The ground approaches to the LZ and exits from
landing points are identified by the use of smoke or air
the LZ must be free of major obstacles that might
panels. For night operations, you can mark the
obstruct landing or takeoffs, such as tall trees,
landing points with some type of low-intensity light.
telephone poles, or power lines. Approaches and exits
A general rule is to position landing points ten times
should also be clear of obstructions that are 10 meters
as far from an obstacle as the obstacle is high (10:1
or higher, extending at least 50 meters in the direction
ratio).
of approach and exit paths. The rule of thumb for
NOTE: In most cases, a Seabee unit will be
determining the distance required between the landing
required to construct a landing zone with one landing
point and a high obstruction is a 10:1 ratio. This
