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BY ORDER OF THE AIR FORCE TACTICS, TECHNIQUES, AND
SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE PROCEDURES 3-42.6
9 Jan 2012
Tactical Doctrine
USAF MEDICAL SUPPORT FOR
SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES
ACCESSIBILITY: This publication is available on the e-Publishing website at http://www.e-
publishing.af.mil
RELEASIBILITY: There are no restrictions on the release of this publication
OPR: AFSOC/SGX Certified by: AF/SG3X
Supersedes AFTTP 3-42.6, 15 Apr 05 (Col Tracy A. Tenney)
Pages: 57
SUMMARY OF CHANGES: This publication has been significantly revised and must be
completely reviewed. This revision updates and clarifies information throughout the document
including roles, responsibilities, and relationships at all levels. It updates United States Special
Operations Command (USSOCOM) special operations forces (SOF) operational priorities and
core tasks and revises the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) medical UTC
narratives. It expands and clarifies medical doctrine and policy as applied to operational
employment of AFSOC medical assets at home station and deployed. It expands the medical
logistics, operational planning, and communications sections.
PURPOSE: The Air Force Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (AFTTP) 3-42 series of
publications is the primary reference for medical combat support capability. This document,
AFTTP 3-42.6, provides an overview of special operations (SO) and the United States Air Force
(USAF) medical tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) that support all special operations
forces (SOF) and missions. It describes the organization, capabilities, planning, logistics,
training, and operations of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) Medical
Forces. Ensure that all records created as a result of processes prescribed in this publication are
maintained in accordance with AFMAN 33-363, Management of Records, and disposed of in
accordance with the Air Force Records Disposition Schedule (RDS) located at
https://www.my.af.mil/afrims/afrims/afrims/rims.cfm. Refer recommended changes and
questions about this publication to the Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) using the AF IMT
847, Recommendation for Change of Publication. Route AF IMT 847 through the appropriate
chain of command and parent Major Command (MAJCOM).
APPLICATION: This publication applies to all Air Force military and civilian personnel
including Air Reserve Components (ARC). This document is authoritative but not directive.
SCOPE: Special operations missions are conducted by specially organized, trained and
equipped military forces to achieve military, political, economic or psychological objectives by
unconventional means in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive areas. Whether operating from a
main operating base (MOB), intermediate staging base (ISB), forward staging base (FSB),
forward operating base (FOB), fire base (FB) or a combat outpost (COP), AFSOC medical assets
