BY ORDER OF AIR FORCE TACTICS, TECHNIQUES
THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE AND PROCEDURES 3-42.71
27 AUGUST 2014
Tactical Doctrine
EXPEDITIONARY MEDICAL SUPPORT (EMEDS)
AND AIR FORCE THEATER HOSPITAL (AFTH)
ACCESSIBILITY: This publication is available on the Air Force e-Publishing website at
www.e-Publishing.af.mil.
RELEASABILITY: There are no releasability restrictions on this publication.
OPR: ACC/SGX Certified by: AF/SG3X
Supersedes AFTTP 3-42.71, 27 July 2006 (Colonel Elmo J. Robison III)
Pages: 90
PURPOSE: The Air Force Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (AFTTP) 3-42 series of
publications is the primary reference for medical combat support capability. AFTTP 3-42.71
provides the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) for Expeditionary Medical Support
(EMEDS) and Air Force Theater Hospital (AFTH) unit type codes (UTCs). Ensure all records
created as a result of the processes prescribed in this publication are maintained in accordance
with (IAW) AFPD 33-3, Information Management, and AFMAN 33-363, Management of
Records, and disposed of IAW 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 AF Form
847, Recommendation for Change of Publication. Route AF 847 through the appropriate chain
of command and parent major command (MAJCOM).
SUMMARY OF CHANGES: This publication introduces the EMEDS Health Response Team
(HRT), which replaces EMEDS Basic as the first increment of EMEDS capability. EMEDS
HRT is the result of a reengineering effort to better support the full range of military operations
and improve operational timelines. This publication has been substantially revised and should be
completely reviewed.
APPLICATION: This publication applies to all Air Force military and civilian personnel,
including Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and Air National Guard (ANG) units. The
doctrine in this document is authoritative but not directive.
SCOPE: EMEDS and AFTH medical support packages provide individual bed-down and
theater-level medical services for deployed forces or select population groups. The primary
mission is to provide forward stabilization, resuscitative care, primary care, dental services, and
force health protection and prepare casualties for evacuation to the next level of care. Their
modular and scalable design allows the Air Force to deploy medical capabilities ranging from
small teams that provide highly skilled medical care for a limited number of casualties to a large
