PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - C D Bonser AU - J R Fawcett TI - Operational medical force protection: the collective solution AID - 10.1136/jramc-2013-000038 DP - 2013 Mar 01 TA - Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps PG - 51--55 VI - 159 IP - 1 4099 - http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/content/159/1/51.short 4100 - http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/content/159/1/51.full SO - J R Army Med Corps2013 Mar 01; 159 AB - Disease and non-battle injury have historically caused greater morbidity and mortality than battle trauma during military operations, and continue to do so. As a countermeasure, medical force protection (Med FP) measures will assist in the maintenance of combat efficiency, reducing manpower wastage and the inherent consumption of medical, infrastructural and logistical resources at the tactical, operational and strategic levels. This paper considers recent improvements in provision and delivery of essential Med FP measures and outlines the effect and confounding factors associated with pragmatic Med FP delivery across the Task Force Helmand area of responsibility during Op HERRICK 11B-14A (January 2010–July 2011) in Afghanistan, with a particular focus on military environmental health assets.