Department of the Army

Preventive Medicine Services (Fm 4-02.17) Department of the Army

This field manual (FM) provides information on the mission, organization, and responsibilities for preventive medicine (PVNTMED) support operations throughout the operational continuum. It is directed toward the commanders as all levels of deployment, their staffs, the command surgeons, the PVNTMED planning staffs at the Army, joint, combined, allied, and coalition staff levels, and to the individual soldier and unit leaders on their role in the application of preventive medicine measures (PMM). It further defines each staff element of PVNTMED and lists the functions, capability, and management requirements associated with each. It provides procedures for directing, controlling, and managing PVNTMED assets within the area of operations (AO). This publication outlines the functions and operations of each PVNTMED section and how it integrates its activities in support of those operations. This publication contains tactics, techniques, and procedures relative to PVNTMED support in the following specific areas: Unit and area PVNTMED support to the sustaining base, the combat zone (CZ), and at echelons above corps (EAC); the organization, mission, functions, capabilities, and employment of PVNTMED units and tables of distribution and allowances (TDA) activities; preventive medicine support in disaster relief; preventive medicine staff functions; the relationship between PVNTMED staffs and the surgeons at each level of command; the command and technical relationship to supported and supporting units; the PVNTMED role in civil-military operations (CMO), preventive medicine mobilization procedures; preventive medicine in stability operations and support operations.