Military medics can start IVs.

SF medics are basically Physicians assistants.

By Ryan Opel (Ryan) on Friday, February 27, 2026 - 07:34 pm: Edit

Combat Lifesaver Course taught us how to do IVs. I did not learn how to do that in the EMT class I had taken the previous year.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Friday, February 27, 2026 - 11:35 pm: Edit

The Google inquiry above listed personnel in a ww2/Korea war MASH.

Total personnel numbering between 137-157 assuming 20 nurses rather than the lower number of 12, and enlisted personnel vary between 90 and 120.

Just looking at assembling a MASH unit out of the commanders options rules set, which, if we did, gets us pretty close to a template for a roster.

For example,

A typical 60-bed unit was organized with approximately 140 to 160 total personnel: that gives us 14 or 15, or 16 crew units.

Medical Officers (Doctors):
Usually 10 to 15 officers.
This group typically included:

3 Surgeons and 3 non-surgeon assistants.
2 Anesthesiologists.
1 Radiologist and 2 Internists.
3 General duty medical officers.

I count this as 14 persons which, rounded down, is one of the 12 or 13 crew units total. (1.4) cu.

Nursing Officers: Approximately 12 to 20 nurses. All nurses in a MASH were commissioned officers.
I count this as 1 or 2 crew units. (1.2 to 2.0) cu.

Other Officers:

2 Medical Service Corps (MSC) officers for administration/logistics and 1 Warrant Officer. This is less than 1 crew unit, administration requires clerks, my guess some of the enlisted men would normally assist in the record keeping, so I count this as .3 crew units.

I am going to need help figuring out how to divide up the enlisted personnel. I guess that most will get assigned different duties depending on what the conditions are or as situation changes.

Enlisted Personnel: Roughly 90 to 120 soldiers. These included:

Medical Technicians:
Surgical technicians,
radiology specialists,
pharmacy specialists.
Corpsmen/Aid-men:

Medics responsible for triage and basic patient care.

Support Staff: Cooks,
drivers,
mechanics,
and clerks to maintain the hospital's mobility and infrastructure.

That leaves us with 8 job categories, and 9 to 12 crew units of enlisted personnel to fill those jobs.

I do not know. I feel like we are missing something.

Wouldn’t there also be a security detachment? Either M.P.s or (if a naval unit), shore patrol?

There are also a few jobs not mentioned such as graves registration, perhaps an armorer? It seems to me that wounded soldiers might still have on their person certain weapons like grenades, pistols, rifles, grenade launchers?

Obviously someone needs to receive such items, account for those with serial numbers, maybe even repair clean and store until it could be returned to the soldier/patient as they return to combat.

Might need an actual quarter master to issue new uniforms to soldiers returning to combat assuming what they had been wearing needed to be replaced.

Can anyone suggest anything else we need to account for?

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Monday, March 02, 2026 - 04:40 pm: Edit

Okay then, moving on:

Looking at the personnel table, 14 medical officers +( 12 to 20) commissioned nurses + 2 Medical Service (MSC) officers + Warrant officer.
28 officers + 1 warrant officer up to a maximum of 36 officers +1 warrant officer gives a range of 29 to 37.

Enlisted ranks number from 90 to a upper limit of 120.

29+90=119.
37+120=157.

Seems officer heavy.

I remember a science fiction author, in a novel comparing his fictional military unit to “historic” military organization, with “perfect” t/o being 5%, and “actual” t/o being just 3%.

For this MASH unit table, we’re well over 20%, and at minimum nearly 25%.

Part of me has to wonder if its over the top, but then I have to consider that.the nature of this thing requires specialized skills and knowledge not required in other star fleet or star fleet marine units.

Question, for a RPG background, is 25% officers unreasonable?

By Ryan Opel (Ryan) on Monday, March 02, 2026 - 08:24 pm: Edit

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Quote:

Question, for a RPG background, is 25% officers unreasonable?

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By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Monday, March 02, 2026 - 08:42 pm: Edit

Okay. Sounds good.

Thank you, Ryan.

By Joseph Mannino (Joemann) on Tuesday, March 03, 2026 - 10:54 am: Edit

And it depends on the medical unit. The FRSD I'm in is over 50% officers. The physicians and nurses are all officers, and the medical assistants (corpsmen and scrub techs) are either sergeants or specialists. We have the capacity to treat 8 to 10 casualties before needing resupply. The structure may also work well, because as a detachment we can provide medical services to a Division, which typically does not have any medical support. A quick search for Role 2 medical facilities can give a more full description.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Tuesday, March 03, 2026 - 11:01 am: Edit

FSRD.

I do not know what that abbreviation stands for?

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Tuesday, March 03, 2026 - 11:34 am: Edit

FSRD = Forward Resuscitative and Surgical Detachment.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, March 03, 2026 - 12:06 pm: Edit

Hospital version of a Federation Express courier, when it absolutely has to be cured by tomorrow.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Tuesday, March 03, 2026 - 02:49 pm: Edit

That’s great!

One more Star Fleet Medical duty assignment for the list.

Thanks guys!

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Tuesday, March 03, 2026 - 05:54 pm: Edit

Okay, I need to go find my SFU books,

At this point, we should post a list of hospital ships, pods and variants that in an emergency, are intended to be used for medical missions, medical transport missions, and (this is a guess, not yet confirmed by ADB) support ships for FEM emergencies.

(Recommend that we not list vanilla ships like large and small freighters, general warships, standard police ships. These all get pressed into service for medical missions, but it is on an emergency basis, not a primary mission.)

Any other suggestions for limits for the list of dedicated Star Fleet Medical missions?

By Stewart Frazier (Frazikar3) on Tuesday, March 03, 2026 - 06:56 pm: Edit

Hmmm, there's hospital ships (plus FHS/FHL auxiliaries [add jumbo/heavy variants])

modified science ground base (R1.28D) or MASH focused garrison (R1.28G)
modified science base module (R1.32A)
medical skid (R1.68K)
modified S&R skid (R1.68I)

anything else??

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Tuesday, March 03, 2026 - 08:56 pm: Edit

Well, as per a comment posted earlier, troop transports in the real world are/were intended to double as medical transports to carry wounded troops out of the combat zone.

I know there is no mention in the published SFU, but… there is no good reason to assume existing troop transports can’t function in the same role as medical transports in the SFU.

Think about it, the field surgery has already been done by the time they load the wounded on board the transports. The medical staff on the transports just need to tend the convalescent patients during the voyage to whatever world or starbase they need to get to, where they then get to what ever hospital, rehab facility etc the patients may require.

At a guess every troop transport, commando ship, and troop transport pod should also be on the list as well.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Tuesday, March 03, 2026 - 11:14 pm: Edit

Question to anyone who is willing to answer:

Aside from PDU (Planetary Defense Unit) (normally found on F&E Capital, Major and Minor worlds) and an unknown number of populated and some unpopulated worlds, colony planets and occasional non populated worlds that have something valuable that requires an active defense (an no, I do not have an example to present, the option is here solely as a place keeper incase ADB or other source decide to add such a thing to the SFU.) all of which have their own medical personnel and resources of Star Fleet Medical Corps provenance…

Would it be plausible to deploy (wherever and whenever needed) a true mobile medical hospital (prototypical MASH) on a casual fighter base?

I forget the rule number, but its typically 30 empty spots on a planet, moon, asteroid , comet or other terrain.

If one or more of the spaces were reserved for shuttles, cargo shuttles, landing boats, skiffs, PF’s, interceptors, or free traders, the other spaces could house tents or shelters, a mess hall, hq’s unit, motor pool (trucks, tanks, grave vehicles, APC’s hq command vehicle etc…)

Seems to me, the Federation could deploy a MASH just about anywhere, say a nearby moon close to where the invasion is happening.

Being too far from such a planet/invasion target, it ought to be out of most enemies range (or firing arc) on the planet to avoid any hostile fire?

Such a thing is really nothing more than a target in Star Fleet Battles, but it is an important enough resource that maybe each numbered fleet in the Federation should have one stored just like they store Dreadnoughts and monitors for when needed.

Just a thought.

By Ryan Opel (Ryan) on Wednesday, March 04, 2026 - 09:14 pm: Edit

I wouldn't be shocked if each sector had a set of hospital equipment in storage.

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Thursday, March 05, 2026 - 01:25 am: Edit

Let's not forget the Swiss Army Knife of first response ships: the lowly Police Cutter.

Not only does it have a large sick bay for the size of the crew complement, it has a cargo bay the would probably be stocked with a field hospital and emergency medical supplies.


Garth L. Getgen

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Thursday, March 05, 2026 - 09:03 am: Edit

Garth, How could we!?!



But, If I Recall Correctly, all Police Cutters do not have enough doctors to use the existing medical facilities on board a Federation Police Cutter.
You might have changed it again, and if so, I would apologize, but didn’t the deck plans specify five surgical bays, and only one surgeon assigned per the crew roster?

IIRC, your response at the time was something like “additional medical personnel can be assigned as needed.”

I do think that it was (and is) a prudent precaution, but the additional medical personnel that would be assigned, is what were discussing in this topic.

It is not an infinite supply of skilled medical personnel (surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists etc…) that can instantly be conjured up into existence everywhere in the Galaxy.

And, it is doubtful that all or even most Police Cutters have fully stocked MASH type field hospitals all of 5he time.

As Ryan suggested, those things may be stored at star bases awaiting need, might even be several sets at each…

This is something that should be established under FEM (Federation Emergency Management) program.

But, you are making an excellent point, the lowly POL is literally the cop on the beat, as well as being either the first or second responders.

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Thursday, March 05, 2026 - 05:15 pm: Edit

Police FLG?

I can't think of a better ship for responding to... Who knows what!!

They're supposed to be what goes when a freighter is crippled after accidentally stumbling into a minefield. They're supposed to be what goes when a mostly peaceful protest turns into a 'Gator Feed Fest. They're supposed to be what goes when something does an impression of a guy in a rubber suit in a Japanese movie miniature set.

Freighter hits a mine and is crippled? Yes, fix the freighter, but THERE WILL BE INJURED PEOPLE.

Mostly peaceful protest turns violent? THERE WILL BE INJURED PEOPLE.

City gets stomped? THERE WILL BE INJURED PEOPLE.

For that reason, having a M*A*S*H aboard a FLG makes sense to me.

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Thursday, March 05, 2026 - 06:23 pm: Edit

Jeff A: FLG? Yes, very good idea.

Jeff W: It was four surgical tables, cut down to two with the revised plans. But, yes, the crew roster is too small to have the number of skilled surgeons the ship could use. Trade offs.

A long time ago, I submitted a suggestion for Medical Frigates. Kind of a smaller Hospital Ship designed for use closer (but not too close) to the front lines. I even suggested some names, along the lines of: M. Welby, S. Potter, K. Brackett, M. Quinn, M. Greene, etc. Alas, Petrick's reply was basically "just use a VIP Transport Frigate".


Garth L. Getgen

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Thursday, March 05, 2026 - 09:58 pm: Edit

Jeff A. FLG? Not very helpful. The equipment is useless without the skilled personnel required to run a MASH, and as we discussed earlier in this thread, the doctors nurses and soldiers required to run a MASH is 13 to 16 crew units (upwards of 157 people.)

They have to come from somewhere, and if the medical emergency happens out in the off map territory, it might be weeks or months to arrange transport.

If it happens say close to Earth, people might be transferred from bases, worlds or even ships, but then its a net work issue. If the person required is the junior MD on a Command Criser engaged in tracking a Juggernaut, it might be extra hours or days before the MD could get detached. (Or never if the CC gets destroyed…)

Garth: I say go for it! Submit a VIP Transport Frigate refit with a suggested personnel roster. I will help you with the grant application to FEM… they got lots of money and can’t use it for the FEM destroyer variants because Star Fleet wont approve the use of the slipway.

Petrick can’t refuse since its his idea. What SVC will say, I haven’t got a clue, but it would be fun to watch!

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Friday, March 06, 2026 - 02:13 pm: Edit

JSW? With respect, a M*A*S*H is something to be deployed in an emergency to places where they don't have a regular hospital available (or for those times when a natural disaster catches folks unprepared).

FLG are meant to be a quick response vessel to deal with the unexpected where a quick response is critical to save lives.

As to them just having the equipment aboard, I would respectfully point out that the FLG all come with enlarged Marine contingents, so they have room for the medical personnel you (rightly) pointed out are necessary.

Given how necessary they may be for dealing with other, everyday calamities, it seems reasonable that they'd be more-or-less permanently assigned to the ship in question, albeit probably not happily; they didn't struggle for years to earn a Doctorate in Medicine to still live like a student during their prime service years. Maybe as a way to pay off student debt, or as part of their residency?

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Saturday, March 07, 2026 - 08:33 am: Edit

JGA:

Skilled Medical Personnel, particularly those with advanced medical degrees, are not common.

They also are in high demand, a FLG loaded with all the equipment to deploy a full MASH, which since you did not do the math, requires fifty, two and half ton capacity, trucks ,125 tons dead weight load, not displacement).

The example cited, which you also, did not comprehend, being out in the Federation off map area, has limited resources, namely one star base. The implication being, that you advocate stripping all or much of the lone Star Bases medical personnel to staff a MASH medical personnel.

A MASH, as has been said, is a full field hospital. Even a Star BASE does not need two or more sets of skilled medical personnel, so it is very unlikely that Star Fleet Medical will assign too many medical doctors and nurses and leave some other star base bereft of adequate medical staff.

As has also been discussed in ths BBS, crew rosters are not something to fool around with.

Especially new doctors or residents, no one sane would waste two or more year’s assignments putting a medical team, remember that a FLG already has a medical team in place, by dyplicating three times over, the staff of a Medical hospital (which is what a MASH is.)

Plus, since you failed to do basic math, it must be pointed out that there is not just one FLG. Again, as has been previously disvussed on the BBS, there are thirty four provinces in the Federation, each one would ideally have its own FLG, so since you obviously failed to think through the whole concept of ignorantly assigning FOUR TIMES the normal medical staff requirements of one FLG, thirty four times, where do you propose the Star Fleet Medical get all of these highly trained medical specialists from?

Are you goung to strip them from the only source of medical treatment from all or most mining colonies? How about the agricultural worlds? Is it you opinion that there is not a chance of a farmer requiring medical treatment.

Bottom line, you are screwing with human lives.

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Saturday, March 07, 2026 - 12:29 pm: Edit

In my mind, the Police FLG does not patrol like a normal cutter, but rather spends most of its time at a base or planet and responds as needed for emergencies. When it does go out, it'll have one or two cutters at its side.

Ergo, if the call requires large medical support, they pick up extra doctors & nurses before leaving the home station. Otherwise, they go out with the standard medical roster.

Side note: Police Cutters do not have Marines (normally) but rather police tactical teams (Tac-Team). These will be lead by Master-at-Arms (Navy rate for cops) and consist mainly of MAAs and Boatswain's Mates (the Jacks of all trades). Each team would have either a combat medic (enlisted Corpsman) and/or a sensor tech (junior Intel Specialist with a tricorder).

A FLG, on the other hand, would probably be home-stationed someplace that has a Marine regiment and will 'borrow' a company on a rotation schedule. Marines would not live full-time on the ship but rather be assigned to it whenever it is called out on a mission.


Garth L. Getgen

By Mike Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Saturday, March 07, 2026 - 12:30 pm: Edit

Nah. These quirk response medical units that load up the FLG are National Guard units. No need for trucks; you have transporters and shuttles.

So 20 inflatable clinic tents, a half sozen big ole diagnostic scanners, and some supplies and you are good to do. Need a table? 3D printer from standard designs. Need beds? 3D printer...

Operational example. Big disaster on Boonie'stan 5. Closest Starfleet and Pol ships respond directly. Alert is sent to thr Justoverthere'istan Guard med unit unit to prepare to be mobilized.

THE "POP UP hOSPITAL" is in standard connex just perfectly sized to be transported. FLG makes max speed to Justover there as does a Free trader or similar from the Starfleeet reserve and a FedEX. Hospital ship also starts responding but may be a later arrival.

Load out is via transporter ops and shuttle. Fedex may transport a dozen engineers and construction equipment to prepare the site.

Other resources could include a Guard Engineer unit hastily mobilized.

Seriously, given the high tech I would posit 10 crew units of medical. 15 to 20 Guard and Marine squads doing SAR. 5 to 10 crew units doing logistics... A couple three crew units coordinating transporter ops, getting any more needed stuff ordered, rtc.

I've actually done work on Hospitals (the Hospital in Brunswick and NIH building 10).

First Pol or Starfleet starts operations... others add on as thery arrive.

The set up of facilities will take more manpower than operations. SVC can commnet on how fast you can throw up prefab structures once the site is reasonably prepped. Graded, pads placed, utilities, etc.