Field Medical Equipment

The Field Medical Equipment program, as outlined in Line Item 6522 of the FY 2026 Navy and Marine Corps budget, is the primary procurement effort for modernizing and sustaining the Marine Corps' organic medical capability. The program's overarching goal is to ensure that Marine Corps Health Service Support (HSS) forces are equipped with up-to-date, modular, and scalable medical systems capable of delivering the full spectrum of battlefield healthcare. This includes lifecycle replacement, modernization, and integration of new technologies to improve clinical outcomes and operational effectiveness in support of evolving mission requirements, such as those driven by Force Design 2030 and Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO).

Authorized Medical Allowance List (AMAL) Modernization is a central objective, involving the procurement and upgrade of medical kits and assemblages to meet current standards of care and treatment protocols. The modernization effort addresses both the replacement of obsolete equipment and the introduction of new technologies, such as the Expeditionary Medical Refrigeration Unit (EMRU), Portable Ruggedized Energy Efficient Medical Sterilizer (PREEMS), and Intranasal Cooling for Encephalopathy Prevention. These upgrades are designed to enhance performance characteristics, reduce equipment size and power requirements, and improve interoperability across joint operations.

Forward Resuscitative Surgery System (FRSS) and Shock Trauma Platoon (STP) capabilities are being sustained and improved to provide highly mobile, rapidly deployable trauma care. The FRSS delivers Level I and II HSS, enabling emergency surgical interventions close to the point of injury, while the STP provides initial resuscitative care and patient holding for up to 48 hours. These systems are modular, transportable, and designed for rugged environments, ensuring that critical trauma care is available in austere and contested settings.

The program also funds Battalion Aid Station (BAS), Sick Call AMAL, En Route Care System (ERCS), Acute Care Ward, and Laboratory AMAL capabilities. BAS and Sick Call AMALs provide scalable, expeditionary solutions for initial resuscitative and routine care, while ERCS supports critical care during medical evacuation. The Acute Care Ward and Laboratory AMALs enable extended patient holding and advanced diagnostics, supporting both trauma and disease management in the field.

Preventive Medicine (PrevMed) AMALs and Field Dental Operatory (ADAL) are included to address disease prevention, environmental health, and dental emergencies. PrevMed AMALs equip deployed units to mitigate non-battle injuries and disease risks, which historically have had significant operational impacts. The ADAL provides expeditionary dental care, focusing on emergency and maintenance needs to sustain force readiness.

In FY 2026, the program introduces three new capabilities: Role 1 Enhanced (R1E), Role 2 Enhanced (R2E), and Patient Staging/Holding. R1E equips Corpsmen with specialized, lightweight equipment to treat and hold casualties longer in austere locations, improving survivability. R2E supports field hospitals at advanced naval bases, enabling secondary surgeries and intensive care. Patient Staging/Holding systems facilitate the transfer of stabilized patients to higher echelons of care, reducing evacuation times and risk to mission.

The FY 2026 base appropriation reflects a significant increase to support these modernization and new capability efforts, aligning with Force Design-driven requirements and the need for lighter, more agile medical support in distributed operations. The budget justification emphasizes the importance of continuous review and modernization of AMAL contents, integration of new medical technologies, and alignment with broader Department of Defense and USMC operational strategies. The program also incorporates efficiencies in line with Executive Order 14222, reducing advisory and assistance services to promote cost effectiveness.