Analysis of Policy and Doctrine Supporting the Management of Operational Exposures to Ionizing Radiation

June, 2016
IDA document: D-8020
FFRDC: Systems and Analyses Center
Type: Documents
Division: Strategy, Forces and Resources Division
Authors:
Authors
Mark E. Bohannon, Carl A. Curling See more authors
In 201 4 , the U . S . Army Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG) asked the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) to “ r eview current DOD policies and doctrine on the medical management of radiological or nuclear casualtie s and operational exposure to ionizing radiation .” 1 This document includes a review of policy at the Department of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Service levels , as well as doctrine at the Joint Staff and Service levels. Policy support ing the management of operational exposures to ionizing radiation is somewhat fragmented, with the exception of the U.S. Air Force , which combines all policy related to ionizing radiation, regardless of location, into a single policy document. Doctrine for managing operational exposures to ionizing radiation is well established in Joint Publication 3 - 11. Doctrine for the management of radiation and nuclear casualties is contained in Army Techniques Publication (ATP) 4 - 02.83 , Multiservice Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Treatment of Nuclear and Radiological Casualties ; however , the academic nature of this document limits its applicability to the management of the individual patient.