During the Cold War, NATO troops were trained and equipped to operate and fight in a lethal chemical environment. Are they now trained, equipped, and able to operate in a hostile viral environment?
Various NATO documents, such as NATO Military Policy on Civil-Military Co-operation, address various aspects of NATO medical planning and preparedness – with the very notable exception of specifics on how NATO would react to a pandemic emergency.
The 2007 NATO Logistics Handbook points out in its section headed ‘Responsibility for the Health of NATO Forces’ that:
‘Nations retain the ultimate responsibility for the provision of medical support to their forces allocated to NATO. However, upon Transfer of Authority, the NATO commander shares the responsibility for the health and medical support of assigned forces.’
Under the heading of ‘Force Health Protection’, the handbook goes on to note that:
‘Disease and Non-Battle Injury (DNBI) is an ever-present health risk to personnel. The primary responsibility of medical support is the maintenance of health through the prevention of disease and injury…. Whenever there is a suspected or confirmed outbreak of a contagious disease, the commander must be given medical advice on Restriction of Movement.’
And under ‘Planning’ it says:
‘Medical support concepts, plans, structures, and operating procedures must be understood and agreed by all involved. The medical support should ensure a surge capability to deal with peak casualty rates in excess of expected daily rates.’
This last sentence is symptomatic of a general approach. Even a surge above ‘expected daily rates’ cannot begin to reflect the potential of a pandemic.