The responsibility for all overall medical planning rests with the division surgeon. The division surgeon coordinates any medical support to host-country nationals. The division commander is responsible for determining the desired sequence of deployment for peacetime contingency operations. In other cases, only support elements may deploy. In any case, before execution of planners must arrange for feeding, the deployment, fueling, arming, fixing, and loading the force at the staging base.
Forces use operational readiness float to maximize readiness prior to deployment.
Also, planners must identify the source of supply early. The contingency force should take full advantage of any applicable host-nation agreement, as well as local purchasing and contracting. The first elements to deploy must handle Class I, III, and IX, and water as well as critical transportation, maintenance, and HSS assets. As mentioned above, if applicable, qualified personnel authorized to purchase goods and services, to let contracts, and to render payment also deploy early. The force enters the area with accompanying supplies, which represents the first phase of supply in a contingency operation.