Which Marine Corps medical element can augment a Role 1 or Role 2 to increase treatment and patient hold capacity?

• A. Forward Resuscitative Surgical System (FRSS)
• B. Enroute Patient Staging Systems (ERPSS)
• C. Shock Trauma Platoon
• D. Aeromedical Evacuation Liaison Team (AELT)

Answer: (C)

The element focused on increasing treatment reach and holding more patients near the point of injury is the Shock Trauma Platoon. This unit is designed to augment forward medical care (Role 1/Role 2) by providing dedicated trauma care, rapid resuscitation, and a holding/stabilization area for multiple casualties. It expands the number of patients who can be triaged, treated, and stabilized on site before evacuation, effectively boosting both treatment capacity and the ability to hold patients pending transfer.

While Forward Resuscitative Surgical System adds surgical capabilities, and Enroute Patient Staging Systems and Aeromedical Evacuation Liaison Teams support different parts of the care chain (surgical capability, evacuation planning, and airlift coordination), none specifically targets increasing forward casualty hold capacity in the same way the Shock Trauma Platoon does.