Defending the Human Weapons System Using Operational Risk Management (ORM) and Bioenvironmental Engineer Capabilities

Historically, for every one soldier who was a battle casualty 10 other soldiers were unable to fight due to the indirect attacks. These indirect attacks came from biological, chemical, and physical/thermal fronts. Using the Gulf War as a case study, this paper investigates indirect attacks on the Air Force's most valuable resource, people, also known as the Human Weapons System (HWS). This system is defined as the combined physiological make up of individual airmen. Threats to the HWS are identified and the author contends that the HWS like any other system in the Air Force must be defended and maintained to optimize its effects in the combat theater. The author explains that to do this; commanders must integrate the Bioenvironmental Engineer (BEE) into the Operational Risk Management (ORM) process "...to maximize operational capabilities while minimizing risks..."1. This integration is necessary because when the BEE is included as part of the ORM in beddown planning, on advance teams, and in the actual operations, commanders can obtain useful information on minimizing the medical risks to their forces, the HWS. For instance, the BEE can provide surveys to identify and defend against biological, chemical, and physical/thermal attacks. Indirect attacks encountered in the Gulf War are introduced and an analysis is done to determine successes and failures of defending the HWS against indirect attacks in the Gulf War. Lastly, recommendations and conclusions are made regarding the BEE's current role and capabilities, and his future usefulness in combat.