In a MEDEVAC request, what does "A" plus the number of patients signify?

In a MEDEVAC request, "A" plus the number of patients indicates the presence of ambulatory patients. This designation is crucial for medical evacuation operations as it helps to categorize the patients based on their ability to move without assistance.

Ambulatory patients are those who can walk and do not require a stretcher for transport, which allows for more efficient use of resources during an evacuation. Knowing the number of ambulatory patients in the request helps the medical evacuation team prepare appropriately, including considerations for the type of aircraft, the seating arrangements, and the overall logistics of moving patients.

The ability to distinguish between ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients—such as litter patients—has important implications for the speed and safety of the evacuation mission. Understanding how to categorize patients effectively is essential in the context of military operations and ensures that care can be provided in the most effective manner possible.