title: The Cost of Deploying a Role 2 Medical Asset to Afghanistan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The costs of military assets, including medical resources, are necessary for military planners when determining their force make up. The monetary cost of operating a Role 3 unit, the most comprehensive medical asset in the combat theater, has been determined. The cost of operating a Role 2 (R2) facility-the less comprehensive but more common asset-has not been assessed. Here we estimate the cost of operating an R2 medical asset in Afghanistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Personnel costs were assessed by combining the U.S. Department of Defense estimate for personnel cost with the replacement costs for deployed staff. Manning was for a U.S. Marine Corps Shock Trauma Platoon and Forward Resuscitative Surgical System.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It costs $2,956,873 a month to operate an R2 medical facility in Afghanistan. It also takes the place of a rifle platoon and disrupts the domestic military health care mission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The costs of operating an R2 medical facility are significant and should be considered when the medical benefits of an R2 are unclear.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, U.S. Naval Hospital, Guam, PSC 490 Box 7606, FPO, AP 96538-1600.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Childers
authors.affiliation: Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, 16 Close Support Medical Regiment, Merville Barracks, Colchester, CO2 7SW, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parker
mesh_terms: D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D000067571:Financial Statements; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000191:economics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000191:economics*