9 Line Medevac – Fill Out and Use This PDF

9 Line Medevac PDF Details

The 9-Line MEDEVAC report is a standardized nine-line radio transmission used to request a military medical evacuation. Issued in a strict order, each line gives the responding medevac aircraft crew the information they need to respond safely and effectively. Below is a complete breakdown of all nine lines.

Line 1: Location of the Pick-Up Site

Provide the six-digit or eight-digit military grid reference for the landing zone (LZ). Grid accuracy is the single most critical element of the transmission. An error of even a few digits can send the aircraft to the wrong location or into enemy-controlled terrain. Always confirm the grid on a map before transmitting.

Line 2: Radio Frequency, Call Sign, and Suffix

List the FM frequency the ground unit will monitor during the evacuation, followed by the unit's call sign and any suffix. The medevac crew uses this to contact the requesting unit as they approach, to get updated guidance, smoke color confirmation, or a visual wave-off if conditions change on the ground.

Line 3: Number of Patients by Precedence

State how many patients require evacuation at each priority level. The five precedence categories are listed below.

• Urgent (A) – Evacuation required within 1 hour. Life, limb, or eyesight is at immediate risk.
• Urgent Surgical (B) – Patient requires surgery en route or immediately upon arrival at a medical facility.
• Priority (C) – Evacuation within 4 hours. Condition will deteriorate without prompt medical care.
• Routine (D) – Evacuation within 24 hours. Patient is stable and can wait for a scheduled flight.
• Convenience (E) – No medical urgency. Patient can travel for administrative or logistical convenience.

Line 4: Special Equipment Required

Indicate any equipment the aircraft must carry to complete the mission. Options include a hoist for vertical lift when the LZ is not accessible, a jungle penetrator, a stokes litter, a backboard, or a ventilator. If no special equipment is needed, transmit the code for "None."

Line 5: Number of Patients by Type

Report the number of litter patients (non-ambulatory, requiring a stretcher) and ambulatory patients (walking wounded who can board the aircraft unaided). This information helps the crew prepare the cabin layout and estimate total load weight for the flight.

Line 6: Security of the Pick-Up Site

Use the following single-letter codes to describe the threat level at the LZ.

• N (no enemy) – No enemy troops in the area.
• P (possible enemy) – Possible enemy troops in the area. Approach with caution.
• E (enemy troops) – Enemy troops are in the area. An armed escort may be required.
• X (enemy contact) – Enemy troops are in active contact with the requesting unit. Hot LZ.

When transmitting over an unsecured radio frequency, substitute color words for letters to prevent misunderstanding: N = black, P = white, E = yellow, X = red.

Line 7: Method of Marking the Pick-Up Site

Tell the inbound crew how the LZ will be visually identified. Approved marking methods include panels, colored smoke, pyrotechnics, lights, a signal mirror, a VS-17 panel, or an infrared strobe for night operations. When smoke is used, the aircraft crew calls out the color they observe rather than the ground unit announcing it first. This prevents enemy forces from triggering a false smoke signal to lure the aircraft off course.

Line 8: Patient Nationality and Status

Classify patients by nationality and status using the following codes.

• A – U.S. military personnel.
• B – U.S. civilian or contractor.
• C – Non-U.S. military (allied or coalition forces).
• D – Non-U.S. civilian.
• E – Enemy prisoner of war (EPW).

This classification determines triage priority, medical protocols, and legal reporting requirements for the receiving medical treatment facility.

Line 9: NBC Contamination

In nuclear, biological, or chemical (NBC) environments, report the type of contamination present: N for nuclear, B for biological, C for chemical. In a non-NBC environment, use this line to provide a brief terrain description of the landing zone instead. Never report "gas" unless NBC contamination is confirmed. A false contamination report triggers a full MOPP gear response from the crew, significantly delaying the evacuation.

Tips for Transmitting an Accurate 9-Line MEDEVAC

An accurate transmission saves time and protects the responding crew. Keep the following points in mind before calling for a medevac.

• Write the nine lines on paper or a pocket card before transmitting, not while transmitting.
• Double-check grid coordinates against your map or GPS before calling in Line 1.
• Give Line 3 precedence codes in letter form, not descriptive words, to reduce radio traffic.
• Confirm smoke color on Line 7 only after the aircraft calls it out, not before.
• Practice the format during training so the sequence is automatic under stress.

For unexploded ordnance incidents, soldiers should also know the 9-Line UXO Report, which applies the same nine-line structure to reporting and requesting disposal support for unexploded ordnance. Other commonly needed Army reference forms include the Army Leaders Book and the Army Risk Assessment Form.