Medical officer leading anti-insurgent raid

In the south-eastern hilly districts of Blueland, the problem of insurgency was at its peak in 1990. A young military doctor, after completion of his basic military training and a brief period of service in a field medical unit, was posted as a war increment Regimental Medical Of cer (RMO) to an Infantry Battalion, deployed in a hilly district to fight the insurgency. Before acclimatising to the regimental environment he was issued with an AK-47 and extra magazines loaded with live bullets and hand grenades well fitted to his bandolier.

The young captain started his journey confused to some extent. A medical professional suddenly turned into a combatant. Treating soldiers under his jurisdiction, specially treating injuries and combating malaria, including complicated cerebral malaria in a malaria-endemic zone, as well as participating in minor operations of war (patrolling, raid-ambush etc.) became routine affairs to him. The officer was career conscious, so never objected to be a part of combat missions.

Moreover, he was well briefed by his predecessor that if he denied performing his combat role, the Commanding Officer (CO) would take it very seriously and he would have to face the music; his forthcoming tenure with the battalion would become untenable. Nevertheless, soon he realized that his medical role had been overshadowed due to his acquiescence in participating as a combatant. But after assessing his reality he continued his dual role, i.e. his combatant role by killing on the one hand and medical mission of healing on the other.

One day, a paid informer had a secret meeting with the Commanding Officer in the late evening. The discussion was about a hideout of a group of insurgents. The CO decided to go for a raid. There was no of cer available, and finding no other alternative he requested the young Regimental Medical Officer to lead the raid party.