Military operation other than war (MOOTW) often contains manifold war elements. In this earthquake relief operation-a special "prewar practice", quick response capability, making-a-rush-on-the-task capability, and joint operation capability demonstrated by the military medical system attracted wide attention: the first military medical team assembled in Beijing and left for the quake-hit area within three hours after the Wenchuan earthquake, and a total of 22 military medical teams headed for the quake-hit areas in one night; 200-odd medical teams, epidemic prevention teams and psychological aid teams from the military pulled down their organizational barriers to facilitate joint-action deployment and accompanying support.

　　Military hospitals are, after all, "military" in nature. Thus to enhance their wartime medical aid capability and build up medical support modes in keeping with modern war have always been their fundamental function and key task.

　　People are the decisive factor in war. The facts in this quake relief operation proved that, with a great lack of food, water, electricity and communication, compounded by landslide and flood resulting from frequent aftershocks, a 47-member medical team with highly-trained medical workers as its backbone sent out by the Wuhan General Hospital of the Guangzhou Military Area Command withstood the grim test and successfully rescued and treated more than 200 severely injured quake victims and accomplished various tasks splendidly.

　　In order to accomplish medical aid tasks in wartime, the key is to intensify training in peacetime. All "angels in white" have the true qualities of "steel-strong fighters". In the future hi-tech battlefield, the rear is the front, and the support personnel are at the same time fighters, which means that there will be absolutely no special consideration for doctors or nurses because of they are in white gowns. To some extent, the demand for medical workers may be harsher. In order to win the battle of earthquake relief operation, many medical workers had to withstand the severe test of physical strength: As medical surgeries they performed involved human lives, they had to stand at operational table for hours on end without batting their eyes. Thus If they drift along and lower the standard in training in peacetime, then they would feel strenuous even to carry a medical kit or bear stretchers, in that case, how can they discharge their duties in battle?

　　By Liu Tieqiao

　　(July 2, PLA Daily)                                   Editor: Ouyang Dongmei