When medical personnel are not available, which is a stated requirement for Field Sanitation Team composition?

• A. At least three medical doctors must be included
• B. All members must be civilians
• C. One member must be an NCO (CPL or above)
• D. The team must be disbanded after 1 week

Answer: (C)

In field sanitation, leadership in the absence of medical personnel comes from an NCO. Having at least one member who is an NCO (CPL or above) provides the necessary supervision, discipline, and command presence to plan, coordinate, and ensure proper execution of sanitation tasks in the field. This includes overseeing water safety, latrine management, waste disposal, pest control, and personal hygiene practices, and it allows the rest of the team to implement preventive measures under competent guidance. Medical expertise isn’t required to lead the team; the NCO’s responsibility is to maintain standards and continuity of operations. The other options don’t fit because they either assume medical staff are mandatory, or they remove the essential military chain of command (civilians only), or propose an impractical disbanding timeline inconsistent with sustaining field sanitation efforts.