What is the primary concern when moving a casualty under fire?

The primary concern when moving a casualty under fire is to keep the casualty safe while minimizing exposure to danger. In a combat situation, the risk of further injury is greatly increased if both the casualty and the corpsman are exposed to enemy fire during the extraction. Prioritizing the safety of the casualty means that the corpsman needs to be strategic about how to approach the move, ensuring that they do so in a way that reduces the risk of being targeted by hostile forces.

Minimizing exposure may involve using cover and concealment effectively, choosing the right timing to move when fire is less likely to be directed at them, and ensuring that the route taken does not put the casualty at increased risk. The safety of the casualty outweighs the speed of movement or personal safety, as a hasty extraction can lead to further harm to the wounded individual.

Focusing solely on speed or the protection of the corpsman can lead to dangerous situations where both the casualty and the medic might be put in heightened danger without adequate safety measures. Moreover, assessing the casualty's injuries before moving can also be important but should be done as rapidly as possible while still ensuring the primary goal of moving them to safety effectively.