What is overclassification and how does it affect a mission?

Overclassification refers to the practice of categorizing injuries or casualties at a severity level that exceeds their actual medical condition. In a mission environment, this can have significant negative impacts on resource management and operational effectiveness.

When casualties are overclassified, it can lead to an inaccurate assessment of the situation, resulting in misallocation of medical resources. For example, if a minor injury is classified as severe, it may divert critical medical personnel and equipment away from individuals who genuinely require urgent care. This misallocation can strain medical assets, impede timely treatment for those who truly need assistance, and ultimately affect the overall mission outcome. Such distortions in resource allocation can create inefficiency, delay critical responses, and increase the risk of preventable casualties, making accurate classification vital for mission success.