History
The U.S. military has a long standing history in international public health issues as a result of our responsibility to protect the health of our forces and to ensure that they are ready to deploy anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice.
Why DoD Supports Global Health Engagement
The Department of Defense (DoD) recognizes that global health and security are linked, and our global health engagement (GHE) efforts address the intersection of these concerns.
In addition to ensuring force health protection and medical readiness, DoD GHE efforts also address other DoD and U.S. government (USG) priorities. These include enhancing interoperability by helping partner nations build health capacity, combatting global health threats like emerging infectious diseases and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and supporting USG humanitarian assistance and disaster relief initiatives.
How DoD Engages
DoD works diligently with foreign nations to establish and develop international partnerships through joint medical training exercises and public health initiatives. We aim to support and strengthen the public health capabilities of our partner nations in these engagements, as well as to improve our interoperability with them.
USNS Comfort anchors off Haiti for Continuing Promise 2015, during which its personnel conducted medical training exercises and exchanges with partner nations in Latin America. Our laboratories across the globe conduct essential surveillance of biological threats as well as groundbreaking research on infectious diseases. DoD’s global reach also serves as a force for good around the world, offering humanitarian and disaster response assistance when requested.
DoD’s global health engagement efforts are part of a whole-of-government approach, conducted in close coordination with other U.S. Government agencies, including the Department of State, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Agriculture, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). DoD also engages with non-government organizations, academia and private-sector organizations to enhance global health objectives.
The Bottom Line
GHE is an important priority for the MHS. Our work improves the health and safety of our warfighters, expands our medical readiness, builds trust and deepens professional medical relationships around the world, and advances U.S. national security objectives.
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Article
9/8/2016
The participation in the drill demonstrated expanded capabilities that the U.S. military can contribute to assist Japan in the event of a disaster
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8/3/2016
Nearly 500 senior military health officials from 27 different countries have come together for this year’s Asia Pacific Military Health Exchange 2016
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Article
8/2/2016
The FTX was the result of several months of planning between Vietnamese officials and the Pacific Partnership Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief team
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Health Readiness, Global Health Engagement
Article
7/29/2016
The International Peacekeeping and Security Center and the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine, play an important role in helping to train Ukrainian Ground Forces
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Health Readiness, Global Health Engagement
Article
6/20/2016
New Horizons 2016 brings together U.S. military medical professionals and civil engineers who conduct readiness training exercises by delivering health care services to local communities in the Dominican Republic
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Health Readiness, Global Health Engagement
Article
6/9/2016
While in Timor Leste, Pacific Partnership personnel will work side-by-side with civilian leadership from the Dili community and Timor Leste Defense Forces
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Health Readiness, Global Health Engagement
Video
6/7/2016
The Defense Department is closely monitoring the spread of the Zika virus and is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to assist in virus surveillance, response and research efforts. The department's highest priority is the health and safety of active duty service members, DoD civilians and their families, and the DoD has begun taking swift action to reduce exposure to this emerging disease.
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Zika Virus, Global Health Engagement, Mosquito-Borne Illnesses
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