The Military Health System (MHS) is one of America’s largest and most complex health care institutions, and the world’s preeminent military health care delivery operation. In addition to providing health services to approximately 9.6 million beneficiaries, the MHS provides support for operating forces engaged in planning for, or conducting, military operations, including support during conflict or in the conduct of other military activities related to countering threats to U.S. national security. The MHS supports the National Defense Strategy by providing a Medically Ready Force, a Ready Medical Force, and improving the health of all those entrusted to its care through a unique and complex health system that includes health care delivery, a global private sector health care network, self-managed and contracted medical education services for both enlisted and officers, public health, and medical research and development. The opening plenary session, “Beyond Duty: Empowering, Honoring and Taking Care of those who Serve our Nation,” includes individual presentations from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (ASD(HA)), the Defense Health Agency (DHA) Director, the Uniformed Services University (USU) President, and the AMSUS Board Chairman.
•Discuss how to maintain readiness for medical services and support to members of the Military Services and their family members.
•Discuss the evolution of policy, organizational alignment, education and training, and manpower requirements over the past three years of the MHS and the impact on support to the readiness mission.
•Discuss the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) needed to maintain skills readiness and to provide health care to keep/maintain/return members of the Military Services to medical readiness and accomplish military priorities.
•Discuss how DHA and USU support Services in their readiness mission.
•Discuss how AMSUS can support the MHS way forward with particular emphasis on readiness.