The reproductive, psychological, and physical health of women - the health of women in uniform and of the Family members at the home front - are critical aspects of military readiness.
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Disease prevention and management are tremendously important. However, attaining the highest level of health means something more - it means functioning as a Soldier Athlete, achieving one's best potential and being able to contribute as a member of the team. Women's health represents more than the disease prevention and management of a demographic population. Women's health means optimized performance in the work place and in the Lifespace, with attention to the three tenets of the Performance Triad (sleep, activity, nutrition) and reproductive health.
Women's health impacts the Army as a whole, as well as the psychological well-being of partners, spouses, children and parents within our communities. On a global scale, women's health has a profound impact on regional security and stability, with direct implications for U.S. military involvement. In short, women's health matters - within our Army, within our communities and on the international stage.
First and foremost, women's health is nested in the Readiness and Resiliency Campaign. The reproductive, psychological, and physical health of women - the health of women in uniform and of the Family members at the home front - are critical aspects of military readiness. Women's health in these respects is supported through effective prevention and empowerment programs as well as through educational campaigns addressing contraception, the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and other urogenital infections at multiple care points across the career continuum and across the entire Army Force. Readiness is further supported through military relevant research and development that enable optimized function in the austere environment, utilizing innovations such as the female urinary diversion device, appropriately contoured body armor and urogenital infection self-diagnosis field kits. Cervical and breast cancer screening programs not only save lives, but enable our Soldier coworkers and Soldier Family members to execute the mission without the shared burden of a deadly illness.
Women have proven themselves on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan and are now poised to formally integrate into combat arms career tracks. Given increased career opportunities, access to and education about effective contraception has never been more relevant. Likewise, fitness and injury prevention become more important than ever before. What fitness and nutrition programs will best enable women to transition into combat arms Military Occupational Specialties (MOS)? Which pregnancy and postpartum fitness programs are the best to adopt across our organizations?
Programs that enable women's health enable a vibrant future of maximum potential. The U.S. Army Medical Command must lead the most ready and relevant women's health programs within the DOD, NATO and allied military Commands. Strong and healthy women enable the military spouse to unhesitatingly deploy to austere locations. Strong and healthy women in uniform stand alongside their brothers in all combat arms military occupational specialties as force multipliers. Strong and healthy Retirees, Veterans and civilian partners enrich and stabilize our communities around the nation and around the world.
To this end, our research and development must enable continued success for our next generation of warfighters. Women must be knowledgeable about and have access to contraception that will enable continuous self-determination, and must be empowered with preventative knowledge in regards to STIs and other urogenital infections.
The entire Force must be engaged in prevention and empowerment survivor programs. Women's health is not just the disease prevention and management of a demographic population - it is the way forward for improved performance across our Army, nation, and global community.
Related Links:
Official Website of U.S. Army Medical Command
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