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Army Medical Reform

Friday, September 6, 2019

What is it?

Army Medicine is reforming to align medical operations as outlined in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 2017 and 2019 with the National Defense Strategy (NDS). This alignment will sustain the readiness of the Soldiers and deploy a medical force that is trained and ready to support the U.S. Army in a high-intensity conflict and any directed mission.

What are the current and past efforts of the Army?

Army Medicine has three key responsibilities:

  • Ensuring forces perform the core missions
  • Ensuring access to world-class healthcare for the beneficiaries
  • Sustaining a trained and ready medical force and medically ready force.

Realignment of Military Medical Billets: Based on 2017 NDAA requirements, the Army conducted a risk-based analysis on the conversion from military to civilian authorizations. The Army realigned 6,935 military medical billets into higher priority Army modernization requirements in the operating force. The Army has a four-year plan for these reductions, with only unoccupied billets being removed in fiscal year 2020, to minimize impacts on access to care.

Reorganization of U.S. Army Medical Command: This is currently under review to determine the structure and timeline is based on changes in the Defense Health Agency’s (DHA) implementation plan that requires the Army to remain in direct support during the transition.

Realignment of Commands:

  • The Army Medical Department Center and School re-designates as the Army Medical Center of Excellence (MEDCoE) effective Sep. 15, 2019, and is reassigned to Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) effective Oct. 2, 2019. This move standardizes initial military training and enhances the Army’s ability to generate ready medical forces to support combatant commanders.
  • The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (MRMC) was re-designated as the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) on June 1, 2019, and officially transfers medical research, development, and acquisition elements to Army Futures Command (AFC) effective Oct. 3, 2019, to synchronize and support Army modernization priorities.
  • The remaining USAMRDC and medical logistics elements will officially be reassigned under the U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) effective Oct. 2, 2019, organized under the new Army Medical Logistics Command (AMLC).

What continued efforts does the Army have planned?

The Army is reviewing the Public Health, Veterinary Services, Dental, and a restructure of the Warrior Care and Transition functions. The analysis and the final program management decisions are pending.

Why is this important to the Army?

Army Medical Reform supports Army and DOD modernization efforts, which increases the lethality of the Army and ensures the Army is ready to fight tonight. Medical reform efforts will ensure that Soldiers and their families will continue to receive the best care.

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Events

June 1- 30 Nov.: Hurricane Season | Visit U.S. Army Humanitarian Relief

August 2019

Aug. 26: Women’s Equality Day - Visit Women in the U.S. Army

September 2019

National Preparedness Month

Sept. 11: Patriot Day

Sept. 15- Oct. 15: Hispanic Heritage Month - Visit Hispanics in the U.S. Army

Sept. 29: Gold Star Mothers Day - Visit Gold Star Survivors

Focus Quote for the Day

Our Army’s people are our greatest strength and our most important weapon system. Our people are our Soldiers, Family members, DA Civilians, and Soldiers for Life (retirees and veterans)

- Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army Gen. James C. McConville