Prevent, Detect, and Treat: The Military's Flexible Approach for a Whole-of-Nation Pandemic Response.

McGee, Ltc Jarrod; Michael, Col Tracy

As community transmission of COVID-19 first emerged in the United States and then quickly spread, America's military accepted an important role in responding to the growing pandemic. The Department of Defense (DOD) rapidly mobilized and deployed personnel, expeditionary medical capabilities, supplies, and equipment to hot spots across the country. How does a military with an expeditionary focus and armed for war abroad quickly pivot to support national response efforts to a public health crisis here at home? Coinciding with the DOD's established flexible response methodology, the US Army adapted a three-pronged approach to prevent, detect, and treat COVID-19 while protecting the force and safeguarding the American people. This approach is providing strategic and operational lessons for improving healthcare delivery, informing public health decisions, and allocating healthcare resources for future pandemic response and civil emergency support efforts.