United States Unified Medical Command
Encyclopedia
The United States Unified Medical Command was a proposed Unified Combatant Command within the United States Department of Defense
. The plan was rejected in December 2006 due to heavy resistance from Air Force Surgeon General
Lieutenant General
James G. Roudebush
, who cited mission and cultural differences among the services as justification for keeping medical assets separate.
The unified command would have merged the medical assets of the United States Navy
, Air Force
, and Army
and reduced the duplication of effort that currently exists.
The Department of Defense instead created a governance plan that creates joint oversight in four key areas: medical research, medical education and training, health care delivery in major military markets, and shared support services.
Specifically, the Department of Defense
will implement the following measures:
To implement these changes, the Department of Defense will be creating a transition team to review options and recommend steps for implementation. The implementation process is expected to take at least two years.
Additionally, the TRICARE
Management Activity will be maintained, but with more focus on health insurance, contractor management and benefit delivery. Other responsibilities such as information technology will be transferred to the support services command.
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
. The plan was rejected in December 2006 due to heavy resistance from Air Force Surgeon General
Surgeon General of the United States Air Force
The Surgeon General of the United States Air Force is the senior-most Medical Service officer in the U.S. Air Force. In recent times, this has been a Lieutenant General who serves as head of the United States Air Force Medical Service...
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
James G. Roudebush
James G. Roudebush
Lieutenant General James Gordon Roudebush, USAF, is the Surgeon General of the United States Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. General Roudebush serves as functional manager of the U.S. Air Force Medical Service...
, who cited mission and cultural differences among the services as justification for keeping medical assets separate.
The unified command would have merged the medical assets of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, and Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and reduced the duplication of effort that currently exists.
The Department of Defense instead created a governance plan that creates joint oversight in four key areas: medical research, medical education and training, health care delivery in major military markets, and shared support services.
Specifically, the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
will implement the following measures:
- Military medical research would become the responsibility of the Army Medical Research and Materiel Command at Fort DetrickFort DetrickFort Detrick is a U.S. Army Medical Command installation located in Frederick, Maryland, USA. Historically, Fort Detrick was the center for the United States' biological weapons program ....
, MarylandMarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. - EnlistedEnlisted rankAn enlisted rank is, in most Militaries, any rank below a commissioned officer or warrant officer. The term can also be inclusive of non-commissioned officers...
military members from all services will receive medical training at a joint center at Fort Sam HoustonFort Sam HoustonFort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.Known colloquially as "Fort Sam," it is named for the first President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston....
, Texas. - Major military markets, particularly those in metropolitan areaMetropolitan areaThe term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
s such as San Antonio, Texas, and Washington, D.C., will consolidate their operations and be the responsibility of a single service. - Support services such as information management and technology, facilities management, contracting and procurement, and logistical and financial functions will all be consolidated
To implement these changes, the Department of Defense will be creating a transition team to review options and recommend steps for implementation. The implementation process is expected to take at least two years.
Additionally, the TRICARE
TRICARE
TRICARE, formerly known as the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services , is a health care program of the United States Department of Defense Military Health System. TRICARE provides civilian health benefits for military personnel, military retirees, and their dependents,...
Management Activity will be maintained, but with more focus on health insurance, contractor management and benefit delivery. Other responsibilities such as information technology will be transferred to the support services command.