Redefining the Air Force Medical Service in the New Millennium

As the United States Air Force enters the new millennium and reorganizes into an Expeditionary Air Force comprised of 10 Air Expeditionary Air Forces, medical support of these forces is one factor that will greatly impact military readiness. Providing the correct mix of physicians to the Air Expeditionary Forces for contingency and wartime operations will partially determine the effectiveness of the deployed forces. This paper will explore the environment of the Air Force Medical Service with regard to training physicians. It includes a historical review of training and educating Air Force physicians, as well as the organization of medical services. Further, this paper discusses the costs and benefits of outsourcing training accomplished by the Air Force Medical Service and the alternate opportunities existing in the civilian sector. Finally, this paper examines the potential impact of outsourcing on the readiness of medical units supporting the Expeditionary Air Force. Having considered the history of the Air Force Medical Service, its current training and education programs as well as the costs and benefits of outsourcing physicians, this paper concludes that a decision to outsource physicians and their training is too expensive for implementation.

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