The Department of Defense works through Global Health Engagement to build partnerships with other nations to strengthen security cooperation and partner capacity through health-related activities and exchanges. AFMS Global Health Engagement efforts strive to promote:

• Force Readiness: Global health engagements improve capacity and capability of the United States and partner nations, enabling our military to deploy fully capable with the fewest resources necessary.
• Interoperability: Global health engagements enable International Health Specialists to improve interoperability with partner nations, ensuring mutual benefit from partnerships during contingency operations.
• Proactive Stability: Maintaining a state of preparedness bolsters communities’ resilience and confidence in partner nation governance.
• Gateway to Cooperation: Medical cooperation, through structure health engagements, build trust, gain and maintain access to strategic areas of interest.

International Health Specialists have cross-cultural competencies, enabling them to forge working relationships with partner nations. For operational and strategic-level planning and coordination, teams are located at U.S. Air Force Air Component Commands and Department of Defense Geographic Combatant Commands.

The USAF School of Aerospace Medicine courses are open to international military students, with the Advanced Aerospace Medicine for International Medical Officers course serving as its premier program.

The Defense Institute for Medical Operations is a U.S. Air Force institution that facilitates professional development, instruction and exchange among partner nations, with the goal of promoting military relevant global health capabilities.

The Uniformed Services University Health Sciences and the Air Force Medical Service sponsor officers to participate in advanced academic degree programs, preparing them to support and lead global health engagements.