Enhancing the Air Force Mission

The Air Force Medical Service is a strong operational component of the U.S. Air Force, assisting in the mission to fly, fight, and win every day. AFMS contributes to the greater Air Force mission by supporting day-to-day operations wherever they occur, maintaining a deployment-ready medical force, and by providing high quality, safe health care to Airmen, Guardians and their families. U.S. Air Force capabilities are in high demand, and evolving every day. AFMS will continue to adapt to provide the medical support necessary for mission completion.

Operational Integration

The AFMS is integrated into lifesaving positions, both on and off the battlefield. The AFMS is responsible for extending medical support into operational environments for missions with special performance requirements or operational health issues. To accomplish this, AFMS takes more advanced care technology into the operational environment than ever before. These lifesaving technologies and techniques require the use and coordination of teams with sophisticated capabilities. AFMS keeps these teams current and able to deploy at a moment’s notice.

Stateside Support

The U.S. Air Force conducts operations from military installations within our nation’s borders every day. Missions involving the use of remotely piloted aircraft, intelligence operation centers, nuclear deterrence, and global mobility are carried out on domestic soil. It is vital that AFMS maintain its focus on operational support because of these critical missions.

Advancing Technology and Technique

Over the past fifteen years, AFMS has worked together with the Army, Navy, and Marines to create the Joint Trauma System. During that time, the Joint Trauma System has served service members in combat situations in Iraq, Afghanistan, North Africa, and other areas of the Middle East. Through collaboration, the Joint Trauma System has developed new battlefield trauma practices that are being used to save lives. Many of these advances have been adopted internationally and continue to advance the art and science of trauma medicine around the world.

AFMS continues to engage and challenge personnel to innovate and integrate best practices in medical centers into the operational environment in field hospitals, and in aircraft during aeromedical evacuation.