Thrust and Agility from Trust and Antifragility: A Combatant's Guide to Expeditionary Medical Leadership

• Published in: Joint Force Quarterly : JFQ no. 102; pp. 58 - 66
• Main Author: Chambers, James A
• Format: Journal Article Trade Publication Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington National Defense University 01.07.2021
• Subjects: Health services; Leadership; Military personnel; Modernization; Teams; Training; United States
• ISSN: 1070-0692

In the past 2 years, each military department has begun modernizing expeditionary medical platforms, including materiel, team composition, and clinical care training. To meet the increasing need for agile decisionmaking and care, US military medical care will need to deepen abilities to serve as a "team of teams," linking combatant commands, component commands, and fielded medical teams, oiled by the trust of shared intelligence, perspective, and strategic intent that empowers responsive tactical decisionmaking and executions. Relatively isolated medics in austere conditions may be required to provide care at a level for which they have not been historically trained or expected to manage and dependent on a network to provide consultation and assistance. In parallel, expeditionary medical leaders need to enhance their abilities to adjust to rapidly changing scenarios. Here, Chambers lays out some important concepts for successful leadership in the increasingly expeditionary world of military medicine.