Aviation and health: a key Nexus for the US Air Force's regional security-building efforts

• Published in: Air & space power journal Vol. 29; no. 3; p. 57
• Main Authors: Chambers, James A, Garretson, Peter A, Rolleston, Mort M, Alder, Jeffrey R, Podbielski, Peter J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Maxwell AFB Air Force Research Institute 01.05.2015; Air University Press
• Subjects: Advocacy; Aeronautics; Air force; Air forces; Air power; Alliances (Government relations); Analysis; Aviation; Border patrol; Commands; Cooperation; Defense; Diplomacy; Diplomatic & consular services; Disaster relief; Disasters; Emergency preparedness; Funding; Health; Health care; Health services; Humanitarian aid; Humanitarianism; Infrastructure; Insurgency; Investments; Leadership; Medical care; Medical service; Military aircraft; Military aspects; Military planes; Military strategy; National security; Nations; Public health; Rebellions; Regional security; Security; Theater; United States; World health organization; World War I; United States; United States > US
• ISSN: 1555-385X; 1554-2505

Security cooperation through assistance in aviation enterprise and health development enables a small footprint posture that helps partner nation (PN) govern more effectively, provide essential services such as health care and disaster response, and contribute to regional security. Improving health-care capacity offers a uniquely compelling incentive for foreign governments to partner with the US in peacetime to prepare for the full spectrum of civil and military operations. Most importantly, Air Force components must articulate to combatant command staff the importance of coordinated aviation enterprise development in the larger imperative of building PNs' capacity and the unique contributions that US Air Force (USAF) resources offer the US government as well as international bodies such as the World Health Organization and nongovernmental organizations. Its realization begins with advocacy of informed combatant command staffs and US Embassy country teams that perceive the value in what the USAF offers to a remarkably broad range of stakeholders in their theaters and nations.