text: Institutional Force Support to the Operational Army
  research and development to discover and field advanced technologies to mitigate the health threat faced by
  our deployed forces. Army Medicine institutional forces facilitate and enhance medical readiness of Soldiers
  through the promotion of fitness and healthy lifestyles, the Performance Triad, and the prevention of diseases
  and injuries. Army Medicine institutional forces provide mobilization and predeployment support to ensure
  that Soldiers are mentally and physically ready to be deployed (immunizations, predeployment health
  assessments, dental, vision, and hearing readiness testing and treatment, and health risk communications on
  health hazards in the operational environment. During deployments, they provide reach back support through
  medical specialty areas and can deploy teams comprised of physicians, scientists, technicians, and other
  health care providers to provide solutions to unique health threats or medical conditions and issues occurring
  during the deployment.
  EDUCATION
  E-12. Educational requirements within the health care professions are significantly more complex than in
  other branches of the Army. Formal accredited schooling is required for fields within Army Medicine and
  professional education is received in civilian educational and DOD medical organizations. Medical
  education is a lengthy process, which is often accomplished in phases (such as, medical school, internship,
  and residency). Medical professionals require credentialing and licensure before they can practice medicine.
  Credentials are most often obtained from non-DOD affiliated civilian organizations. Health professions also
  require continuing education to maintain certification. Headquarters, Department of the Army, Office of The
  Office of The Surgeon General facilitates this process by providing global opportunities to fulfill the
  continuing education requirements health care professionals across the Total Army.
  TRAINING
  E-13. All medical military occupational specialties require school training. Medical skills are perishable
  and require continual practice and refresher training. The MEDCoE provides military occupational specialty-
  specific training for award of medical military occupational specialties and provides refresher training for
  some low-density for Reserve Component forces and United States Army National Guard when mobilized.
  Additionally, the MEDCoE develops and fields collective training materials and distance learning programs.
  In some medical specialty areas, the didactic portion is completed at the MEDCoE while the resident phase
  is conducted at Role 4 MTFs.
  ARMY MEDICAL ACTION PLAN
  E-14. Military personnel are treated at DOD MTFs in conjunction with the Department of Veterans
  Affairs, and civilian medical facilities to provide world-class health care and services for their dedication and
  sacrifices to the nation. In support of this plan, the Chief of Staff of the Army approved the actions to be
  implemented to include:
  * Establish and institutionalize a command and control structure for Service members undergoing
  long-term definitive, rehabilitative, and convalescent care.
  * Prioritize mission support and create ownership of actions and processes.
  * Flex housing policies and focus on Family support issues.
  * Develop training and doctrine to facilitate and ensure a system which provides timely and effective
  support.
  * Create full patient visibility throughout the Army and Military Health Systems continuum of care
  and facilitate medical information sharing across agencies to improve patient outcomes.
  * Improve the medical evaluation board process and eliminate delays in the process.
  E-15. The intent of this action plan is for the Army to provide a continuum of integrated care and services
  from POI or wounding, illness, or disease to return to duty or transition from active duty. It is vital that the
  Army coordinates execution of the necessary changes at the strategic, operational, and tactical level to ensure
  a simultaneous transformation of care and services over all lines of operations to achieve the desired end
  state.