interested in the development of diagnostics, vaccines,

  Other than an existing core MHS public

and antibiotic resistance data.  The Institute of

health program

Medicine recognized aspects of these synergies in

  Consistency with the DoD GEIS five year

their report on DoD GEIS by stating:

strategic plan

 GEIS has also done an astounding job of leveraging

The second major setting for DoD GEIS work is the

minimal resources to implement capacity building

five DoD tropical overseas medical research units in

projects in support of its public health partners

Egypt (NAMRU 3), Kenya (USAMRU K), Thailand

overseas. 

(AFRIMS), Indonesia (NAMRU 2), and Peru

(NMRCD).  The overseas lab program emphasizes

DoD GEIS supports activities in three primary settings.

use of DoD expertise to improve regional capacity to

The first focuses on the Military Health System

recognize, track, and respond to emerging illnesses of

(MHS).  In the MHS each service pursues programs

interest.  Timely, sensitive, specific, laboratory based

and projects directed against emerging infectious

sentinel surveillance programs are a key activity and

disease manifestations in DoD personnel.  Activities

their particular foci reflect DoD overseas lab

are chosen for support and reviewed annually based

strengths and the needs of the Department of

on several factors:

Defense, the U.S. government, the host country, and

the international community as articulated by the

  Potential to fill a critical gap in MHS public

World Health Organization.  

health programs

  Likelihood of tri service or service wide

The U.S. Unified Commands (headed by the

benefits

Commanders in Chief or CINCs) support the third

  Facilitation of more timely public health

major dimension of DoD GEIS coordinated activities:

actions

training and external relations.  As part of their theater

  Responsiveness to critical operational theater

engagement plans, the CINCs have increasingly seen

needs

the value of public health initiatives such as those

  Accessibility of the non fiscal resources

promoted by DoD GEIS.  Since DoD GEIS grew out

needed for execution

of a national response to an international problem, its

  Scientific quality

activities are highly cross disciplinary and collaborative.

CISET OSTP/

Secretary of

White House

Defense

Assistant Sec. Def

(Health Affairs)

DoD  GEIS

Central Hub

Joint Chiefs of

Staff

Army

Navy/Marines

Air Force

Army SG/MEDCOM

Navy SG/BUMED

Air Force SG

NEHC

NMRC

NHRC

AFIP

MRMC

CHPPM

IERA

WRAIR

USAMRIID

NEPMU 5

Navy OSL

Army OSL

7