Military-civilian collaboration for national preparedness during peace and war

Military surgeons have gained combat experience over the past 15 years of conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan. Historically, these valuable lessons tend to fade from the military knowledge base in between conflicts. Thus, we strive to preserve these lessons within the military surgical culture and also to translate them to benefit civilian trauma care. Strong military-civilian partnerships may help to ensure retention of this combat surgical knowledge so that military surgeons are prepared for future conflicts and enable collaboration and translation of important lessons in support of national preparedness on the home front. The long running conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other areas have resulted in an unprecedented level of cooperation and shared vision between the military and civilian trauma and surgical communities and organizations. Most recently, a report from the National Academy of Sciences has called for a national integration of military and civilian trauma systems, a national trauma research plan, and other actions with the shared goal of "zero preventable deaths." In this chapter, we will discuss these recent and ongoing military-civilian partnerships that contribute to national preparedness for future battlefield trauma care and enhancement of civilian trauma care and systems.