Joint Exercise Strengthens Force Protection in Contested Environments

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. — U.S. Air Force medical professionals strengthened joint readiness Aug. 24–27, 2026, during a joint Field Training Exercise focused on identifying environmental and occupational health hazards before establishing forward operating bases.

The exercise brought together the Air Force’s 62nd Medical Squadron Preventive Medicine Flight, the Army’s 657th Forward Support Company and the 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment (Long Range Fires Battalion).

This collaborative training exercise was designed to validate convoy protection operations and refine tactical procedures in preparation for future operational missions. By validating company-level tactical standing operating procedures and improving synchronized execution in a contested environment, the training directly developed joint unit readiness.

Integrating Preventive Medicine into Operational Planning During the exercise, preventive medicine personnel partnered with Army planners to develop conceptual site models. These models were designed to provide a structured picture of potential health threats at proposed operating locations.

"Traditionally, medical teams assess a location after the footprint is already established," said Col. John Hatfield, commander of the 62nd Medical Squadron. "This joint exercise flips that script. Developing conceptual site models alongside our Army counterparts allows us to build force health protection directly into the operational plan from day one, ensuring our troops are stepping into the safest possible environment."

The Preventive Medicine Flight delivered comprehensive force health protection by evaluating environmental exposure pathways to identify and mitigate occupational, industrial and environmental hazards across the operational area. By assessing proposed camp locations and analyzing exposure routes, the flight identified vulnerable populations and implemented targeted risk controls to minimize health threats.

This proactive integration preserved force health, prevented non-battle injuries and sustained overall warfighter readiness. This planning occurred early in the cycle, supporting risk-informed decisions before commanders committed personnel and resources to a site.

Strengthening the Joint Partnership The training highlighted the critical advantage of integrating service capabilities early in the planning phases of an operation.

"Air Force preventive medicine can provide the Army more than just support during the FTX by conducting pre-deployment site assessments, field sanitation training, water and food safety inspections, pest and vector control, and environmental health assessments," said Capt. Matthew Fischer, commander of the 657th Forward Support Company. "Having preventive medicine involved before the FTX would allow us to identify potential hazards, assess the location and make recommendations before soldiers arrive.”

"During the exercise, they could provide hands-on training and periodic assessments to help units maintain proper sanitation and reduce health risks," Fischer added. "This partnership would give the Army an additional capability while giving Air Force preventive medicine valuable experience supporting joint operations and understanding Army field conditions. Ultimately, integrating both teams earlier would help prevent problems, protect the force and improve overall readiness."

Indo-Pacific Readiness and Force Protection This collaboration provided a unique opportunity for preventive medicine specialists to actively influence operational planning before forces occupied forward operating bases.

For deployed forces, environmental conditions — including air and water quality, waste disposal, industrial contaminants, excessive noise, heat and disease vectors — directly affect readiness. By integrating environmental health risk assessments into site selection, the team helped commanders reduce preventable injuries and illnesses.

Furthermore, the joint exercise validated Joint Occupational Health and Force Health Protection processes, establishing standardized practices that can be applied directly to future contingency and Pacific operations.

"Our ability to sustain operations in the (Pacific) relies entirely on keeping our warfighters healthy and in the fight," said Col. James "Jimmy" Watts, director and commander of Madigan Army Medical Center. "By integrating Air Force preventive medicine experts with Army tacticians early in the planning cycle, we aren't just reacting to environmental threats — we are anticipating them and mitigating risks before they can degrade combat effectiveness."

The training also gave Air Force and Army personnel a realistic environment to practice working across service lines, ensuring both communities understood how health risk information can be seamlessly incorporated into site selection, force protection and operational decision making before they deploy. This was another joint-services collaboration to support warfighter readiness; anytime, anywhere — always.

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