Military Health Care Powers Warfighter Readiness, Boosts Battlefield Strength
April 14, 2025 | MHS Communications — The Military Health System (MHS) plays a pivotal role in enhancing warfighter lethality, resilience, and mission readiness, according to Stephen Ferrara, currently serving as the acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs.
“Readiness is not optional or last-minute,” emphasized Ferrara, a former active-duty Navy surgeon with four deployments. “It’s the foundation of mission success — and it begins long before troops hit the battlefield.”
Ferrara, appointed in January 2025, has championed this message across multiple platforms including base visits, town halls, and leadership forums. He highlighted the MHS as the only U.S. healthcare system that deploys to combat zones, offering life-saving care in real time across the globe.
“When American service members face danger, they do so knowing we’ve promised them world-class medical support anywhere on earth,” Ferrara said. “That trust gives our military a significant strategic advantage.”
His top priorities include:
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Maximizing warfighter lethality
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Sustaining clinical and combat medical skills
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Providing accessible, high-quality, and modernized care
Ferrara underlined the importance of supporting the warfighter, retaining skilled medical personnel, and modernizing military healthcare systems for better access, safety, and effectiveness.
“This system must be ready to fight and win,” he said. “That’s how we ensure our medical teams can keep our forces strong and operational.”
Positioning readiness as both a moral and strategic necessity, Ferrara noted alignment with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s focus on a lethal, mission-ready force. The $61 billion Defense Health Program budget, which makes up about 7% of the Pentagon’s total budget, is a major tool in achieving this goal.
“We invest in every level — from the surgeon in the field to the support teams behind the scenes,” Ferrara said. “Every role contributes to a ready, lethal, and winning force.”
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