Strategy at the Crossroads : The Case of the Navy Hospital Ships

We examine the state of knowledge in the defense literature on the use of military medical humanitarian assistance missions and examine their implications for navy hospital ships. As humanitarian assistance missions grow in importance for combatant commanders, deployed forces, senior government leaders and the international community, it becomes more important to determine desired outcomes and to set clear priorities for hospital ship use. Only when this is done can activities that promote achievement of policy goals be selected. While traditional hospital ship missions focus on combat support and training, successful humanitarian assistance campaigns typically address improving security and stability in a region, attitudes towards Americans and the West, and health and welfare conditions of local populations. We argue that wellcrafted and communicated goals and priorities for the use of hospital ships are essential if the ships are to achieve desired policy outcomes. Defense Resources Management Institute School of International Graduate Studies Naval Postgraduate School Building 234 699 Dyer Road Monterey, CA 93943-5138 831-656-2306 www.nps.navy.mil/drmi The views herein expressed reflect the views of the author and are not the policy of DRMI, the Naval Postgraduate School, or the U.S. Government. Defense Resources Management Institute Naval Postgraduate School The Defense Resources Management Institute (DRMI) is an educational institution sponsored and supervised by the Secretary of Defense and located at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Since 1965 the Institute has conducted professional education programs in analytical decision making and resources management for military officers of all services and for senior civilian officials of the United States and 162 other countries. The mission of the Defense Resources Management Institute is to educate civilian and military government officials in the principles and concepts of defense resources management. The unique course offerings create an interdisciplinary, interactive learning environment that facilitates the exchange of ideas among U.S. and international participants in Monterey, California, and locations worldwide. These programs are presented on a regularly scheduled basis at DRMI in Monterey and by specific arrangement at other locations in the United States and in other countries. The success of DRMI reflects the breadth and depth of the in-house technical expertise that DRMI can draw upon. The DRMI faculty, a community of scholars and practitioners, are experts in defense resources management and has published in major academic and technical journals. The faculty has extensive experience in providing technical assistance and educational programs worldwide over the past 40 years. Our educational strategy is one of collaboration, tailored to the specific environment of the participant. The Defense Resources Management Institute specializes in four broad educational areas: • Economic analysis of the public sector • Operations research of public sector decision problems • Public budgeting and fiscal management • Defense organizations and management methods For more information about our educational and technical assistance activities, please visit our website at http://www.nps.edu/drmi or email us at [email protected].