Opinion – How defense bureaucracy is driving elite warfighters out of the military
BLUF – The opinion article argues that an overlooked contributor to the loss of highly trained personnel—particularly elite operators such as Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians and aviators—is Defense Department healthcare policy that can make it difficult for military families with children who have special medical needs to obtain consistent, specialized care, prompting some service members to leave active duty despite a desire to continue serving. For Navy Medicine, the article underscores how access to high-quality specialty pediatric care and effective support for military families can directly influence retention of critical medical and operational talent, making family-centered healthcare an important component of overall force readiness.
August 3, 2026 at 19:16
Yet… specialty care continues to be paired down in overseas locations…