Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog

Global Health Engagement Operations Course (GHEOC) – 23-27 June 2025 – Bethesda, MD

Posted on March 25, 2025 Updated on March 18, 2025

Background: The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) Center for Global Health Engagement (CGHE) will host the upcoming iteration of the Global Health Engagement Operations Course (GHEOC). The course welcomes a broad range of DoD personnel who directly support DoD GHE strategy, planning, coordination, and execution. This course was previously facilitated by the U.S. Air Force International Health Specialist (IHS) Program, and is the current Joint GHE planning course. The GHEOC is designed, planned, and executed as a partnership among the Service GHE offices, the Combatant Commands (CCMDs), Defense Security Cooperation University (DSCU), USU CGHE, and other partners.

Course Objective: The GHEOC prepares personnel in GHE-focused positions to develop steady-state operations, activities and investments (OAIs) in support of CCMD campaign plan objectives. Steady-state OAIs include Joint, Service, and multinational exercises, as well as security assistance (SA) and Security Cooperation (SC) activities that may build partner capabilities and capacity, enhance strategic partnerships, secure contingency and peacetime access, and promote interoperability. This course focuses on leadership and planner level instruction on: GHE program lifecycle design and management; SA/SC key elements; Assessment, Monitoring, and Evaluation (AME); and structure/functions of Joint and Service headquarters staffs as relates to GHE. Learning activities are built within the course and focus on principles of SA/SC, strategy, and health/medical as instruments of national security.

Intended Audience: The GHEOC is relevant to DoD personnel who plan, coordinate, and execute GHE programs and activities as part of their daily duties, including U.S. Air Force International Health Specialists, U.S. Navy Health Security Cooperation Officers, Army personnel in GHE and medical security cooperation positions, and personnel from joint organizations involved in GHE. The course is open to Active Duty, Guard, Reserve, Civilian, and Contractor personnel with GHE duties. The course will accept a maximum of 60 participants.

Course Logistics: The course will be held 23-27 June 2025 at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation’s Bethesda Auditorium in Bethesda, Maryland. Daily class hours will be 0800 to approximately 1700. Course prerequisites and materials will be provided via the course learning management system. USU CGHE will provide lodging suggestions within the USG per diem rate. Additional details to follow in reporting instructions.

Funding: There are no associated course fees. Any associated TDY costs will be the responsibility of and borne by the Service/organization. All personnel will require command approval to attend.

Student Application: Interested personnel who meet the intended audience criteria should complete this demographics form and email the following two items to GHEOC@usuhs.edu:

1. a resume/CV
2. personal statement of no more than 250 words detailing how this leader/planner-level course will improve your readiness to plan or manage DoD GHE and/or Security Cooperation programs, and how you intend to contribute your expertise/experience to the benefit of the course.

Applications are due NLT 26 May 2025. Couse seat allocations will be determined by 02 June 2025 and selected personnel will be notified and provided reporting instructions.

Contact: For questions regarding this course, please contact GHEOC@usuhs.edu.