Ready or Not: Regaining Military Readiness during COVID19

As the novel coronavirus (COVID19) outbreak upends virtually every aspect of American life, we are constantly reminded of the devastation wrought by the 1918 Influenza pandemic. It also offers a sobering reminder of how quickly a virus can hobble a military force without effective countermeasures. During WWI, influenza and pneumonia sickened between 20 to 40 percent of U.S. Army and Navy service members in a matter of months. However, it is not 1918; modern biotechnology is already making dramatic gains in testing, therapeutics, and immunization in ways unimaginable in 1918, or even a few decades ago. Here we describe just one biotechnology solution – a test that could determine who has been exposed but not sickened - that could mitigate the impact to the U.S. military’s readiness.

While America’s response to date has been very much steered by the virus itself, this tool could give us leverage and control to better manage the military’s readiness and protect our ability to deliver the defense mission. READ MORE>>>