Switch hitting: Protecting the warfighter at home and abroad

Force Health Protection begins well before the warfighter goes “down range”; it begins in garrison. As a Navy civilian entomologist and a Navy reserve entomologist and medical planner, the presenter has a unique perspective in providing medical entomology and pest management services to Sailors and Marines that enable them to perform their contingency mission before they leave home. Navy and Marine Corps installation pest management operations not only protect personnel and their families, but ensure realistic combat training, a high quality of life in garrison, and training for deployable preventive medicine units. Some programs, such as vector control, are obvious force multipliers, while others such as invasive weed control and wildlife damage management are not so obvious contributors to National Defense. These programs contribute to the readiness of our military to defend our country anywhere, anytime.