The UK and US have signed a new agreement to expand joint military medical education and training, deepening cooperation between their armed forces’ healthcare organizations.
The memorandum of understanding brings together the UK’s Defence Medical Command and the US Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU).
Under the agreement, UK military medical personnel will gain greater access to USU’s education programs, while both countries will increase joint activities and exchange expertise in military healthcare.
The initiative also aims to develop common approaches to operational medicine while improving the preparation of healthcare personnel for future deployments. It also creates a framework for continued academic engagement.
“By training and learning together, we improve our ability to operate together, ensuring we are ready to deliver world-class care wherever defense requires,” Chief of Defence Medical Clare Walton said.
UK Continues Medical Training Partnerships
The new agreement builds on a broader UK effort to train military medical personnel alongside partner nations.
In June, the UK helped deliver Exercise Vigorous Warrior, NATO’s largest multinational military medical exercise, in Estonia. The exercise involved more than 3,000 personnel from over 35 allied and partner nations, testing battlefield casualty care, medical evacuation, field hospitals, and multinational medical command under simulated combat conditions.
The same month, London announced that Operation Interflex, its training mission for Ukrainian forces, would be broadened to include additional areas such as medical support.
The move follows a May meeting between senior British and Ukrainian military medical officials, who agreed to deepen cooperation on battlefield medicine, trauma care, rehabilitation, and joint research. The agreement also includes an exchange program linking UK Defence Medical Services advisers with Ukrainian counterparts to share operational experience and medical expertise.
The partnership builds on an earlier initiative launched in June 2023, when the UK began training Ukrainian military medics.
