Beginning in FY2027, The National Institute for Defense Health Cooperation (NIDHC) will launch a comprehensive Health Security Cooperation Beginning in FY2027, The National Institute for Defense Health Cooperation (NIDHC) will launch a comprehensive Health Security Cooperation Education & Training (HSCET) program. To establish this program, NIDHC will assume the course portfolio of the Defense Institute for Medical Operations (DIMO) which will cease operations on 1 October 2026. All of DIMO's courses will continue to be offered by NIDHC in FY2027. To request courses, or for more information, please contact NIDHC at NIDHC-education@usuhs.edu.

About our HSCET program

The National Institute for Defense Health Cooperation (NIDHC) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences is an International Military Education & Training (IMET) certified schoolhouse providing health-focused security cooperation and assistance training to partner nations worldwide.

NIDHC utilizes Title 22 and Title 10 security assistance authorities to deliver specialized health training through both in-residence and mobile training team courses. By leveraging subject matter experts from across the Department of War (DoW) and the federal interagency, NIDHC develops curricula and delivers courses that build partner capacity and strengthen relationships.

NIDHC’s goal is to be a leader in health-focused security cooperation, working collaboratively across the DoW to deliver world-class education and training programs, medical consultation, and medical research that build strong, resilient, and collaborative  international partnerships.

Course offerings

Building Partner Capacity

• Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) Tier 3: Combat Medic/Corpsman (CMC): 10 days, class size 6-24- MASL D319083
  • Understand/demonstrate/perform the 3 phases of combat casualty care (Care Under Fire, Tactical Field Care & Casualty Evacuation) in accordance with CoTCCC and NAEMT guidelines for medical providers including instruction in advanced diagnostics, procedures, and treatments. May request instructor certification and NAEMT training site. Audience: Doctors, Nurses, Physician Assistants, Paramedics and Medics practicing in forward-deployed, austere combat environments.
• Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) Tier 2: Combat Lifesaver (CLS): 5 days, class size 6-24- MASL D319058
  • Understand/demonstrate/perform the basics of the 3 phases of combat casualty care in accordance with CoTCCC and NAEMT guidelines. Audience: Non-medical (operational forces/support) personnel.
• Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS): 5 days, class size 6-24- MASL D319127
  • Provides international NAEMT certification in trauma patient management for all providers involved in the delivery of prehospital trauma care. Designed to increase the survivability of trauma patients through high-quality, evidence-based education that strengthens and enhances the knowledge and skills of providers in immediate lifesaving care. Offered as an instructor and/or training site certification or as an additional phase to a TCCC site build. Audience: Medics, Paramedics, Nurses, Physician Assistants, Doctors, and other prehospital providers.
• Aeromedical Evacuation Team (AMET): Multi-phase MTTs, 5-10 days, class size 25- MASL D319110
  • Multi-phase approach to develop an Aerial Patient Movement Program (capable of achieving UN Certification).
    • Phase 1 (10 days): Aeromedical evacuation patient care principles, equipment familiarization, hands-on aircraft interaction. Identify future student instructors
    • Phase 2 (10 days): Development of AMET student instructors who will teach Phase 1 curriculum
    • Phase 3 (8 days): Fundamentals of en-route critical care management of priority Alpha and Bravo patients
    • Phase 4 (5 days): Culmination Exercise incorporating all previous phases demonstrating mastery of aeromedical concepts and ownership of their AMET program
  • Audience: Doctors, Nurses, Medics, and Air Crew (pilots, loadmasters, flight engineers, etc.)
• Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) Response: 10 days, class size 25- MASL D319315
  • Principles of MCI, fundamentals including command and control, communication, situational awareness, patient assessment, triage and treatment, patient tracking and evacuation by vehicles of opportunity/aerial assets. Course modalities: classroom didactics, hands-on activities, and culmination exercise. Audience: Medical Personnel (emergency responders to include Doctors, Nurses, Medics, Leaders)
• Mental Health Services - Combat Related/PTSD: 5 days, class size 50- MASL D319304
  • PTSD recognition, prevention, disaster response, clinical management. Provides proven methods for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to facilitate resiliency and improve reintegration. Audience: Medical and mental health personnel
• (E-IMET) Fundamentals of Healthcare Administration: 5 days, class size 50- MASL D319308
• Examines operations and administration of the organization. Improves financing, delivery, and organization of healthcare personnel. Audience: Any personnel involved with healthcare administration
• (E-IMET) Nursing Leadership: 5 days, class size 45- MASL D319311
  • Cultivating nursing leaders through the advancement of nursing knowledge, promoting positive work environments, and retaining/strengthening the nursing force. Applies a global nursing perspective while focusing on the common challenges that nurses face daily. Delivered through didactic and group activities culminating in a capstone exercise. Audience: Mid to senior-level nursing leaders, mid to senior level credentialed providers and administrators, and national and regional political decision makers from MoH and MoD.
• Point of Care Ultrasound: 5 days, class size 6-24- MASL D319051
  • Students will learn POC ultrasound to include image acquisition & interpretation. Modularized to include ultrasound exams best suited to country needs & build instructors in those modalities. Delivered as Train-the-Trainer. Audience: Medical Providers who care for acutely ill or injured patients

Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief

• (E-IMET) Disaster Planning - Basic: 5 days, class size 50- MASL D319310
  • Elements for building a national disaster plan & integrating local & regional response capabilities into the nation’s emergency management system.
  • Audience: Planners, emergency management, police, fire, rescue, and medical personnel. Combined military and civilian groups are ideal.
• (E-IMET) Disaster Planning - Advanced: 5 days, class size 50- MASL D319316
  • Exercises disaster response planning and emergency management concepts to improve interagency coordination advances. Audience: Planners, emergency management, police, fire, rescue, and medical personnel. Combined military and civilian groups are ideal.
• (E-IMET) Disaster Planning & Emergency Management - Senior Leaders: 2 Days, class size 20- MASL D319320
  • Prepares leadership for national disaster management, including implementing national emergency management strategies, policy and case studies. Audience: Senior officials involved in planning and emergency management.
• (E-IMET) Public Health Emergencies: Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Response: 5 days, class size 40- MASL D319321
  • Prepares and trains health sector personnel to respond to disasters Teaches core disaster-response systems and interventions through a progressive multi-day tabletop exercise. Audience: Emergency response personnel (public health and medical planners.

Needs Assessment

• Training Needs Assessment/Site Survey: 2-5 days- MASL D319302
  • Review, analyze and assess current capabilities; formulate future medical training need to establish sustainable programs. Jointly develop a plan of cooperation which outlines training objectives and matches those with training events - includes monitoring, evaluation and DOTMLPF assessment. Audience: Embassy personnel, Partner Nation personnel to include a facilities tour.

Force Health Protection

• Outbreak Detection & Response: 5 days, class size 50- MASL D319326
  • Surveillance, recognition, case management and response. Supports the International Health Regulations and Global Health Security Agenda. Promotes biosafety and biosecurity systems. Ethical considerations  in outbreak response for vulnerable populations. Audience: Public health, healthcare workers and lab personnel.
• Infection Control in High Consequence Infectious Disease: 5 days, class size 50- MASL D319318
  • Applying infection prevention and control principles to reduce infectious disease threats in hospitals including during outbreaks and pandemics. Safe and respectful care of human remains, disposal of medical waste. Simulation exercises in personal protective equipment Audience: Healthcare workers, Medical Planners.
• Operational Preventive Medicine: 5 days, class size 50- MASL D319314
  • Pre-deployment and post-deployment readiness, and health threat screenings to protect the strength of  deployed forces. Includes developing a medical prophylaxis program for force health protection, risk assessment, prevention, management & monitoring. Audience: Medical personnel involved with deployment, public health, healthcare providers and commanders.

Chemical/Biological/Radiological/Nuclear Threats

• CBRN Incident & Medical Response: 5 days, class size 40- MASL D319322
  • Incident management & initial hospital response to CBRN Exercises PPE, DECON, facility protection and initial hospital-based management of victims. Audience: Healthcare personnel and administrators.

Resident Courses (San Antonio, TX)

• (E-IMET) Executive Healthcare Resource Management: 10 days, class size 20, ECL: 80- MASL D175466
  • Healthcare System, population health, quality and performance improvement, and managed care tools. Resources management and critical decision making processes to improve access and quality of care. Audience: Mid-grade to Senior officers and civilian equivalents assigned in Executive Healthcare Management positions within their military or civilian government hospitals and health.
• (E-IMET) Disaster Planning & National Emergency Management Capability: 10 days, class size 42, ECL: 70- MASL D175206
  • Understand/apply the phases of Emergency Management and the value of working with internal and external partners Demonstrate understanding of an integrated emergency response plan through exercises and facilitated discussions. Audience: Officers and civilian equivalents who are experienced and novice emergency managers;  and up-and -coming experts needing additional subject matter training.

To request courses, or for more information, please contact NIDHC at NIDHC-education@usuhs.edu.