Military Partners Research Articles

Trauma, resilience and significant relationships: Sex differences in protective factors for military mental health.

Military service is historically a male-dominated occupation, as such, the majority of research examining the development of mental disorder in Australian Defence Force members has had primarily male samples. While there have been mixed findings internationally regarding sex differences in rates of mental disorder and subthreshold symptoms among military personnel, across studies, the evidence tends to suggest that female military members are at least as likely as males to experience subthreshold mental health symptoms and have similar or higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder despite the differences in roles during service. What is less understood is the impact of sex differences in symptom emergence over time and in predictors of clinical disorder. The sample included a longitudinal cohort of Australian Defence Force members (N = 8497) surveyed at Time 1 (2010) and followed up at Time 2 (2015) on measures of anger, self-perceived resilience, trauma exposure, deployment exposure, suicidality, help-seeking, relationship satisfaction and mental health disorder symptoms. Outcomes included Subthreshold Disorder (above the optimal screening cut-off on the 10-item Kessler distress scale or posttraumatic stress disorder checklist) and Probable Disorder (above the epidemiological cut-off on the 10-item Kessler distress scale or posttraumatic stress disorder checklist). Results found that while lifetime trauma exposure remained the strongest predictor of later probable disorder emergence among both males and females, for females specifically, self-reported resilience was also a significant protective factor. In contrast, being in a significant relationship at Time 1 was a protective factor against the development of subthreshold disorder in males. For the first time, sex differences in mental health symptom emergence over time have been explored in a large Australian cohort of military members. The capacity to adapt and bounce back after adversity emerged as a proactive factor against poor mental health for females in the military and could be addressed as part of routine skills training. Social support from significant relationship was particularly important for males' mental health, suggesting that maintaining positive relationships and supporting military spouses and partners are critical for males' mental health.

Quality ofIntegration ofAir Force Trauma Surgeons Within the Center forSustainment ofTrauma andReadiness Skills, Cincinnati: A Pilot Study.

While previous studies have analyzed military surgeon experience within military-civilian partnerships (MCPs), there has never been an assessment of how well military providers are integrated within an MCP. The Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills, Cincinnati supports the Critical Care Air Transport Advanced Course and maintains the clinical skills of its staff by embedding them within the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. We hypothesized that military trauma surgeons are well integrated within University of Cincinnati Medical Center and that they are exposed to a similar range of complex surgical pathophysiology as their civilian partners. After Institutional Review Board approval, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes were abstracted from billing data for trauma surgeons covering University of Cincinnati Hospitals in 2019. The number of trauma resuscitations and patient acuity metrics were abstracted from the Trauma Registry and surgeon Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities clinical activity (KSA-CA) scores were calculated using their CPT codes. Finally, surgeon case distributions were studied by sorting their CPT codes into 23 categories based on procedure type and anatomic location. Appropriate, chi-squared or Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to compare these metrics between the military and civilian surgeon groups and the metrics were normalized by the group's full-time equivalent (FTE) to adjust for varying weeks on service between groups. Data were available for two active duty military and nine civilian staff. The FTEs were significantly lower in the military group: military 0.583-0.583 (median 0.583) vs. civilian 0.625-1.165 (median 1.0), P = 0.04. Per median FTE and surgeon number, both groups performed a similar number of trauma resuscitations (civilian 214 ± 54 vs. military 280 ± 13, P = 0.146) and KSA-CA points (civilian 55,629 ± 25,104 vs. military 36,286 ± 11,267; P = 0.582). Although the civilian surgeons had a higher proportion of hernia repairs (P < 0.001) and laparoscopic procedures (P = 0.006), the CPT code categories most relevant to combat surgery (those relating to solid organ, hollow viscus, cardiac, thoracic, abdominal, and tissue debridement procedures) were similar between the surgeon groups. Finally, patient acuity metrics were similar between groups. This is the first assessment of U.S. Air Force trauma surgeon integration relative to their civilian partners within an MCP. Normalized by FTE, there was no difference between the two groups' trauma experience to include patient acuity metrics and KSA-CA scores. The proportion of CPT codes that was most relevant to expeditionary surgery was similar between the military and civilian partners, thus optimizing the surgical experience for the military trauma surgeons within University of Cincinnati Medical Center. The methods used within this pilot study can be generalized to any American College of Surgeons verified Trauma Center MCP, as standard databases were used.

Who am I? A qualitative exploration of the identities of spouses/partners of UK Armed Forces Veterans

LAY SUMMARY Military life can negatively affect partner health/well-being and their sense of identity during and after service. To date, most research has focused on the identities of personnel post-transition, with little examining partner identities. Using interviews with 37 current and former partners (31 female, 6 male) from the UK Veterans Family Study, the identities of Veteran partners were explored. Participants discussed military identity and culture, role-based identities, and loss of personal identity. Identities could be taken on or given to partners from within the military community and were often underpinned by military life and culture during and after service. Long-term impacts on self-esteem and confidence were reported, as were pride and resilience. Employment post-transition allowed restoration of personal identity but was sometimes at the cost of the community provided by being in the armed forces. Findings show the difficulties some Veteran partners experienced in maintaining personal identity during and after a Veteran’s service. Future research should concentrate on short- and long-term effects of identity loss/change among military and Veteran partners to inform and improve current and future strategies supporting families.

Briefing: How a mutiny became a(nother) coup: The politics of counterinsurgency and international military partnerships in Niger

Abstract This briefing explores the factors that led to the consolidated position of the Nigerien Security and Defence forces in support of the coup d’état launched the night of 26th July 2023. The initial blockade of the former President’s palace by the head of the Presidential Guard and 350 of its members looked like a mutiny. However, instead of moving swiftly to end the blockade, commanders from across the security forces appeared on national television that night to announce a coup. We show how dominant theories that have been used to explain the coup’s (unlikely) success, including those relying on patrimonialism and coups as intra-military coordination games, do not adequately explain the support for the coup across rank and file, and the direction the coup took once announced. We argue that this coup cannot be fully explained without considering how the coup leaders advanced powerful ideological messages to garner support. By making the coup about ‘correcting’ the government’s counter-insurgency strategy and regaining Niger’s sovereignty through the removal of French counter-terrorism troops from the country, members of the military believed that everyone else would support the coup, thus making it less likely that they would resist the coup leaders.

The role of problem solving appraisal and support in the relationship between stress exposure and posttraumatic stress symptoms of military spouses and service member partners.

Using a stress process lens, this paper considers the interrelationship between individual and family-level stress exposures and military spouse resources, including problem-solving appraisals and problem-solving support (PSS), and their associations with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among both partners in military marital dyads. The study employs data from the Millennium Cohort Family Study, a longitudinal survey of married military dyads, with an initial panel of 9,872 spouses enroled from 2011 to 2013. A structural equation model explored the associations between service member and spouse childhood maltreatment exposure, nonmilitary and military stressors, as well as interactions with spouse resources on self-reported PTSS among both service member (SM) and spouse (SP). Among our findings, spouse childhood maltreatment muted later self-reported problem-solving appraisal and support. Spouse resources, in turn, had both protective (problem-solving appraisal) and promotive (problem-solving support) effects on PTSS for both service members and spouses. These findings emphasise the central role of spouses in military families, as more psychological resources among spouses appeared to buffer against the deleterious effects of stress exposure on both their own and their partners mental health.

'Whether it's your weapon or not, it's your home': US military spouse perspectives on personal firearm storage.

In the USA, an estimated 45% of veterans personally own firearms. Firearm access increases the risk of suicide, so suicide prevention efforts in the US Department of Defense (DoD) focus on lethal means safety, including reducing firearm access. Spouse input may enhance effective messaging and intervention delivery of lethal means safety. This study used qualitative methods to explore the perspectives of military spouses or partners on personal firearm storage, including at-home decisions, on-base storage and existing messaging from the DoD. Qualitative data were obtained using 1:1 interviews and focus groups with spouses/partners of US military service members (active duty, Reserve, National Guard, recently separated from the military) and representatives from military support organisations. Sessions focused on personal firearm storage (at home or on military installations) and military messaging around secure firearm storage and firearm suicide prevention. Data were analysed using a team-based, mixed deductive-inductive approach. Across 56 participants (August 2022-March 2023), the themes were variability in current home firearm storage and spousal participation in decision-making; uncertainty about firearm storage protocols on military installations; mixed awareness of secure firearm storage messaging from the military; and uncertainty about procedures or protocols for removing firearm access for an at-risk person. US military spouses are important messengers for firearm safety and suicide prevention, but they are currently underutilised. Tailored prevention campaigns should consider spousal dynamics and incorporate education about installation procedures.

Defense Diplomacy in Peace Time to Strengthening Military Partnership and Enhancing Defense Capabilities between Indonesia and France through the Acquisition of Rafale Jets

Defence diplomacy, also referred to as military diplomacy, involves the peaceful utilization of armed forces to enhance a nation's diplomatic relations and advance its global objectives. This is achieved through various means such as officer exchanges, joint training initiatives, cultural interactions, and reciprocal naval visits, among others. This abstract explores the significance of defense diplomacy during times of peace in strengthening military partnerships and enhancing defense capabilities between Indonesia and France, with a specific focus on the acquisition of Rafale jets. Defense diplomacy serves as a crucial tool for fostering international relations and promoting regional stability. The procurement of advanced military aircraft such as the Rafale jets not only bolsters Indonesia's defense capabilities but also deepens the bilateral defense cooperation between the two nations. This research will use qualitative research methods. This research was conducted using a qualitative descriptive research approach utilizing the literature review method. The literature review was performed by the researcher by utilizing various secondary data sources such as books, journal articles, press releases, news articles, as well as institutional websites. The abstract highlights the benefits of the Rafale jets in terms of their advanced technology, versatility, and interoperability, enabling Indonesia to address various security challenges effectively. Moreover, it emphasizes the positive impact of this strategic acquisition on defense industry collaboration, technology transfer, and human capital development. By strengthening military partnerships and enhancing defense capabilities through the acquisition of Rafale jets, Indonesia and France can pave the way for mutually beneficial and sustainable defense cooperation, contributing to regional security and stability.

Are Shared Values Valuable? Liberal Democracy and Human Rights among AUKUS and its Future Membership

Do shared values make a military partnership attractive to potential member countries and strengthen perceptions of that partnership's deterrent effects? While military cooperation attracts potential members through strategic benefits such as military capabilities, recent security cooperation initiatives like AUKUS emphasize liberal democratic values and human rights as their core values. This study focuses on Japan as a potential member of AUKUS in the Indo-Pacific region and explores how the Japanese public evaluates Japan's future participation in AUKUS and the agreement's anticipated deterrence effects. The results indicate that emphasizing liberal democratic values does not boost support for AUKUS or reinforce a belief in the agreement's ability to deter potential enemies. However, the findings highlight the connection between support for security cooperation and the expansion of membership, irrespective of regime types. In particular, the domestic audience exhibits selective attitudes towards South Korea, a democratic government that should be an important candidate for partnership. These findings suggest a cynical view among third-party audiences regarding the efficacy of shared values in security cooperation, as well as a double standard among the Japanese in shaping new security cooperation in the region.

Study protocol for a sequential multiple assignment randomized trial to reduce risky drinking among service members and their partners

BackgroundMilitary spouses and partners in relationships with a heavy drinking service member report high levels of mental health concerns and consequences, which are compounded when both partners drink heavily. Military spouses and partners —termed “concerned partners” (CPs)—may be an important gateway for motivating service members (SMs) to seek care. However, CPs may first need to reduce their own drinking and improve their communication to effectively support and encourage changes for their service member partner. Partners Connect is a web-based intervention aimed at improving communication and relationship quality and increasing SM help-seeking. MethodsThe current study design is a two-stage Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial (SMART) to develop an adaptive CP intervention to decrease CP drinking and increase SM help-seeking. CPs aged 18 and older (n = 408) will be recruited via social media and followed for six months. In stage one, we will randomize CPs to either a 4-session web-based intervention (Partners Connect) or to receive communication resources from the Gottman Institute website. The goal is to have CPs invite their SM to complete an online personalized normative feedback (PNF) session. If their SM completes the PNF at stage one, CPs will be considered “responders,” if the SM does not complete, CPs who are “non-responders” will be re-randomized during stage two to receive either (1) a CRAFT workbook or (2) phone-based CRAFT if in Partners Connect; or (1) Partners Connect or (2) a CRAFT workbook if in Gottman. DiscussionBy first intervening with the service member's CP, we aim to better equip them to engage their service member partner in treatment services. In doing so, we develop a model that increases treatment accessibility and appeal among a group that may not otherwise seek care.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05619185

Trauma and Critical Care Military-Civilian Publications Increased After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Literature Review

IntroductionThere continues to be a growing demand for military-civilian partnerships (MCPs) in research collaborations developing medical trauma care in domestic and international affairs. The objective of this comprehensive review is to investigate the difference in the quantity of MCP trauma and critical care publications before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsA systematic literature review was performed for the calendar years 2018 and 2021 utilizing MEDLINE, Cochrane, and EMBASE databases. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we performed a three-tiered review of 603 English language articles to identify trauma-related military and/or civilian partners and describe the changes in geographical relationships. ResultsA total of 96 (2018) and 119 (2021) articles met screening criteria for trauma and critical care studies and were used for final data extraction. Ultimately, 59 (2018) and 71 (2021) papers met the inclusion criteria of identifying trauma/critical care MCPs and identified both military and civilian partners. There was also an increase from 10 (2018) to 17 (2021) publications that mentioned advocacy for MCP. Using the author affiliations, four regional MCP types were recorded: of 2018 articles, locoregional (3.4%), US-national (47.5%), single international country (42.4%), and between multiple countries (6.8%); of 2021 articles, locoregional (15.5%), US-national (38%), single international country (29.6%), and between multiple countries (16.9%). There has been an increase in the number of locoregional and multinational MCPs and an overall increase in the number of collaborative trauma publications and MCP advocacy papers. A national geographical heat map was developed to illustrate the changes from 2018 to 2021. ConclusionsThere has been an increase in the number of recorded trauma and critical care MCP publications post-pandemic. The growth in the number of manuscripts in more regions post-pandemic suggests an increase in the recognition of collaborations that contribute not only to conflict readiness but also advancements in trauma and surgical care.

Making sense of changes in military partners’ post-deployment adjustment concern: Turning points, trajectories, and accounts

Reintegration after a military service member returns home from deployment is a time of uncertainty that requires adjustment by all family members. Building on accounts (i.e., story-like constructions that help make sense of stressful events) scholarship, this study documents (a) turning points (TPs) and (b) patterns in partners’ levels of concern about post-deployment adjustment and investigates (c) how romantic partners account for why changes in adjustment concern occurred. Findings from interviews with 26 military partners reveal that accounts (a) involve multifaceted explanations spanning many domains of life, (b) explain why certain TPs increased and/or decreased concern, and (c) engage the meaning of time in varied ways. The importance of integrating an account-making framework with the TP methodology, theoretical implications for relational turbulence theory, and practical suggestions are discussed.

Reviewing the Implementation of the Emergency Medical Team Minimum Data Set

Introduction:The Emergency Medical Team (EMT) Strategic Advisory Group of the WHO has endorsed the EMT Minimum Data Set (MDS) Daily Reporting Form in 2017 and the revised EMT Minimum Standards of the WHO suggests EMTs report it regularly in case national reporting forms are not available.Method:This study searched and listed previous use cases of the MDS by reviewing published papers including gray literature and interviews with national authorities, organizations, and experts.Results:In 2019, the MDS had been activated for the first time in Mozambique during international scale response at the tropical cyclone Idai; also in Japan it was used at the typhoon Faxai/Hagibis response; further in the Independent State of Samoa during the measles outbreak. In 2020, the MDS was used during a COVID-19 mega-cluster incident on the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship in Japan, the tropical cyclone Harold in Vanuatu and the Kumamoto Heavy Rain in Japan. In 2021, the one was used during the Izuyama landslide response in Japan; and the typhoon Rai response in the Philippines. In 2022, it was used during the cyclone Batsirai response in Madagascar; and in Moldova, Poland, and Ukraine to respond to the armed conflict situation in Ukraine.Many countries are preparing to use the form; in 2022 the Association of SouthEast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has officially endorsed the form as a regional standard form for EMT daily reporting. Military partners also were testing the form, in 2019 forces from eight nations at the 39th Cobra Gold 20 in Thailand used the form for training purposes.Conclusion:The MDS was used in at least 14 emergencies in nine countries. Mozambique and Japan have published academic literature using the MDS. The use of MDS would strengthen Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (H-EDRM) in a data-based manner.

THE ROLE OF TURKEY IN THE SECOND KARABAKH WAR AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR CENTRAL ASIA

The role of the Turkey and the reasons for the support of Azerbaijan in the Second Karabakh war are under consideration. The armament provisions and the regular joint exercises showed the military support of Turkey for Azerbaijan as well as the opportunity for Turkey to demonstrate its military and technological capabilities in the Second Karabakh war. It is determined that the Turkish weaponry showed the weakness of the military planning and technologies of russia. It is suggested that using of the Turkish drones in the Karabakh war changed the concept of war. It is established that Central Asian nations are beginning to view Azerbaijan as a bridge to the West and as a matter of outstanding role of Turkey in the Second Karabakh war this new image of Azerbaijan will only increase Turkey’s advances in the Turkic republics of that area. It is determined that Turkey can expand eastward over the Caspian Sea thanks to Azerbaijan's geographic position, which will be important in stabilizing Turkey's approach to Central Asia. The most vivid example of this is the planned corridor that passes from southern Azerbaijan to Nakhichevan, an exclave of Azerbaijan. The Second Karabakh War's aftermath and the Turkish leadership's sequential official travels to Central Asian nations are instructive of the growing importance of the Central Asia for Turkey. The institutional and military backgrounds of increasing cooperation with Central Asian countries is revealed as well. It is concluded that nationalistic and panturkic rhetoric and practice being currently on the agenda of foreign policy of Turkey aimed at Central Asia. If previously Turkey cooperated with Central Asia on the low politics, after the Second Karabakh war Turkey turned to high politics questions, using the low politics as the background for high politics issues. Based on their shared language and racial heritage, Turkey and Central Asian nations are forming a strategic, security, and military partnership. The emergence of political dimension in the cooperation is illustrated by the Turkic unanimity in the position paper “Turkic World Vision – 2040”.

The EU Public Diplomacy in the United States under the D. Trump Administration: Challenges, Key Projects and Outcomes

Public diplomacy is one of the key foreign policy instruments of the European Union for strengthening its international stance. In that regard, Brussels pays special attention to ensuring trust-based relations with the United States, which traditionally acts as the EU’s leading trade and military partner. The apparent cooling in transatlantic relations provoked by harmful rhetoric and practices of D. Trump administration forced the EU to focus on non-traditional channels of interacting with the American audience. In this context, the analysis of the EU’s attempts to adapt its public diplomacy programmes in the United States to the new realities is of particular interest. The first section outlines the political, economic, administrative, and image risks faced by EU diplomats in this area during the presidency of D. Trump (2017−2020). The second section examines the main thematic priorities, mechanisms and projects of the EU public diplomacy aimed at the American audience. The author argues that during the period under review the EU placed special emphasis on advocacy, cultural diplomacy, and exchange programmes for young people. The author concludes that, although European diplomats failed to achieve a qualitative improvement in transatlantic relations during D. Trump’s tenure, the EU public diplomacy demonstrated resilience and flexibility in the face of adverse circumstances. Indeed, the EU diplomats proved their creativity in developing innovative programmes which can be instrumental for future development of the EU public diplomacy in general.

Military Spouse Mental Health Outcomes After Receiving Short-Term Counseling Services

Research related to military spouses accessing community-based mental health care is limited. Evaluations identifying outcomes of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and resilience are scant. In this study, 71 military partners and spouses (age M = 39.79, SD = 11.32; 97.2% women) receiving counseling services at a nonprofit agency completed self-report measures of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and resilience pre–post a 6-week intervention. Less depressive symptoms predicted higher resilience at intake of services, with medium statistical significance. In pre–post analysis, no statistically significant changes were noted to anxiety, depressive symptoms, or resilience, with small to medium effect sizes and unimproved conditions with no clinical significance. This study represents an evaluation of services from a single site utilizing individual counseling services.

Towards a non-Western model of security assistance: How Iran assists militaries

ABSTRACT With the 1979 revolution, Iran’s Security Assistance (SA) underwent a significant transformation, from fragmented and ideologically-driven support for Islamic movements in the early post-revolutionary stage to making SA the centrepiece of its national security strategy. This article explores Iran' model of SA by addressing the following key questions: How have perceptions of SA and its role in post-revolutionary Iran’s strategic thinking changed? What constitutes key elements of the Iranian SA practice? Is there an ‘Iranian way' of assisting local military partners, and to what extent does it overlap with other states’ similar practices? The paper identifies a two-stage process of evolution, arguing that SA gradually evolved into a strategic tool to build a Tehran-led regional alliance model, boost Iran’s deterrence capability, and counter the US-led collective security architecture. With a hybrid ideological and anti-imperialist rationale at its core, relying on human bonds and personal loyalties, mixing asymmetric operations with sustained force projection, and using a centralized command structure with minimum public exposure, Tehran has introduced a unique model of security assistance. The paper shows how Iran has moved beyond a technical view of SA to gradually shape a holistic model with interwoven messianic, economic, and strategic dimensions.

Military-related relocation stress and psychological distress in military partners.

Spouses/partners play a crucial role in providing support to military service members (SMs), maintaining a sense of stability for the family, and supporting the overall mission of the armed forces. However, several aspects of the military lifestyle may impact their own psychological health. Much research has focused on the role of SMs' deployments and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in partners' distress, but no study has yet quantitatively investigated these factors in tandem with the common military life stressor of frequent relocations. The present study investigated the degree to which problems from service-related moves, couple deployment separation, and SMs' PTSD symptoms uniquely predict partner psychological distress. Data were collected from female partners of Army soldiers who completed online surveys across four timepoints (over 1.5 years) following a deployment. Surveys assessed psychological distress, perceptions of SMs' PTSD symptoms, problems from service-related moves, and deployment separation. Multilevel modeling was used, with longitudinal data treated as repeated measures (i.e., not modeling change over time). Results indicated that problems from service-related moves were associated with greater psychological stress, even when accounting for SMs' PTSD symptoms and deployment separation. Deployment separation itself was not a significant predictor of psychological distress. Findings indicate that problems associated with frequent moves may be a significant contributor to increased psychological distress for partners above and beyond challenges associated with SMs' PTSD symptoms. Recommendations for future research and limitations are also provided. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Psychological distress with relationship satisfaction is moderated by anticipatory relational savoring among non‐deployed military partners

AbstractThis study recruited participants whose partners were deployed for active‐duty military service to examine whether anticipatory relational savoring moderated the association of psychological distress with relationship satisfaction. Two weeks prior to their partner's deployment (T1), participants (N = 73) completed a self‐report measure of relationship satisfaction. Then, 2 weeks into their partner's deployment (T2), participants completed self‐report measures of stress, loneliness, and depression (combined into a composite index of psychological distress), and relationship satisfaction. Participants also completed a stream‐of‐consciousness task at T2 in which they imagined and discussed their partner's return from deployment. We coded the stream‐of‐consciousness task for anticipatory relational savoring regarding their upcoming reunion with their deployed partner. We found that anticipatory relational savoring moderated the association of psychological distress with during‐deployment relationship satisfaction after adjusting for demographics, interpersonal variables, and deployment‐specific variables; the association did not hold after adjusting for pre‐deployment relationship satisfaction, and thus was robust when considering the distress‐satisfaction association during the deployment but was not when considering changes in relationship satisfaction from pre‐ to during‐deployment. We discuss the potential importance of anticipatory relational savoring for this unique population.

Резонансный Катар: феномен внешнеполитической идентичности малой монархии

Foreign policy of Qatar, a dwarf emirate with considerable geographic and demographic limitations, demands special attention. Not only has this small Gulf monarchy succeeded in overcoming its smallness, but also managed to establish itself as an influential actor, both regionally and internationally, in the shortest possible time, breaking and revolutionizing conventional perceptions of capabilities and opportunities of small states in world politics. The paper aims to explore various characteristics of Qatar’s foreign policy, its main principals and goals, instruments and paths of their implementation, as well as its achievements. The author also intends to determine the essence of Qatari foreign political identity and its components, arguing that it was the key to the small Gulf emirate’s global success. Through formulation and assertion of its exceptionalism, skilled promotion of its image as a modern and progressive state, useful military and political partner, reliable supplier of fuel, sought-after international mediator and donor of humanitarian assistance, powerful investor, a transport, cultural, educational, financial hub and a tourist destination in combination with efficient balancing strategy, Doha was able to carve a distinguished niche for itself and cement its position as an important global actor. Despite of a number of setbacks in foreign policy tactics and reputational losses that followed, regardless of speculations about the unrepairable damage to all the previous achievements, the young emir has proven his commitment to the resonant foreign political identity his predecessor had shaped. Its core elements include demonstrative independence and self-sufficiency, exceptionalism distinguishing the emirate form other Gulf monarchies, refusal to accept the bounds of conventional perceptions of “friends” and “foes”, combination of traditions and modernity, as well as vision and proactivity.

Drive-Through Mass Vaccination Center Operations in a Rural, Medically Underserved Area Using Military Civilian Partnership During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, mass vaccination centers became an essential element of the public health response. This drive-through mass vaccination operation was conducted in a rural, medically underserved area of the United States, employing a civilian-military partnership. Operations were conducted without traditional electronic medical record systems or Internet at the point of vaccination. Nevertheless, the mass vaccination center (MVC) achieved throughput of 500 vaccinations per hour (7200 vaccinations in 2 days), which is comparable with the performance of other models in more ideal conditions. Here, the study describes the minimum necessary resources and operational practicalities in detail required to implement a successful mass vaccination event. This has significant implications for the generalizability of our model to other rural, underserved, and international settings.