The constant primary objective of the armed forces Is to maintain a state of operational military readiness. While many variables contribute to such a state, it is doubtful if any are of greater importance than the health of military personnel. The search for a complete conception of military health care has led researchers and analysts toward a multifaceted view of health issues that includes the concerns of veterans and the care provided to families of those on active duty.

Challenges In Military Health Care is the first book to examine a broad range of issues bearing on the physi-cal, mental, and social well-being of military personnel and their civilian dependents and evaluates the organi-zational systems designed to support that well-being. The contributions to this volume are designed to reflect all facets of "well-being" as presented by the World Health Organization while fully recognizing the military's legiti-mate concern for operational readi-ness. This volume is a must for medi-cal sociologists and military sociolo-gists alike.