The Relationship between the Military Medical Officer and Commanding Officer: Implications for Education and Training

A successful working relationship between the Military Medical Officer (MMO) and Commanding Officer (CO) is critical for mission success. However, there is a gap in the professional literature outlining evidence-based practices for teaching early career MMOs how to strategically develop this relationship. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to explore our participants' perceptions of how MMOs can foster a positive and productive working relationship with the CO. We leveraged interpretive phenomenological design to interview 16 seasoned military physicians with extensive operational experience. We transcribed and coded each interview. Our research team determined how to organize these codes into major categories, which served as our study's themes. The participants described three key elements for developing a good working relationship between the CO and MMO: (1) mission-focused communication; (2) active and physical presence; and (3) expert/advisor role fulfillment. The MMO should communicate with the CO in an understandable and mission-focused manner. The MMO should likewise be present within day-to-day operations and should establish their officership during mission planning. The MMO should fulfill their role as a subject matter expert, yet advisor, to the CO. Communication, presence, and role fulfillment are essential elements for optimizing the MMO-CO working relationship. Learning these roles during medical school may enhance early career physicians' mission readiness.