To many persons the concept of military medicine is reasonably simple. If one asks them what military medicine is they will say, "It is medical care for military patients." Many physicians hold this same belief. It is completely erroneous. It is regrettable that so widespread a belief exists, because thinking that medicine can serve military forces by simply applying everyday medical principles to the men in uniform can result in neglect, loss of life, and even in the loss of a nation. Medicine must enter into multiple strange enterprises; it must often shoulder responsibilities that are unique. In stating that it is a fallacy to believe that military medicine consists of care of military patients, no implication is meant that such patient care is not a medical responsibility. In considering military medicine, the error in thinking is to believe that patient care comprises the total military medical effort. In many