Who is the head of the AFMS and what are their responsibilities?

• A. The MAJCOM Commander, who approves budgets for the AFMS.
• B. The Deputy Secretary of Defense, who oversees all military medicine globally.
• C. The Surgeon General, who advises the Secretary of the Air Force, the Air Force Chief of Staff, and the Assistant Secretary of Defense; has authority to commit resources worldwide for the AFMS; develops plans, programs, and procedures to support worldwide medical service missions.
• D. The Chief Medical Officer, who handles only local clinics.

Answer: (C)

The head of the Air Force Medical Service is the Surgeon General of the United States Air Force. This senior medical officer advises the Secretary of the Air Force, the Air Force Chief of Staff, and the Assistant Secretary of Defense, and has the authority to commit resources worldwide for the AFMS. They also develop plans, programs, and procedures to support medical service missions across the globe.

Other options miss the global scope and leadership role: a MAJCOM Commander handles unit-level operations and budgets, not the overarching medical policy and resources; the Deputy Secretary of Defense oversees DoD-wide matters but is not the AFMS leader; and a Chief Medical Officer focused on local clinics does not address worldwide missions or strategic planning.