Aid, Rescue, Care: A History of Military Medicine from 1980 to the Present Day

A richly illustrated work tracing the profound changes undergone by the French Military Health Service in the 21st century, between field missions, innovation and fidelity to its vocation: to provide care everywhere, in the service of life.

Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Service de santé des armées (SSA) has undergone a period of profound transformation. History seems to have brutally accelerated. Illustrated with more than 200 photographs, this book immerses you in the heart of these changes which, within the space of a few decades, have upended the organisation of the SSA under the influence of a constantly evolving political, strategic, budgetary and technological environment.

Faced with these challenges, it has adapted while remaining true to its primary mission: to protect and care for, wherever "the Homeland and Humanity call upon it". The last history of military medicine published in France dated back to the 1980s. Written by the finest specialists – physicians, surgeons, psychiatrists, pharmacists, veterinarians… – this new volume shines a light on the men and women of the 21st century who, with dedication and courage, carry forward the values inherited from their predecessors. From Bosnia to the Sahel, from Afghanistan to Lebanon, the SSA's vocation remains unchanged. In a spirit of solidarity and humanity, sometimes at the cost of ultimate sacrifice: saving your life is their mission.