ADF Health December 2008 - Volume 9 Number 2EditorialA historic time for ADF Health operationsThis issue of the Journal goes to press at a historic time in Australian Defence Force Health operations, with the recent establishment of Joint Health Command, headed by the new Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force, MAJGEN Alexander. It is also a time to reflect on a decade of ADF Health and, to this end, the Chair of the Editorial Board gives a rundown of the Journal’s first 10 years and looks forward to its bright and expanding future. The articles published in this issue cover many topics. Ford and Rosenfeld outline the importance of head injury and the difficulties in distinguishing between post-traumatic stress disorder and mild traumatic brain injury - a significant problem confronting both Australian and Coalition forces. This is clearly an area where further research is awaited with interest. Indeed, the battlefield, whether on land, air or sea, has traditionally been a place where significant advances in medicine have occurred. The role of research in a military setting is set against a historical background in Short’s interesting article about clinical trials in 18th century England. Regional issues are also on the agenda. The role of malaria in Defence operations in Melanesia, highlighted by Shanks and Elmes, and Stephenson’s article on the challenges of providing disaster relief to remote areas, demonstrate that whole-ofgovernment interactions are required. ADF Health operations face significant challenges as we adapt to the changing roles required both on the operational front and in the “raise, train and sustain” domestic environment. The Centre for Military and Veterans’ Health focus article provides timely consideration as to how we will meet these challenges and provide a more seamless health system for serving personnel and veterans in the future. ADF Health aims to represent the diversity of military health care in the ADF. The contribution by Aiken on the role of hospital chaplaincy is particularly relevant and should provoke thought about the way we provide holistic and multidisciplinary care in a deployed setting. I thank Katherine McLeod for her enormous assistance and professionalism (along with limitless patience) as the Production Editor. Importantly, I also thank each of the contributors for their submissions. The number of highquality submissions in this issue is a tribute to the health of the Journal. I hope that you enjoy this edition of ADF Health.
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Lieutenant Colonel Susan J Neuhaus