Mission readiness through equity: Insights into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the United States military

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic magnified long-standing disparities in health care. Among the general population, racial/ethnic minorities often face disproportional barriers, such as poverty, reduced health literacy, a generational mistrust of health-care institutions, and limited access to health care, contributing to the disparities reported in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and outcomes. Racial/ethnic minorities in the military comprise nearly 43% of active-duty service members and face disproportionate health burdens influenced by systemic and individual factors. As a result, minority service members within the military health system had similar rates of SARS-CoV-2 testing compared to those of white service members. Reports have found that while the rates of testing are similar, SARS-CoV-2 infection remained disproportionately higher among Black and Hispanic service members. This perspective examines disparities in the United States military, focusing on the role of social determinants of health, comorbidities, risk factors, and access to care in shaping COVID-19 health outcomes.