Reoptimizing Combat and Operational Stress Control in the U.S. Air Force.

This article focuses on the Combat and Operational Stress Control (COSC) model used by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to manage behavioral health during deployments, particularly in austere and contested environments such as Africa. COSC, developed over a century, emphasizes proactive prevention, unit integration, outreach, and command consultation to maintain service members' psychological resilience and combat effectiveness. The authors identify gaps in current COSC training and advocate for realigning active duty mental health personnel from clinic-based roles to embedded unit support, with standardized training and certification to enhance readiness for future high-intensity conflicts characterized by Agile Combat Employment. The article highlights the need to adapt COSC principles to evolving operational environments and recommends a cohesive, prevention-oriented COSC program integrated throughout the force generation cycle.