THE US ARMY HIV TESTING PROGRAM - THE FIRST DECADE

In response to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, the U. S. military established comprehensive policies to protect individual a nd public health and to assure military readiness. Central to this eff ort was the creation of a total-force HIV screening program. As repres entative of these military programs, the U.S. Army's HIV testing progr am is described, The first decade of this-program is assessed from fin ancial, research, policy, and epidemic-control perspectives, We conclu de that the government's investment has been a prudent one, leaving th e U,S, military better positioned to counter the threats posed by the HIV pandemic.