2017 memo warns of pandemic

A 103-page internal Defense Department memorandum, published by U.S. Northern Command in January 2017, warned about potentially catastrophic impacts of a pandemic that could “result in debilitating illness in military forces at levels significant enough to degrade combat readiness.” The memo indicates that the impact on NORTHCOM’s operating environment that could last to up to two years, according to the document – entitled Pandemic Influenza and Infectious Disease Response. It paints a dire picture of the impact a pandemic may have on military readiness and national security. “Key security concerns that could arise from the political, social and economic instabilities include opportunistic aggression, opportunities for violent extremists to acquire weapons of mass destruction (WMD) … instability resulting from humanitarian disaster and decreased distribution of essential commodities,” the document said. “The prevalence of significant disease coupled with instability may result in reduced security capabilities, providing an opportunity for international military conflict, increased terrorist activity, internal unrest, political and/or economic collapse, humanitarian crisis and social change,” according to the document. (Military Times 04/01/20) https://www.militarytimes.com/home/left-column/2020/04/01/military-memo-from-2017-warned-of-pandemics-impact-on-combat-readiness-and-risk-or-war/