The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) is the only federal military medical school. Established by Congress in 1976, the school trains students that are members of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force and Public Health Service, respectively. Classes consist of about 165 students.

The mission of USU is "learning to care for those in harm's way." The students of USU not only learn traditional medicine, they also learn about deployment health, post traumatic stress and biochemical warfare. Many of the USU alumni and students were able to respond to the terrorist acts of recent years by becoming first responders or deploying to hot spots in the world.