The Department of Defense has released the Resilient and Healthy Defense Communities Implementation Plan (RHDC-IP). This plan details actions aimed at enhancing the readiness and resilience of service members, their families, and the workforce by improving both built and natural infrastructure on military installations.
"Defense installations are at the core of our Service members' military experience; therefore, it is a national security imperative and our moral obligation to the people who defend our nation to ensure our installations are safe, appealing, and supportive of their well-being," stated Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. She emphasized the importance of this initiative for ensuring the welfare and safety of those serving in the military.
The RHDC-IP builds upon a strategy signed by Deputy Secretary Hicks in February 2024. This strategy provides guidance for addressing infrastructure in ways that enhance quality of life. The implementation plan specifies actions to operationalize this strategy.
The plan addresses three key areas: adopting human-centered requirements, optimizing infrastructure footprint, and transforming portfolio management. It includes 35 objectives and 85 tasks designed to prioritize people’s wellbeing alongside mission execution. This approach represents a shift in how the Department of Defense views infrastructure.
"The quality of life of Service members and their families is directly linked to the places they live and work. When we underinvest in these spaces, we compromise the readiness of our military," noted Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment Brendan Owens. He described RHDC as an ongoing effort to improve conditions for service members and their families.
RHDC-IP guides prioritization of actions that align infrastructure improvements with quality-of-life outcomes. This framework aids installation managers and senior leadership in making decisions that integrate mission needs with environmental, social, health, and economic considerations.
The Department oversees 280,000 buildings across 538 installations covering approximately 26 million acres. While acknowledging challenges in improving such a vast infrastructure footprint, RHDC-IP aims to close gaps between current conditions and desired quality standards for service members.
The complete Resilient and Healthy Defense Communities Strategy Implementation Plan can be accessed online.
