Advancing Military Surgical Education: A Decade of Innovation, 2015-2025

Military surgical residency programs face unique challenges in preparing residents for the operational demands of combat casualty care. Over the past decade, significant educational innovations have been implemented to improve clinical competence and deployment readiness.

To evaluate advancements in U.S. military surgical residency training between 2015 and 2025, focusing on educational interventions and their impact on resident preparedness across multiple domains of surgical education.

A systematic review of literature from PubMed and Scopus was performed using defined MeSH and keyword criteria. Studies were included if they evaluated educational interventions involving surgical residents in U.S. military GME programs, reporting outcomes such as competency, readiness, or skill acquisition.

Fifteen studies met inclusion criteria. Key innovations included simulation-based training in trauma, OB/GYN, and urology; deployment readiness curricula; live tissue and cadaveric courses; mentorship frameworks; and the integration of research platforms for skill sustainment. These interventions led to measurable improvements in confidence, performance, and readiness indices across residency programs.

The past decade has seen a paradigm shift in military surgical education. Evidence based innovations are helping to align training with future operational demands, but further standardization and longitudinal outcomes research are needed.