Unique opportunities: Innovative approaches to creating military-civilian tobacco control partnerships

Military service members have a higher tobacco use rate than members of the general public. Due to this disproportionate use and the longstanding, unique cultural history of this population, service members must be addressed by public health professionals in a culturally appropriate way including specific tobacco cessation resources, appropriate programmatic considerations, and branch specific efforts. The distinct tobacco control challenges of military communities and how military-civilian partnerships can turn those factors into opportunities are the focus of the work of Project UNIFORM and Operation Collaboration. Through innovative approaches that include nontraditional partnerships, inventive tactics, and creative materials development, sustainable collaborations have led to an easily duplicated model for public health providers to use in working with military communities throughout the nation. This session will highlight these collaborative efforts. Participants will gain transferable information that can be used in local civilian and/or military communities to collaborate in the promotion of tobacco-free lifestyles.