Who provides vector identification for CONUS bases?

• A. Public Health at each base
• B. United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine
• C. Base Civil Engineering at each base
• D. United States Air Force Headquarters Entomology Support Division

Answer: (B)

Vector identification of arthropod vectors at Air Force bases is handled by a centralized clinical entomology program, not by on-site pest control or base health offices. The United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine houses the medical entomology capability and serves as the technical authority for identifying vectors found on CONUS bases. They provide the taxonomic identification, diagnostic support, reference materials, and expert consultation needed to accurately determine which species are present, which informs appropriate surveillance and control actions. Base Public Health offices monitor health data, and Base Civil Engineering handles pest management on the ground, but the precise, reliable identification of vectors comes from the School of Aerospace Medicine’s entomology unit. Headquarters divisions may set policy and coordinate efforts, yet the hands-on identification and expert support are centralized there.