The primary mission of the school is to prepare graduates for service to the U.S. at home and abroad as uniformed health professionals, scientists and leaders; by conducting cutting-edge, military-relevant research; by leading the Military Health System in key functional and intellectual areas; and by providing operational support to units around the world.

Uniformed Services University falls under the office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs.

Students pay no tuition or fees and receive the full salary and benefits of a uniformed military officer throughout their time at the university.

[3] With an average enrollment of approximately 170 students per class, the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine is located in Bethesda, Maryland on the military installation of Naval Support Activity Bethesda (NSAB), sharing NSAB with the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and is located along Maryland Route 355, across from the National Institutes of Health.

However, as of 2008[update], prior service officers will be paid their former base pay while attending School of Medicine.

After Step 1, students participate in an integrated advanced didactic module, "Bench to Bedside and Beyond", and then begin fourth year clerkships/subinternships.

Three MD/PhD degrees are currently offered; neuroscience (NES), molecular and cell biology (MCB), and emerging infectious diseases (EID).

The graduate programs in biomedical sciences and public health in the School of Medicine are open to civilian and military applicants.

[6] Selectees are assigned to USU (requires a permanent change of station to Bethesda, MD) and placed in a supportive academic setting for a two-year period.

[7] EMDP2 includes premedical coursework, Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)[8] preparation, clinical experience, mentoring, and pre-health career advising.

EMDP2's current civilian partner institution, George Mason University (GMU),[9] provides the coursework, MCAT preparation courses, and pre-health advising on a contract basis.

These services are currently provided at GMU's Science and Technology Campus[10] (Manassas, VA) in an exclusive cohort structure.

Coursework covers anatomy, microbiology, neurology, genetics, etc., to ensure EMDP2 students are well-prepared to matriculate into medical school.

[7] EMDP2 students may seek approval to take six additional courses to fulfill the GMU requirements for a Master of Science in Biology.

Students of the branch-specific dental programs are required to complete a research project on top of their studies in order to earn a degree from PDC.

These programs ensure military medicine remains on the cutting edge of providing a “Ready Medical Force” to support the American Warfighter and the Department of Defense (DoD) community around the world.

Currently, the CAHS supports Army, Navy and Air Force Medical Enlisted Services across a wide range of education and training requirements.

Only students enrolled in specific Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) / Navy Enlisted Code (NEC) / Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) / Additional Skill Identifier (ASI) training programs of the Services are eligible for enrollment.

The technical training received by the Servicemember constitutes the discipline with the majority of General Education required for the respective degree coming via transfer credit.

The CAHS does not teach courses beyond those offered to a Servicemember who enlisted for a specific MOS/NEC/AFSC and attend the respective Service school.