Dr. Tony Tan, Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, who officiated at the opening ceremony, also spoke of the globalization and proliferation of information technology and what it means to the military.

"Countries have become even more closely interlinked, such that economic instability in one part of the world can spill over and affect other nations rapidly," he said. "The impact of new information technology has started a revolution, not only in communications and economics, but also in military affairs, affecting all realms of defense planning."

The APMMC also inaugurated its official flag this year, a symbol that helps encourage members to focus on the ideal of cooperative engagement.

"I think it was awesome just being here and being able to network across the Asia-Pacific with various disciplines. It was an eye-opener and very beneficial," said U.S. Army Maj. Teresa Hall, Chief of Community Health Nursing, 18th Medical Command, Republic of Korea.

"I think it was a challenge to us to mount this conference," said Brig. Gen. Lee. "With seamless collaboration and cooperation between all of us, we pulled off a successful conference. We feel very much all these efforts have been really worth it."

Lt. Gen. E. P. Smith, Commanding General, USARPAC, made the closing remarks and thanked all the attendees for their contributions to the success of the conference. "This is a highly successful forum for international military medical engagement," Lt. Gen. Smith said. "It is a universally acclaimed conference focusing on challenges and responsibilities of military physicians in increasingly global settings."