Military medicine is immersed in an operational tempo (OPTEMPO), which is unprecedented in modern times. The emergence of the novel corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) quickly spread into a global pandemic and has stressed healthcare's infantryman-the frontline healthcare workers-to a potential breaking point. Registered nurses (RNs), doctors, respiratory therapists, medics, and others are experiencing multiple, open ended, short notice deployments, which have not only stressed their clinical skillset, but also their support systems. Understanding the background on OPTEMPO as well as the opportunities and challenges of the COVID-19 response will help leaders plan for future operations.