Viral respiratory pathogens are easily transmitted person-to-person, creating high risk of infection in crowded or population dense environments. Historically, military populations have been at high risk for acute respiratory infections, especially among recruits and deployed personnel. At times, the living conditions under which U.S. military members operate are austere, crowded and stressful, which makes these individuals particularly vulnerable to infection and transmission of respiratory pathogens like influenza compared to civilian populations. Emerging respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2 can cause global pandemics, creating significant disturbance to public health and military readiness. AFRIMS maintains an extensive research network in Southeast Asia to track and characterize endemic and emerging respiratory viruses, contributing to the World Health Organization Influenza Surveillance Network and force health protection studies as well as the development and testing of vaccine and diagnostic countermeasures. AFRIMS's extensive research and disease surveillance network is poised to rapidly detect and overcome disease threats as they arise.