Read “The Hot Zone” by Richard Preston. Great book about the origins of Ebola that culminates in an outbreak in Reston, VA that was primarily handled by the military. (The only reason you haven’t heard more about his particular outbreak is that it turned out to be a strain that only affected monkeys (450 at a scientific research holding facility in this case).
The military (Fort Detrick and USAMRIID in particular) is a huge part of the virology community. Civilian academics in the field interact with it regularly.
US Marines and Army troops were sent to Liberia during the Ebola outbreak.