November Readiness Reminder

There has been a lot of Readiness and Deployment information pushed out recently by the Readiness and Deployment Branch (formally known as RedDOG). The Readiness Subcommittee has done a breakdown of pertinent information and included links for your review below. If you haven’t already familiarized yourself with the updates, we hope you can enjoy a little light reading over the Thanksgiving holiday!

POM 821.74       Subject: Promotion Precepts and Criteria                             EFFECTIVE DATE: 16 October 2019

MUST READ FOR OFFICERS UP FOR PROMOTION IN PY2020 – New policy incorporates basic readiness history into the Promotion Precepts beginning in PY2020 and emphasizes officers must meet basic force readiness standards as conditions of service in order to be considered for promotion.

“The four promotion precepts with their associated relative weights are:

(1) Performance Rating and Reviewing Official’s Statement – 40%

(2) Education, training, and professional development – 20%

(3) Career progression and potential – 25%

(4) Professional contributions, basic level of force readiness history, and services to the Corps – 15%

As a condition of service all officers must maintain continuous compliance with the Corps’ basic level of force readiness requirements.

Promotion boards will review the readiness history of officers as follows:

1. For PY2020, the promotion boards will review the readiness history for the previous 3 years (i.e., 1 January 2017 through 31 December 2019).
2. For PY2021 the promotion boards will review the readiness history for the previous 4 years (i.e., 1 January 2017 through 31 December 2020).
3. For PY2022 and subsequent years, the promotion boards will review the readiness history for the previous 5 years (i.e., 1 January 2017 through 31 December 2021 for PY2022, 1 January 2018 through 31 December 2022, for PY2023, etc.).

The boards will use officers’ readiness history as a factor in the score for promotion precept 4 (professional contributions, basic level of force readiness history, and services to the Corps), as well as, the overall recommendation for promotion.”

POM 821.75       SUBJECT: Readiness Compliance                              EFFECTIVE DATE: 16 October 2019

MUST READ – New policy begins enforcing Retention Weight Standards effective January 1, 2020 and it clarifies the readiness check dates (1^st of each month) and how periods of non-compliance previously outlined previously in POM 821.69 will be assessed by Readiness and Deployment Branch.

“Commissioned Corps Headquarters (CCHQ) performs basic level of force readiness checks for the entirety of the Corps on the first day of each month.

1. Absent an approved waiver, officers who fail to meet or maintain the basic level of force readiness (“readiness requirements”) will be marked as “Not Qualified,” and is:

(1) Non-deployable by the Corps;

(2) Not eligible for promotion in accordance with CCI 331.01, “Permanent Grade Promotions,” and CCI 332.01, “Temporary Promotions;”

(3) Not eligible for individual, unit, or service awards nor eligible for campaign medals, badges, or insignia under CCI 511.01, “Awards Program;”

(4) Not eligible for appointment to a group, committee, or board chartered or convened by the Office of the Surgeon General; and

(5) Not eligible to enter into a special pay agreement (see CCI 633.01).

1. An officer marked as “Not Qualified” will have until the day before the first day of the subsequent month to meet and maintain the basic level of force readiness. An officer who fails to meet or maintain the basic level of force readiness by the first day of the subsequent month he/she is marked as “Not Qualified” will continue to be marked as “Not Qualified.”
2. Weight Compliance. POM 821.66, “Retention Weight Standards,” outlines the implementation and enforcement of the Corps’ Retention Weight Standards (see also CCI 241.01).

(1) Officers who are not in compliance with the Retention Weight Standards are required to submit, in addition to their Annual Physical Fitness Test (APFT), a quarterly report to RDB by the first week of January, April, July, and October until he/she reaches compliance with Retention Weight Standards. The required quarterly reports must be submitted to RDB on Form PHS-7044-1, “Verified Weight Report.”

(2) Effective 1 January 2020, an officer who fails to submit a completed Form PHS-7044-1 as required in POM 821.66 will be marked as “Not Qualified.” Such officers will be marked as “Not Qualified” for each subsequent month that he/she fails to submit a completed Form PHS-7044-1 until he/she complies with the required submission.

(3) Effective 1 January 2020, an officer will be marked as “Not Qualified” if he/she fails to meet the retention weight standard during the previous 12 months and failed to demonstrate acceptable progress towards meeting the standard. The Director, CCHQ, may refer such officers to an Involuntary Termination Board (ITB), Administrative Separation Board, Involuntary Retirement Board (IRB), Medical Review Board, or other involuntary separation process after a review by Medical Affairs Branch (MAB), CCHQ, who will determine whether the officer has an underlying medical condition that prevents him/her from meeting the retention weight standard. In accordance with POM 821.66, acceptable progress for weight loss is approximately 3.5% baseline body weight per quarter, or approximately 15% baseline body weight loss per year.”

CCD 121.02         SUBJECT: Deployment and Readiness                     EFFECTIVE DATE: 26 April 2019

MUST READ – Policy update authorizes the ASH to immediately release for deployment or involuntarily deploy Corps officers assigned to HHS OPDIVs and STAFFDIVs under certain circumstances, to establish Commissioned Corps training and medical requirements for the readiness for deployment of officers, and directs the SG to organize, equip, and train Commissioned Corps rapid deployment units.

“6-3. Organization. The SG shall:

1. Organize Corps officers into units for rapid deployment to respond to urgent or emergency public health care needs;
2. Establish appropriate procedures for the command and control of units or individual officers that are deployed in response to an urgent or emergency public health care need of national, State or local significance;
3. Ensure that officers are trained, equipped, and otherwise prepared to fulfill their public health and emergency response roles in accordance with policy established by the ASH; and
4. Ensure that deployment planning takes into account [(1)deployment exemptions and (2) nature of the urgent or emergency public health care need].

6-4. Urgent or Emergency Public Health Care Need. The term “urgent or emergency public health care need” means a health care need, as determined by the Secretary, arising as the result of:

1. A national emergency declared by the President under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. § 1601 et seq.);
2. An emergency or major disaster declared by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 5121 et seq.);
3. A public health emergency declared by the Secretary under 42 U.S.C. § 247d; or
4. Any emergency that, in the judgment of the Secretary, is appropriate for the deployment of members of the Corps.

6-5. Deployments. Deployment is defined as a directed, temporary assignment of officers from their assigned duties within an HHS OPDIV/STAFFDIV/non-HHS organization.

4. Corps officers assigned to an HHS OPDIV/STAFFDIV are hereby authorized by the Secretary to be released for deployment by the ASH under the circumstances in Section 6-4. a., b., or c. without further action required by the Secretary other than a determination by the Secretary that a health care need exists. Officers deployed pursuant to Sections 6-4 a., b., or c. may be involuntarily deployed by the ASH without supervisory or OPDIV/STAFFDIV approval prior to the officer’s deployment.
5. Corps officers assigned to a non-HHS organization may be deployed in accordance with the Memorandum of Agreement/Understanding (MOA/MOU) between the Corps and the non-HHS organization.”

CCI 241.02           SUBJECT: Deployment of Corps Officers                EFFECTIVE DATE: 2 October 2019

MUST READ – New policy assigns responsibilities and requirements to which officers in the Commissioned Corps must adhere while on active duty in the Corps and prescribes procedures to ensure efficient deployment of the Corps for response activities, including training responses, intra-agency responses, and Corps deployments.

“6-2. Deployments: Non-Emergency Responses.

1. Training Responses. The SG may authorize the use of Corps officers for responses that provide public health services to underserved and vulnerable populations for the purpose of maintaining an officer’s preparedness to respond to an urgent or emergency public health care need that is declared by the President or HHS Secretary. An example of such a response is a Remote Area Medical mission. These responses for Corps officers will be led and coordinated by CCHQ.
2. Intra-Agency Responses.

(1) An Intra-Agency response is a response that is within the boundaries of the mission of, and managed directly by, an HHS OPDIV/STAFFDIV/ non-HHS organization.

(2) Corps officers assigned within the OPDIV/STAFFDIV/non-HHS organization who are temporarily reassigned within the same OPDIV/STAFFDIV/non-HHS organization to support the response are considered to have participated in an Intra-Agency response.

(3) Although such responses are not managed or coordinated by CCHQ, an officer’s participation in an interagency response may be included in his/her personnel record. The Corps liaison for the OPDIV/STAFFDIV/non-HHS organization will track the response. The Director, CCHQ, or his/her designee, will establish the requirements and process for submitting this information to CCHQ.

(4) Intra-Agency responses do not require orders or coordination by CCHQ.

511. The SG may authorize responses under this Section to be deemed as qualified deployments for the purposes of the service awards and Field Medical Readiness Badge (FMRB). (see CCI 511.01, “Awards Program”)

6-3. Deployment Coordination (Emergency Responses).

1. The SG (or his/her designee) will assign each officer to either a rapid deployment unit or to an augmentation group. The rapid deployment units and augmentation groups will be available for deployment on an established “on call” schedule. The SG (or his/her designee) will establish the deployment timeframes for each type of unit or group that specifies the maximum amount of time between the issuance of orders to deploy and when the officer is officially in a deployment status.
2. The SG (or his/her designee) will issue orders for officers deployed by CCHQ.
3. Prior to the officers’ on call period, CCHQ will coordinate with Corps liaisons to ensure the availability of officers assigned to the respective OPDIVs/STAFFDIVs and non-HHS organizations. Adjustments to the officer’s expected availability will be made as necessary.

7-5. All officers are responsible for adhering to the requirements established in this Instruction. Each officer must also [within the Officer Secure Area of CCMIS]:

1. Maintain current and updated contact information (e.g., e-mail, phone, address) in CCHQ (in accordance with guidance by the Director, CCHQ, or his/her designee) in order to facilitate the Corps’ communication of information to the officer;
2. Maintain his/her supervisor’s current and updated contact information in CCHQ;
3. Ensure that his/her supervisor is aware of the officer’s receipt of official orders to deploy in response to an urgent or emergency public health care need and provide necessary information to his/her supervisor regarding the deployment;
4. Document availability or non-availability prior to all on-call periods; and
5. Be prepared to deploy within the timeframes established by the SG (or his/her designee) pursuant to Section 6-3.a. upon receipt of official orders to deploy in response to an urgent or emergency public health care need.”

POM 821.76       SUBJECT: Deployment Procedures                           EFFECTIVE DATE: 3 October 2019

BLUF – MUST READ – New policy implements Commissioned Corps Directive (CCD) 121.02, “Deployment and Readiness,” and Commissioned Corps Instruction (CCI) CCI 241.02, “Deployment of Corps Officers,” and outlines the procedures for the deployment of officers in the Commissioned Corps by providing a framework (Unit Manning Lists) for organizing, training, equipping, and deploying rapid deployment units and augmentees, as well as outlining control of deployed units, establishing general orders for deployed officers, describing performance evaluation for conduct during deployment, describing disciplinary action for failure to comply with orders on deployment, and establishing procedures for illness, injury, or death during a deployment. 

“3. CCHQ will organize Corps officers into units for rapid deployment. With the exception of officers deemed Mission Critical (see Section 2.c.(2)), all officers will be assigned to a specific pre-configured rapid deployment unit or a group augmenting those units. Each unit or group will be available for deployment on an established “on call” and “backup” schedule.

2. Unless a unique schedule is established by CCHQ for a specific deployment unit/group, the units/groups will be on call once every fifth month. Each of the units/groups will serve as the backup unit/group during the month after being the on call unit/group. Typically, deployments will be between 14 and 30 calendar days in length, and may start on any day of the officers’ on call month, and, in the circumstances outlined in Subsection 2.b., may begin immediately prior to the calendar start of the on call month.
3. Unit Manning Lists (UML). A UML is a preconfigured roster of rapid deployment units and groups established and maintained by CCHQ that includes deployment roles, minimum qualifications for each role, training requirements for each role, SOPs, and the unit/groups’ on call schedule.

(1) CCHQ shall develop a UML for each preconfigured rapid deployment unit, establish procedures to review and assign qualified officers to the UMLs.

(2) Mission Critical (MC) Designation. On a quarterly basis, the Corps liaison will submit a complete list of all officers who are proposed as MC or who are currently approved as MC to the Director, CCHQ. The list shall include justification for the MC status for each officer on the list. The Director, CCHQ (or his/her designee) will review the list of officers and will approve or disapprove the designation of an officer as MC. If the officer is not approved to be MC, the officer will be placed on a UML.

1. During the on call and backup months, an officer must be prepared to deploy within 48 hours of receipt of deployment orders. Officers are required to respond within 48 hours to all requests for information from CCHQ regarding a pending response operation for which they may be deployed.
2. Administrative and Operational Control. Officers are required to observe and promptly obey lawful orders of all official supervisors in the deployment’s chain of command.

(1) CCHQ will maintain administrative control (ADCON) of all officers deployed by CCHQ. ADCON includes the ongoing review of an officer’s compliance with the readiness requirements outlined in CCI 241.01, “Readiness and Duty Requirements,” mobilization, demobilization, disciplinary action, and other non-operational issues.

(2) The agency or organization to which officers are deployed will maintain operational control (OPCON). OPCON includes the authority to perform those functions of command over deployment units/groups involving organizing and employing commands and officers assigned to units/groups, assigning tasks, designating objectives, and giving authoritative direction necessary to accomplish the deployment mission.

4. General Orders. In addition to the types of misconduct outlined in CCD 111.02, “Disciplinary Action,” Corps officers:
5. Are considered “on duty” at all times when deployed away from their home duty stations, including periods designated for resting/recuperation during which an officer is not expected to perform deployment duties. Deployment begins when an officer departs his/her residence, and ends when the officers arrives back to his/her residence;
6. Shall not have family members or pets accompany them on the deployment, unless explicitly permitted by the Director, CCHQ;
7. Shall not bring personal weapons or equipment not approved by CCHQ and/or the deployment chain of command (OPCON);
8. Are required to follow official Public Affairs Guidance (PAG), and shall not discuss response-specific information with any person not in the chain of command. PAG includes, but is not limited to, discussions that are verbal, in writing, or on any form of social media. PAG specifically cleared by CCHQ may be discussed as defined by the organization clearing the information.
9. Shall not fraternize with any member of the deployment or individuals associated with the deployment. Fraternization is a personal relationship that contravenes the customary bounds of acceptable workplace relationships. Fraternization includes improper relationships between officer members and enlisted members while serving with other uniformed services as well as between officers and civilians of any rank or gender. Fraternization affects the ability of the command to accomplish its mission due to its adverse impact on good order, discipline, authority, and/or morale.  […]
10. Shall comply with all health and safety directives, guidance, and training and shall report to their chain of command all deployment related accidents, injuries, and illnesses.
11. Shall comply with all local, state, federal, tribal, and territorial laws.
12. Evaluation of Performance. All officers may have their performance evaluated while deployed and must participate in after action review processes. Evaluations may be performed by deployed supervisors, senior officials in OPCON, and/or CCHQ.
13. Failure to Comply with Orders. In accordance with CCI 241.02, “Deployment of Corps Officers,” an officer who fails to comply with lawfully issued orders to deploy or while deployed may be subject to disciplinary action, including separation from active duty or termination of the officer’s commission in accordance with CCD 111.02, “Disciplinary Action,” CCD 123.01, “Involuntary Separation,” CCD 124.01, “Retirement,” CCI 382.03, “Involuntary Termination,” and CCI 385.01, “Involuntary Retirement.””

DON’T FORGET!!! Immunizations – Annual Influenza Vaccine Due in eDOC-U by December 31, 2019

Officers are required to get an annual, seasonal flu shot by December 31, 2019 to maintain Basic Readiness.  Many convenient locations with pharmacies that accept TRICARE offer these shots, including Costco, CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart.  Find one in your area by using this link.  Similarly, most MTFs should be able to get you immunized right away on a walk-in basis.  No matter where you get your flu shot, be sure to get a printed record with the date of your immunization for upload into the eDOC-U system for review by Medical Affairs.  Instructions on how to do this eDOC-U upload of immunization documents can be found here.

Helpful Readiness Links:

Readiness: Down to Basics

Weight Retention Standards

Annual Physical Fitness Test (APFT)

Immunizations

BLS and Training

Medical Forms

Readiness and Duty Requirements

We want to wish everyone a very Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving Holiday!

To unsubscribe from the AB_COA list, click the following link:
http://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa.exe?SUBED1=AB_COA&A=1