From: Headquarters, Commissioned Corps <commcorps-hq@list.nih.gov> on behalf of Commissioned Corps HQ (HHS/OSG) <commcorps-hq@hhs.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2020 6:30 AM
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Not For Public Release – For Internal Use Only Dear Public Health Service Officers, As Public Health Service officers and America’s Health Responders, we stand ready to preserve public health and national security during national or global health emergencies. Responding to this pandemic is no different. Our mission is to be out the door as soon as requested, as this is an “all hands on deck” situation.
Under Commissioned Corps Directive (CCD) 121.02, “Deployment and Readiness,” the Assistant Secretary for Health may release Public Health Service officers assigned to HHS OpDivs/StaffDivs, who are not considered mission critical, either voluntarily or involuntarily and without supervisory approval for deployments. Public Health Service officers assigned to a non-HHS organization may be deployed in accordance with the Memorandum of Agreement/Understanding (MOA/MOU) between the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the non-HHS organization.
In anticipation of future deployments, Public Health Service officers must remain ready. In an effort to deploy officers more efficiently for this response, all officers are placed on involuntary deploy or “alert” status effective Wednesday, March 25, 2020, irrespective of the ‘on-call month’ status.
Public Health Service officers have a duty and responsibility to maintain readiness, and to deploy at the ASH’s command, as delegated by the Secretary under CCD 121.02 “Deployment and Readiness”. Officers who fail to comply with orders to deploy during a public health emergency are subject to discipline, including termination of the officer’s commission under CCD 123.01, “Involuntary Separation” and CCD 111.02 “Disciplinary Action”.
Commissioned Corps leadership has spoken to HHS Agency Directors about the need for Public Health Service officers to deploy when called. We will continue to have meetings with liaisons and other stakeholders over the next few weeks.
We are now entering a phase that will require all of us to be ready to deploy on short notice. This will require discussions with your agency supervisor and your family to ensure pre-deployment readiness.
I am proud to serve with all of you.
In Officio Salutis,
Sylvia Trent-Adams
RADM, USPHS
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health
Not For Public Release – For Internal Use Only