Basic Officer Training Courses Held December 2005 through December 2006

The Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service’s (Corps) Commissioned Officer Training Academy (COTA) conducted an average of one Basic Officer Training Course (BOTC) per month from December 2005 through December 2006. Each 3-day course was significant in its own right; however, of noteworthy interest, were both the commemorative 100th BOTC and the 2-week call-to-active-duty BOTC held during the month of February. The BOTC classes varied in size ranging from 15 officer participants in the class sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard and held 31 March through 2 April at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT, to 82 officer participants in the class sponsored by the Indian Health Service (IHS) and held 12-14 December 2005 in Oklahoma City, OK.

CAPT Dana Taylor led the COTA faculty team using multiple training media to instill and enhance the spirit of officership and leadership into each program. From the moment of entry on the first day when the slide presentation ‘Eagles over America’ captured their eye, to the majestic uplifting in collective singing of the Public Health Service (PHS) March, officers gained a new and invigorating perspective of the Corps. The courses provided essential information on subjects such as how to correctly wear the PHS uniform; career development within the Corps; leadership; standards of conduct; and uniformed customs and courtesies – all of which officers could immediately assimilate to improve their understanding of the Corps.

On occasion during the courses, officers were welcomed and addressed by Department of Health and Human Services officials including the Assistant Secretary for Health, ADM John O. Agwunobi. Among the topics discussed during these occasions included the appreciation of each officer’s decision to join the Corps; the Department’s specific goals and missions; and the opportunities that, when fully availed within the Corps, are forever endearing.

COTA is part of the Office of Commissioned Corps Operations, Division of Commissioned Corps Training and Career Development (DCCTCD). The December 2005 through December 2006 COTA faculty included: CAPT Dana Taylor, COTA Director; CAPT Lee Shackelford, Director, DCCTCD; CAPT Janet Dumont; CAPT James Schaeffer; CDR Diane Hanner; LCDR Michelle Everett; and LCDR Maryann Robinson. Associate field faculty members who participated during this time included: RADM Richard Rubendall; CAPT Paul McSherry, USPHS (Ret.); CAPT John Fugate; CAPT Michael Keiffer; CAPT Jeff Morris; CAPT Martin Oberly; CDR Ron Keats; and CDR Deborah Thompson. Faculty participants from, or on behalf of, the Office of the Surgeon General’s Office of Force Readiness and Deployment, during the February 2-week call-to-active-duty course, included: CAPT Dean Coppola; CDR Renee Joskow; LCDR Timothy Davis; LCDR John Mallos; and LT Betsy Valenti, as well as CDR John Smart of IHS, and CDR Hung Trinh of the Food and Drug Administration.

Each BOTC concluded with a graduation ceremony, presentation of a certificate of completion, and a BOTC Commemorative Coin given to the graduates. Completion of the BOTC enabled the officers to advance to the next level of training which is the Independent Officer Training Course (IOTC). After successful completion of the BOTC/IOTC, officers are awarded the PHS Commissioned Corps Training Ribbon.