"Dear Commissioned Officers,

Please join me in welcoming Captain Robert DeMartino, MD as our new Chief of Staff. He is currently Director, Behavioral Medicine Division in the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Department of Defense (DoD)..."

Update on the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) Phase-out.

As we go to press with this eBulletin, many of you are anxiously awaiting the release of the replacement for the BDU, the unlogoed, untucked NOAA/PHS Operational Dress Uniform (ODU). Lengthy delays from vendors supplying accessories, such as the new blue t-shirt, embroidered ball caps and the 8-point cover has caused the repeated push-back of the roll out of the ODU. This delay is necessary in order ensure the military specifications (milspec) for all related items are correct, such as color, material, and durability...

The maximum annual leave which may be carried forward from one leave year to the next is 60 days. The leave year is a calendar year, with the period beginning 1 January and ending on 31 December. The 60-day limitation on the amount of unused annual leave that can be carried forward from one year to the next is imposed by statute, 42 USC §210-1a. Therefore, no waiver is legally permissible. In other words, no one can grant an exception. This 60 day limitation does not apply to Corps officers detailed to any of the armed forces. In accordance with his/her specific Memorandum of Agreement, they may be permitted to carry-over 75-days per year...

Taxpayers should be on the lookout for a new, email-based phishing scam now circulating that targets Department of Defense military members, retirees and civilian employees. The email appears to come from Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS) and displays a .mil email address...

The general election is 90 days away. To register, request a ballot, and vote absentee go to www.FVAP.gov to complete your Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). It takes less than 10 minutes to complete using the online registration and absentee ballot assistant...

On 18 July 2012 the U.S. Department of State (DoS) issued a Worldwide Caution to update information on the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against U.S. citizens and interests throughout the world. U.S. citizens are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness...

The purpose of this message is to remind you of the political activity restrictions that apply to all federal employees. These important rules help to ensure that the Government will function in a neutral, nonpartisan manner in carrying out its obligations to the American public...

Fruits and vegetables satisfy all of our senses. Whether it is the smell of a fresh orange, the colorful sight of summer berries, the sound of biting a crisp celery stalk, the feel of a fuzzy kiwi, or the creamy taste of a sweet potato, it’s all there, the colors, textures, taste, and smells of nature’s bounty. Fruits and vegetables are pleasing to the senses and provide numerous health benefits. ...

The 2012 Junior Veterinarian Officer of the Year award for the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps has been given to LCDR Heather Bair-Brake, MS, DVM, DACVPM, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). LCDR Bair-Brake was presented the award at the 61st Annual Epidemic Intelligence Service Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, in April, 2012. LCDR Bair-Brake was nominated for her contributions to the mission of the Commissioned Corps and the CDC.

LCDR Bair-Brake is currently assigned to CDC’s Quarantine Border and Health Services Branch within the Division of Global Migration and Quarantine (DGMQ) where she serves as a Veterinary Medical Officer and health communicator...

The 2012 Veterinary Responder of the Year Award for the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps has been given to CDR Renee Funk , DVM, MPH&TM, DACVPM, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). CDR Funk was presented the award at the 61st Annual Epidemic Intelligence Service Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, in April, 2012. CDR Funk was nominated for her dedication to emergency preparedness and response. She has responded to emergencies of national significance, including most recently the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response and the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, and has served as a critical planner, leader, and author. Her day-to-day work centers around developing a comprehensive program to detect, monitor, and control disaster-related health and safety hazards for the protection of the response workforce during each phase of a disaster...

The 2012 Veterinarian of the Year award of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps has been given to CAPT Hugh Mainzer, MS, DVM, DACVPM, at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CAPT Mainzer was presented the award at the 61st Annual Epidemic Intelligence Service Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, in April, 2012. CAPT Mainzer was nominated for his contributions to the mission of the Commissioned Corps and CDC.

Throughout his career, CAPT Mainzer has done much to support Commissioned Corps veterinarians. From May, 2007 to October, 2011, he served as Chief Veterinary Officer, providing strong leadership to the veterinary category...

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