Electronic Commissioned Corps Issuance System - Updates Web site: http://dcp.psc.gov/eccis The electronic Commissioned Corps Issuance System (eCCIS) is available at http://dcp.psc.gov/eccis/. Policies coming up for review or are under review and development are listed on the first page of that site. Officers of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (Corps) are encouraged to provide their Chief Professional Officers (CPOs), Professional Advisory Committee (PAC) chairs, and/or their Surgeon General’s Policy Advisory Council (SGPAC) representatives with their recommendations for changes to existing policies or proposals for new policies. Policies are posted to the Web site http://dcp.psc.gov/eccis/ when signed by the Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH) or the Secretary. Appointment Standards Being Revised Currently, a Working Integrated Project Team (WIPT) is reviewing the general and category specific appointment standards. Each CPO was asked for his/her written comments and all CPOs were invited to present to the WIPT. The recommendations of the WIPT should be available to the ASH in a few weeks. Leave Policies to Be Reviewed A WIPT is being convened to address the leave policy of the Corps. OCCFM asked the SGPAC, CPOs, PAC chairs, Commissioned Corps Liaisons, Minority Officers Liaison Council, Junior Officer Advisory Group, and Office of the Surgeon General for nominations of members to serve on this WIPT. Those Corps officers interested in serving on this WIPT were instructed to contact their CPO or SGPAC representative. OCCFM has received the nominations and is establishing the WIPT. Law Raises Cap on Regular Corps Officers The Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill passed by Congress and signed into law by the President raised the cap on Regular Corps officers of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Services (Corps) from 2,800 to 4,000. This is the first time this cap has been adjusted since 1992. Electronic Commissioned Corps issuances such as CC43.4.2, “Force Management,” and CC23.3.7, “Regular Corps Assimilation Program,” as well as other policies with references to assimilation of Corps officers, are being reviewed for revision. Recent Issuances Personnel Policy Memorandum (PPM) 09-004, “Medical Officer Pay Plan 2009,” dated 11 February 2009 is available at http://dcp.psc.gov/eccis/documents/PPM09_004.pdf.  Continues the innovative changes that were implemented in PPM 08-014 dated March 25, 2008 (see http://dcp.psc.gov/eccis/documents/PPM08_014.pdf).  Addresses the medical officer recruitment and retention needs of the Corps. PPM 09-005, “Pilot Uniform Project,” dated 09 March 2009 is available at http://dcp.psc.gov/eccis/documents/PPM09_005.pdf.  Amends Commissioned Corps Issuance CC26.3.7, “Special Uniform Situations.” Establishes an authorization for specific officers in designated geographic duty stations that experience extreme cold weather situations to wear test the U.S. Coast Guard Foul Weather Type II Clothing System. Wear test period is from 9 March 2009 through 1 June 2010. Commissioned Corps Instruction (CCI) 412.01 (CC26.3.1), “Uniforms and Appearance,” dated 01 March 2009 is available at http://dcp.psc.gov/eccis/documents/CCPM26_3_1.pdf. Updates current policy to include National Uniform Authority, proper wear of the uniform(s), grooming and personal appearance standards. Limits wear of electronic devices to one device, except for certain officers in Operations or Response roles. Also establishes that articles, to include electronic devices (e.g., pagers, cell phones, mp3/audio devices) are not to be visible while in uniform. States Department of Defense (DoD) policy on use of hands-free devices while driving on any DoD installation. Updates types of bags authorized to be carried. Updates criteria for designation of covered areas. CCI 431.01 (CC26.3.6), “Insignia and Devices,” dated 01 March 2009 is available at http://dcp.psc.gov/eccis/documents/CCPM26_3_6.pdf. Establishes military specification requirements for established insignia and devices. Specifies garrison cap insignia and rank placement. CCI 371.01, “Early Commissioning Program,” dated 05 March 2009 is available at http://dcp.psc.gov/eccis/documents/CCI371_01.pdf. Reinstates the Early Commissioning Program (ECP). Allows the appointment of students as officers in the Inactive Reserve Corps during final year of a qualifying degree program. Students who are appointed into ECP begin to earn longevity credit which will positively affect pay upon call to active duty. Viewed as the first step in expanding the ECP.

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