Acting Director,
Office of Force Readiness and Deployment, Office of the Surgeon General
This article represents the first of an ongoing monthly series from the Office of Force Readiness and Deployment (OFRD). Each article will include updates on readiness, operations, and training activities and opportunities. Additionally, we will highlight specific topics including awards, unique contributions, and special interest.
October marks both the beginning of a new fiscal year and the closing of the previous year. This means that we embark on the important tasks of both looking forward to a new year of training and operational activities as well as looking back and evaluating our past performance including training and readiness. The overall readiness of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (Corps) for the year is assessed as of October and is used to evaluate our performance in meeting Presidential Performance Goals.
Thanks to the discipline and diligence of our officers, we are rapidly reaching a steady-state on the input and management of immunization records within the Medical Affairs Branch (MAB). It remains essential that all officers utilize the Immunization Fax Coversheet available at the OFRD Web site http://ccrf.hhs.gov/ccrf) when faxing immunization documentation to MAB. In addition, if you any questions regarding immunizations, please e-mail MAB-Immunizations@hhs.gov. By remaining disciplined to this approach, OFRD and MAB can ensure your immunizations will be properly documented. Any other readiness-related questions should continue to be directed to OFRD@hhs.gov.
The Innovative Field Readiness Training Program completed a very successful inaugural year with 20 Tier 1 and Tier 2 teams participating in 5 separate training missions providing care and services numbering over 10, 000. More importantly, vital public health education and training was conducted with a growing collaboration of interagency, non-governmental organization (NGO), academic, and State and local partners. Additionally, our ship-based training program continues with Continuing Promise 2010 (USS Iwo Jima) ongoing with the 4th and final detachment embarking at the end of the first week in October. The coming year will see additional opportunities in both these and other training programs.
OFRD has had officers deployed for every day of the preceding fiscal year and enters October with teams deployed in support of two separate suicide cluster support missions as well as ongoing support to the Haiti recovery. The Deepwater Horizon response has concluded, but recovery efforts will remain ongoing and further support from the Corps is anticipated.
As we look ahead, the coming months will remain an active time. Now is the time to ensure that your pre-deployment checklists are complete (uniforms, go-bags, roster, contact information, pre-deployment care plan, etc.).
As always thank you for your service and commitment to protecting, promoting, and advancing the health and safety of the Nation.
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HHS, Office of Public Health and Science |