This message contains the following important updates on readiness and response:

1. Readiness and Promotion
2. April 1 Readiness Compliance Email Messaging
3. Web-based Readiness Assistance Form
4. President’s Challenge/APFT
5. Officer Deployment Readiness
6. Community Health and Service Missions (CHASM) selected as HHSInnovates semi-finalist

1. Readiness and Promotion
Firstly, I would like to acknowledge and thank CDR Mark Agnello, LCDR Rebecca Bunnell, LCDR Yang Wang and LCDR Derrick Wyatt. In addition to their normal duties, these officers performed all activities associated with the year-end readiness compliance process including responding to over 1000 readiness assistance form inquiries. These activities could not be accomplished without their commitment and dedication.

The year-end readiness compliance calculations have been finalized and can be viewed by officers in Direct Access. Officers current readiness status reflects the year-end results. The projected readiness status tab now reflects the officers projected readiness status for April 1st. Promotion eligible officers MUST still be in compliance with the force readiness standards (“BASIC”) as reported on April 1, 2012 in order to remain on the successful list and have promotion orders processed. These readiness compliance checks remain required by policy.

2. April 1 Readiness Compliance Email Messaging
Following our normal standing operating procedures, we will be sending email messages beginning Friday March 2. 2012 to any officers projected to be in non-compliance with readiness as of March 31, 2012. These messages will continue to be sent weekly through the end of the March. Each email message contains instructions on how to address the most common issues with readiness compliance. If your projected status in Direct Access indicates that you will be “BASIC” then you will not receive any additional messaging.

3. Readiness Assistance Form
In an effort to better serve our officers, we have developed a web-based readiness assistance form (http://ccrf.hhs.gov/ccrf/readiness_assistance_form.htm). This form allows officers to directly address concerns related to readiness and provide more accountability through the process. It also allows you to communicate directly with us in a way that is independent of staffing or other resource issues.

Since implementing this form in December, over 1000 officers have utilized the form for assistance with over 90% of those inquiries resulting in officer compliance with the readiness standards.

4. President’s Challenge/APFT
Many officers still use the President’s Challenge to fulfill the requirements of physical readiness. It is important to remember that the President’s Challenge program and website are externally maintained. As such, changes can and have frequently occurred which can impact the ease with which you can utilize that program to meet requirements. Recent changes to the site have done just that. If you find that your status is not including recent awards in the President’s Challenge program, simply use the readiness assistance form (outlined above) for resolution.

Also, whenever possible, we strongly encourage you to please consider switching to the Annual Physical Fitness Test (APFT). The APFT is independent of any external entities and remains the most definitive and truly accountable method for fulfilling the physical readiness requirement.

5. Officer Deployment Readiness
As a reminder, all officers are responsible for ensuring their readiness to deploy during on-call months. This applies equally whether you are on a Tier 3 roster or assigned to a Tier 1 or 2 response team. All officers are REQUIRED to respond promptly to all operational messaging coming from the Readiness and Response program. This includes both on-call availability checks as well as actual activation and deployment announcements. As such, it is critical that you ensure that your contact information including email addresses is current, correct and accurate in Direct Access. Also, be sure that you include the email address that you are able to most frequently access in addition to a duty station email whenever possible.

6. Community Health and Service Missions (CHASM) selected as HHSInnovates semi-finalist
Leadership is encouraging Department-wide voting in the 4th round of the HHSinnovates competition. Voting in this community-wide competition helps celebrate and reward HHS employees who have piloted and submitted a range of creative innovations. Secretary Sebelius initiated the HHSinnovates competition in the spring of 2010. The Secretary is committed to building a culture of innovation at HHS, and it is a key priority for the Administration. The top six innovations selected during the voting period will be presented to the Secretary and other senior Department leaders who will select the top three winners. The final three will be recognized at an awards ceremony in the spring and featured in the news media.

There were 84 nominations and the innovative field training program (CHASM) was selected as one of 20 semi-finalists. "HHS Community Health and Service Missions (OS)" nomination truly illustrates the incredible work the teams and officers and other partners have accomplished in facilitating a stronger health infrastructure, furthering the delivery of equitable health care, and optimizing the strength of our public health emergency response workforce over the last few years. This award is an important way the USPHS can be recognized for its ability to respond with a multidisciplinary team equipped to meet a communities most pressing needs during a disaster.

The voting period is open for just 2 weeks: February 13-24, so please go to http://intranet.hhs.gov/abouthhs/programs_initiatives/innovates/index.html to view the top submissions and cast your vote for your colleagues’ creative ideas.