• Readiness and Deployment Operations Group (RedDOG)

  Deployment and Readiness Awards

  Crisis Response Service Award (CRSA)

  The CRSA recognizes an officer’s direct participation in a Corps deployment to a designated domestic response. An officer must meet the force readiness standards to be eligible for the CRSA (See Manual Circular 377, “Force Readiness Standards”, PPM 06-004, “Extension of Manual Circular 377”, PPM 07-001, “Extension of Manual Circular 377”, and PPM 07-007, “Extension of PPM 07-001”). An officer may receive only one award of the CRSA for participation in the same crisis response. Officer must participate in a domestic Corps deployment, that is:

  • A natural or man-made disaster that is determined to be a crisis-response with eligibility for CRSA by the Surgeon General
  • Deployment period is not less than 7-days
  • Deployment is away from the officer’s regular duty station and
  • Deployment participation is performed in designated PHS uniform

  Global Response Service Award (GRSA)

  The GRSA recognizes an officer’s direct participationin a Corps deployment to a designated non-domestic or international response. An officer must meet the force readiness standards to be eligible for the GRSA (See Manual Circular 377, “Force Readiness Standards”, PPM 06-004, “Extension of Manual Circular 377”, PPM 07-001, “Extension of Manual Circular 377”, and PPM 07-007, “Extension of PPM 07-001”). Eligibility for the GRSA is retroactive to 1 October 2004. An officer may receive only one award of the GRSA for participation in the same response. Officer must participate in a non-domestic Corps deployment that is:

  • A natural or man-made disaster that is determined to be a crisis response with eligibility for the GRSA by the SG
  • Away from the officer’s regular duty assignment
  • Officer must be deployed for not less than 7 days and
  • Officer must be deployed in the designated PHS uniform, unless exempted by the SG.

  Response Service Award (RSA)

  The RSA recognizes an officer’s direct participation in a Corps deployment to a designated public health need or National Special Security Event. An officer must meet the force readiness standards to be eligible for the RSA (See Manual Circular 377, “Force Readiness Standards”, PPM 06-004, “Extension of Manual Circular 377”, PPM 07-001, “Extension of Manual Circular 377”, and PPM 07-007, “Extension of PPM 07-001”). An officer may receive only one award of the RSA for participation in the same response.

  Officer must participate in a Corps deployment that is classified as one of the following:

  • An all-hazards public health emergency as declared by the President or Secretary
  • An urgent public health need as determined by the Secretary or the ASH or
  • A National Special Security Event (e.g., Winter Olympics)
  • Officer must be deployed for not less than 7 days
  • Officer must be deployed in the designated PHS uniform, unless exempted by the SG.

  To meet this service award criterion the event must:

  • Not be designated as a CRSA or GRSA response; and,
  • Be designated a Corps deployment with eligibility for the RSA by the Secretary, ASH, or SG;

  National Emergency Preparedness Service Award (NEPA)

  Decision Memorandum by the Acting ASH dated 20 February 2014, established the Ebola Campaign Medal and Expeditionary Attachment, reinstated the National Emergency Preparedness Service Award and clarified guidelines for the Global Health Campaign Medal.

  The NEPA recognizes officers who have served a minimum of two consecutive years as an active member on a Tier 1 or Tier 2 Corps managed response team.

  Additional eligibility criteria for the NEPA may be defined by the SG and officer must meet the force readiness standards to be eligible for the RSA (See Manual Circular 377, “Force Readiness Standards”, PPM 06-004, “Extension of Manual Circular 377”, PPM 07-001, “Extension of Manual Circular 377”, and PPM 07-007, “Extension of PPM 07-001”)

  The award of the NEPA may be retroactive to 19 December 2006. Only one NEPA may be awarded during an officer’s career and subsequent award devices are not authorized. Therefore, officers who were awarded the NEPA under former eligibility criteria are not authorized an award of an additional NEPA for service on a Corps managed Tier 1 or Tier 2 response team.

  Field Medical Readiness Badge (FMRB)

  The FMRB recognizes officers who have met criteria beyond the required basic force readiness standards. It is awarded on the basis of proven knowledge and skill related to force readiness and performance while engaged in Corps deployment(s). To qualify for the FMRB, an officer must meet eligibility criteria listed below in addition to the force readiness standards (See Manual Circular 377, “Force Readiness Standards”, and PPM 06-004, “Extension of Manual Circular 377”).

  Fitness Standard - An officer must pass the Annual Physical Fitness Test (APFT) Level II as the minimum fitness standard.

  Training Requirement - An officer must complete all compulsory Web-based training modules for FMRB as defined by the SG. These may include required modules from the ‘core’, ‘clinical’ (if applicable), and ‘optional’ curricula of the Web-based modules.

  Deployment Requirement - An officer must participate in one or more Corps deployments consisting of a minimum of 7-days.

  Deployment and fitness requirements must be satisfied within a 3-year period. Once an officer has been duly authorized to wear the FMRB, he/she may continue to wear the FMRB throughout his/her uniformed service career as an officer.
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Protecting, Promoting and Advancing the Health and Safety of Our Nation. Division of Commissioned Corps Personnel and Readiness
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