February 2005 Frontline - Commissioned Officers Association

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RESPONSE (continued from p. 1) the Gulf Coast who were ready and anxious to go. Equally perplexing and confusing is the fact the although the Commissioned Corps, through the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG) and the Office of Force Readiness and Deployment (OFRD) and RADM John Babb, were tasked to train and assign officers to the Florida mission, these offices have no role in determining how officers are actually used at the “tip of the spear.” On the ground command authority is exercised through the DHHS Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness (OPHEP). The exact role of OPHEP in anything other being in a great place to take credit for a successful operation is unclear. All the real preparation and work is done by OFRD and the fine officers assigned by them to the task at hand. The second example is relief operations in South Asia following the devastation of the December 26th tsunami. The Navy asked the Corps for help in staffing the hospital ship USNS Mercy which was steaming toward Singapore in January. Now I think we would all agree that PHS officers have skills that are much needed in areas ravaged by the tsunami. In addition to clinical personnel, there is an equally great need for environmental health experts and public health engineers to rebuild sanitation and water treatment facilities. The Corps, of course, cannot respond. The Acting Assistant Secretary for Health wrote to the DHHS Operating Division heads and asked them to send officers to the Mercy. Fortunately, the OpDivs responded affirmatively and 17 officers are on their way to lend their skills and expertise to relief operations in South Asia on board the Mercy. But the OpDivs and other agencies involved could just as easily have balked. And, once again, even though the request is directed to OSG, the officers actually deployed report back to their OpDivs, not OSG. The headquarters footing the bill gets to call the shots. And, as it usually is, that is the essence of the issue – funding. There is no line item anywhere in the federal budget that says “PHS Commissioned Corps.” The Office of the Surgeon General has no funds – no budget. When a crisis erupts and the “Corps” is deployed, RADM Babb has to hope that the Operating Divisions supporting the officers he details to the crisis will foot the bill. There is no guarantee they will. How’s that for a system? Even more amazing is that in the case of getting officers to the Mercy, the Department seems unwilling to go the White House and get some of the $150 million pledged to South Asia relief to transport and pay the salaries of officers needed there. None of the foregoing is intended as a criticism of OFRD, or Admiral Babb and his staff – or of the Corps. The fact is that OFRD does incredible things with little more than tape, string, sealing wax and the occasional prayer. And dedicated Corps officers do whatever it takes once deployed to make the mission a success – overcoming huge obstacles of disorganization – to bring real relief and support to those most in need. The accolades received from Governor Jeb Bush and the Florida Secretary of Health following the September hurricanes are testament to the effectiveness of the Corps. Imagine how much more you could do if properly organized and LAW OFFICES OF DAVID P. SHELDON MILITARY PRACTICE GROUP Providing quality legal representation to officers in the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service in special pay challenges, credentialing matters, grievances, and record-correction cases Flat Fee and Contingency Cases Accepted Barracks Row 512 8th Street SE Washington, DC 20003 (202) 546-9575 (866) 546-9575 www.davidsheldonlaw.com 24 COMMISSIONED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
funded. This all relates back to the stalled issue of transforming the Corps. If the Corps’ mission (still not ready for release) is to include emergency response (which, according to the NRP it surely does), then the requirements necessary to fulfill that mission must be identified and apportioned (they are neither identified nor apportioned). The Corps must be organized in such a way as to be able to fulfill the mission. Emergency response demands centrally managed and operated organizational constructs with clear lines of authority, chains of command, and – oh yes – accountability. If we are serious about doing this right, then the OSG will have to have a budget and billets sufficient to meet assigned responsibilities and requirements as defined by the mission. COA has previously proposed the creation of a designated team of officers funded through OSG and assigned to the states that would be part of a rapid response to any event – domestically or internationally. If that entity existed, then requirements outlined above would all come together – chain of command, clear lines of authority, and accountability. Also the magic requirement of funding would be resolved. When the event exceeded the capacity of that designated team, OFRD could then dip into the rest of the Commissioned Corps for augmentation. We have to believe the OpDivs and agencies would applaud this structure, in that it would significantly reduce the almost constant requests to deploy their officers. ESF #8 is a confusing and disorienting mishmash of overlapping responsibility, unclear authority, confused chains of command and no apparent accountability. Word is that no one is particularly happy with it – the folks in Homeland Security are uncomfortable and the folks in DHHS ought to be. Thus far, we have had success following disasters because of the awesome dedication and professionalism of individuals who make a seriously flawed system work. We can only hope that the system will get fixed before we really need it. BOTC Held in Fort Worth, Texas The Federal Bureau of Prisons Health Services Division and the Federal Medical Center, Carswell sponsored a Basic Officer Training Course (BOTC) in Fort Worth, Texas, November 30-December 2, 2004 at the Naval Air Station, Joint Reserve Base. The Commissioned Officers Training Academy staff, CDR Meta Timmons and LT Carolyn Oyster, presented a thorough and professional course. Federal Medical Center (FMC) Carswell Warden, Ginny Van Buren, presented opening and closing remarks. Seventy-two officers participated in this training. Although most of the officers were from Texas, officers came from North Carolina, Washington DC, New York, Louisiana, Illinois, Oklahoma, Maryland, Arizona, and Kansas. The officers were of all ranks and disciplines and are assigned to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Indian Health Service, and Health Resources and Services Administration. The Fort Worth Chapter of the Commissioned Officers Association (COA) provided assistance for the training, including a social event at the Fort Worth Stockyards. Texas hospitality was alive and well throughout the training. The BOTC instructors were given a tour of the FMC, Carswell by the BOTC Coordinator, CAPT Julia Dunaway. The day of the tour happened to occur during the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. CDR Timmons was surprised to see three inmate choirs singing to the large assembly of inmates and staff. CAPT Newton Kendig, BOP Medical Director, who was unable to attend, asked CAPT Nick Makrides, BOP Chief Dentist, and one of the class participants, to speak on his behalf regarding transformation of the corps and the recent personnel policy changes. Mr. Scott Murchie, BOP Health Services Division, Chief of Staffing and Recruitment, also attended the first two days of the BOTC. The Texas officers were extremely grateful to have a BOTC class close to home, learn about PHS history and policy, and especially to meet new friends. Participants in the Basic Officer Training Course, November 30-December 2, 2004, in Fort Worth, Texas COA FRONTLINE • FEBRUARY 2005 25
Page 1 and 2: C O M M I S S I O N E D O F F I C E
Page 3 and 4: The Annual Physical Fitness Test ag
Page 5 and 6: “Three and Freeze” By Jerry Far
Page 7 and 8: The deadline for receipt of nominat
Page 9 and 10: COA FRONTLINE • FEBRUARY 2005 9
Page 11 and 12: 2005 Public Health Professional Con
Page 13 and 14: The Scientist Professional Advisory
Page 15 and 16: The Officer demonstrates profession
Page 17 and 18: PHS Pharmacists Fill Many Roles Dur
Page 19 and 20: Florida, and several of Florida’s
Page 21 and 22: Commissioned Corps Physical Therapi
Page 23: CAPT Gregory J. Glahn (Ret.) CAPT A
Page 27 and 28: Commissioned Corps brings to public
Page 29: Photocaption Beans Cafe Photo 29 CO

February 2005 Frontline - Commissioned Officers Association

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