PHS Officer Supports Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan; Awarded Joint Service Achievement Medal The sound of morning prayers from the central Mosque in Kabul is the wake up call for LT Martin Ruiz- Beltran. It occurs around 4:30 a.m. It is still dark and a bit chilly as LT Ruiz-Beltran is getting ready to start his daily routine. LT Ruiz-Beltran, a PHS Health Services Officer, and health services systems expert working with the Division of Immigration Health Services (DIHS) in Washington, DC under CAPT Gene Migliaccio is temporarily deployed in Kabul with the Office of Military Cooperation- Afghanistan (OMC-A). He is among the many other uniformed service personnel working in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to assist the Afghan people. The Office of the Surgeon General notes that LT Ruiz-Beltran received support for this TDY from the Health Resources Services Administration Bureau of Primary Health Care and from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Detention and Removal Operations. While deployed in Afghanistan, LT Ruiz-Beltran has worked with the Afghan Ministry of Public Health. His focus is on a national public health administrative system for medical equipment and supplies. During his deployment, he is also assisting the Afghanistan National Army (ANA), Office of the Surgeon General by conducting an assessment of their National Hospital’s nursing services and helping to establish their first-ever nursing department. In addition to his professional posting LT Ruiz-Beltran is pursuing a Doctor of Public Health Degree in the Department of Global Health at the School of Public Health at George Washington University. In Afghanistan, he works under the direction of Army Medical Service Corps Officer, LTC Jose Betancourt who completed his Doctor of Public Health Degree at George Washington Major General Craig P. Weston, U.S. Air Force, Commander of the Office of Military Cooperation – Afghanistan, pinning the Joint Services Achievement Medal on LT Martin Ruiz-Beltran for exceptional meritorious service while serving as a PHS Officer for the Office of Military Cooperation in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. University early last year. Thus far, LT Ruiz-Beltran has assessed the installations of the 35 Afghan National Army National Volunteer Centers and developed health and sanitation guidelines for each of them as well as for the seven battalion headquarters across the country. LT Ruiz-Beltran’s efforts directly impact the health and welfare of not only the ANA soldiers, but also the entire country by helping to ensure that recruits are protected from and do not spread infectious diseases such as typhoid, hepatitis, and tuberculosis. In early January, LT Ruiz-Beltran was recognized with a Joint Service Achievement Medal. The award was presented to him by the Commander, Office of Military Cooperation - Afghanistan, Major General Craig Weston. In presenting LT Ruiz-Beltran with the medal, General Weston noted the Corps officer’s professionalism and accomplishments during his temporary assignment. “Everyone he came into contact with,” according to Weston, “including all DOD services, International Coalition Forces, and the Afghan Nationals learned about, and were left with a very positive impression of the U.S. Public Health Service.” General Weston also mentioned that “this was the first time a PHS officer had been deployed to the OMC-A, and that the PHS’s involvement brought together a true multiservice unit.” General Weston went on to note that “the duties performed by LT Ruiz-Beltran were crucial to the accomplishment of the mission and that his work in Afghanistan had brought incalculable benefits to the people of Afghanistan.” Specifically, LT Ruiz-Beltran’s citation notes that he was responsible for working with the Ministry of Public Health to develop a national equipment and supplies system in support of the Department of Health and Human Services commitment to reduce maternal and child mortality. LT Ruiz-Beltran’s deployment to Kabul is yet another example of how PHS officers are contributing to the Department’s dedication to help meet the President’s commitment to help sustain peace and promote democracy in Afghanistan. 8 COMMISSIONED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
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