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Announcements.
1. ACOA Newsletter and E-mail Announcements Will Be Sent to ACOA Members Only Beginning in March, 2006!
2. ACOA Extends Thanks to Outgoing 2005 Executive Committee Members
3. ACOA Extends Thanks to 2005 Volunteers
4. Restaurant Discounts for PHS Officers
5. Free SAT and ACT Test Prep Programs
6. Call for Volunteers - The U.S. Public Health Service Choral Ensemble
7. Call for Volunteers – The Atlanta-area Honor Cardre
8. Don't Forget ACOA's Uniform Store!
9. Atlanta COA Roadside Cleanup Schedule for 2006
10. CRUNCH and RUN: OFRD Physical Fitness Testing Schedule for 2006
11. Volunteers Needed for USO: April – June, 2006

Articles
1. Becoming a Member of COA and ACOA
2. Help ACOA and Get a Thank You Letter for Your eOPF at the End of the Year!
3. COA 2006 Annual Meeting Event – SAVE THE DATE!
4. ACOA Member Attends U.S. Army Airborne School Graduation Ceremony
5. Deadline for Submission of Applications for Assimilation into the Regular Corps 15 February 2006
6. The Military Coalition Expresses Concern about Stalled PHS Transformation
7. New TRICARE Policy Regarding Explanation of Benefits (EOB)
8. It’s Never Too Late to Make a New Year’s Resolution!
9. Staying on Track with Fitness
10. USPHS Pharmacy Category Celebrates 75th Anniversary

Deadline for Sending 2006 Assimilation Applications. Wednesday, February 15. For more information, please see related article in this newsletter.

Atlanta COA Roadside Cleanup. Saturday, March 11, Time: 0930 to 1130. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (1450 Ponce De Leon Ave NE). Contact: CDR Nita Sood at 404-562-7541.

Crunch and Run (Annual APFT). Saturday, March 18, Time: 0900.  St. Pius High School Track. Contact: CDR Robert Knowles at (404) 498-0426.

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Announcements

ACOA Newsletter and E-mail Announcements Will Be Sent to ACOA Members Only Beginning in March, 2006!

Have you enjoyed receiving The Signal, ACOA’s bi-monthly newsletter, or our e-mail updates and announcements? Do you want to continue? Beginning in March, ACOA will distribute the newsletter and e-mail announcements to ACOA members only. If you’re not currently a member, but don’t want to miss out on the information, make sure to join ACOA! To become a member of ACOA, officers first must join COA. For more information on becoming a member of COA and ACOA, see membership article in this newsletter.  If you have questions about becoming an ACOA member or your current membership status, please contact our local membership coordinator, CDR Dan Cline at 770-488-1883.

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ACOA Extends Thanks to Outgoing 2005 Executive Committee Members

ACOA would like to extend a special thank you to the outgoing members of the 2005 Executive Committee. These officers were instrumental in organizing and promoting a wide range of activities that benefited both the community and the officers of the greater Atlanta Area.

LCDR Tina Lankford, Past President, 2004
LCDR Melanie Myers, Co-Chair, Community Service Committee
LCDR Ross Spears, Co-Chair, Special Projects Committee
CDR Jeremy Sobel, Co-Chair, Communications Committee

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ACOA Extends Thanks to 2005 Volunteers

ACOA thanks the 120+ officers who volunteered for ACOA-sponsored events during 2005! To show our appreciation, we sent formal thank-you letters on ACOA letterhead to each officer who served as a volunteer for an ACOA-sponsored activity during 2005 (i.e., Crunch and Runs, Roadside Cleanups, Habitat for Humanity, Newsletter Articles, Promotion Ceremony, USO, etc.). If you volunteered for an activity, but did not receive a thank-you letter, please contact LCDR Danice Eaton. Thanks again for your help with this, and thank you for volunteering to make 2005 such a successful year!

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Articles Back to top Becoming a Member of COA and ACOA Why join the Commissioned Officers Association? The Commissioned Officers Association (COA) is an organization whose members are in the active regular, active reserve, inactive reserve, retired, and former Commissioned Officers of the US Public Health Service. We tackle legislative and policy issues on behalf of our members; raise consciousness regarding public health issues and the PHS Commissioned Corps in national and local media; serve as a resource for information on relevant issues and concerns; provide a local base for networking and community involvement and education through more than 50 local branches and provide a national base for networking and continuing education through our Annual Professional Conference. Why join the Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association? The Atlanta Branch has recently re-prioritized it’s mission, placing more emphasis on esprit de corps of our membership – some 500 officers strong. We started last year with our first annual Fall Social, a rousing success which we will repeat this year along with a summer event. ACOA sponsors PHS events that include all Operational Divisions represented in the Atlanta metro area such as our hugely successful Promotion Ceremony held annually. ACOA supports various community services that promote the Corps in a positive manner such as USO activities at Hartsfield National, Adopt-a-Highway Roadside Clean-up and Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. We host several learning opportunities of importance to our members at various venues throughout the year on topics from assimilation to uniforms. We organize a Crunch and Run on a monthly basis providing a convenient avenue for officers to complete their APFT in order to maintain Basic Force Readiness. We financially support events that reflect the PHS mission such as a PHS booth at the Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health Career Day and the Commissioned Officer Foundation Scholarship Fund. Members enjoy discounts on merchandise such as our ACOA t-shirts and commemorative PHS Flag as well as reduced “member only” rates for social events such as the Fall Social mentioned above. We are in the process of rejuvenating our distribution list. In the near future the comprehensive, fact filled ACOA newsletter, The Signal, will only be directly distributed to ACOA members. The work of the ACOA has not gone unrecognized; we were named Branch of the Year in 1994 and 2004. Exhibit your commitment as a Commissioned Officer above and beyond the national level by becoming a member of your local COA Branch – the Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association. Support ACOA, participate in an activity, join other officers at a social, and take advantage of our learning opportunities. Your career is what you make of it; ACOA can assist in making it a rewarding experience. How do I join? Membership information and applications are available on the COA website. To join ACOA, you must also be a member of COA.  When you complete your COA membership application, be sure to indicate you also wish to join the Atlanta branch COA.  ACOA's annual dues are only $5.00 per year, and this cost will be added to your COA membership fee when you complete the membership application. If you have questions about becoming an ACOA member or your current membership status, please contact our local membership coordinator, CDR Dan Cline at 770-488-1883. Back to top Help ACOA and Get a Thank You Letter for Your eOPF at the End of the Year! The ACOA Executive Committee (EC) held a planning retreat on Saturday, January 21 to discuss how we can better serve you in 2006! During the retreat, EC members volunteered to chair or co-chair various committees, which is where the majority of the Branch work gets done. With all the projects that ACOA supports, we can never have too much help! There are ample opportunities for officers to contribute to ACOA and fellow Atlanta-based Commissioned Officers by volunteering to work on one of the committees focused on professional development, community service, special projects, and communications, or by helping with one-time events such as the promotion ceremony. At the end of the year you will get a thank you letter that you can put in your OPF to document participation in a professional organization related to the Commissioned Corps! The 2006 ACOA Committees Communications Committee: Chair LCDR Danice Eaton. Communicates with Atlanta-branch members via our newsletter, The Signal, and our ACOA website. Membership Committee: Chair CDR Dan Cline. Spear-heads the recruitment and advertisement efforts to increase officer membership in COA National and the local Atlanta Branch (letters, conference booths, etc.). Professional Development Committee: Co-Chairs CAPT Deborah Levy, CDR Joseph Little, and CDR Robert Knowles. Provides information and opportunities regarding career enhancement and leadership development (uniforms, awards, mentorship, etc.). Special Projects Committee: Co-Chairs CDR Craig Wilkins and LCDR Amanda Dunnick. Coordinates special projects to benefit local officer esprit de corps (USO, promotion ceremony, social functions, etc.) Community Service Committee: Co-Chairs CDR Nita Sood and CAPT (ret.) Gary Noonan. Works to promote Atlanta Branch membership support with local community efforts (roadside clean ups, Habitat for Humanity, etc.). We look forward to another productive year in 2006 working together to serve the needs of our fellow Atlanta-based Officers. If you are interested in helping out, please contact one of the committee chairs above, or our 2006 ACOA President, CDR Jeff Bosshart, at 404-639-6275.

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COA 2006 Annual Meeting Event – SAVE THE DATE!

For those planning to attend the Commissioned Officers Association 2006 Annual Meeting ...A multi-PAC planning committee, led by the Health Services Category, invites you to join us at the Colorado History Museum on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 for an evening of fun and relaxation.

Location: Colorado History Museum, 1300 Broadway, Denver, Colorado 80203

Time of Event: 7 PM - 11:30 PM (we must vacate the museum by 11:30 PM!)

Transportation: Free 16th Street Mall trolley to museum runs up until midnight. The trolley runs every 10 minutes before 7 PM and every 15 minutes from 7 - 9:30 PM. It runs every 30 minutes from 9:30 -midnight. The museum is ½ mile from the hotel for those that want to walk.

Dinner: The caterer will offer a delicious variety of menu options, including vegetarian items, for our evening of fun. The listing of food stations will be included on the COA meeting website.

Entertainment: A DJ will be on site so that we can dance the night away! We hope to have members of the PHS Ensemble entertain us with soft music while we dine. We are also exploring the possibility of having Native American dancers from the local area perform in traditional attire. Guests will be able to visit the museum exhibits at their leisure.

Cost: The cost per person will be between $35-$40 dollars. The exact cost will be known by the time registration form is posted on the COA website. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer discounted rates for children or family members, although they are welcome to attend. Please note that red and white wine and beer will be donated by local vendors.

Registration: The on-line registration form will be posted on the COA meeting website by the end of February. You will need to download the form and mail the registration form and your check to the person listed at the bottom of the form. The cut-off date for registering for this fun evening is Wednesday, April 12. We will NOT be offering on-site registration.

Capacity: The museum can accommodate up to 350 people. Therefore, we encourage you to register EARLY to be assured that you will be able to join us.

Dress Code: Casual clothing. Skirts, pants, jeans, and cowboy boots are welcome!

Cancellation Policy: No refunds will be provided. All sales are final.

If you have questions, please contact CAPT Amy Barkin at 301-443-4425 or LCDR John Gusto at 703-235-8440, ext 507.

We hope that you will consider joining us for this fun, relaxing evening.

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ACOA Member Attends U.S. Army Airborne School Graduation Ceremony

Submitted By LCDR Paul S. Gagliano, P.E. EPA Region 4 Atlanta

Because of my son Sam’s military career, I have had the privilege of attending (in uniform) several ceremonies with our sister uniformed services over the last few years. Most recently, in September 2005, I attended the U.S. Army Airborne School graduation ceremony at Ft. Benning in Columbus, Georgia. I was driving back to Atlanta from hurricane duty and was able to stop by Ft. Benning and see Sam and the other new paratroopers receive their coveted silver "jump" wings. It is always a pleasure to wear the uniform of the USPHS Commissioned Corps on a military installation.

I typically wear my Service Dress Blue uniform; however, if it is very hot and I am going to be in a field environment, I wear my Summer Khakis. While in uniform - except in a few rare cases - many assume at first glance that I am a Navy officer. I have always experienced an extremely positive reaction from the military when I explain about the USPHS Commissioned Corps and our vital role in protecting and bettering the nation's public health, thus assisting in homeland security. I also have met several officers from other services that already know about the USPHS Commissioned Corps and recognize my uniform without explanation. Sam is currently an Army Counterintelligence Agent, but is also a former Marine. When I visited Sam several years ago at Parris Island, the Marines there afforded me all the respect and military courtesy they would a fellow Marine.

A final note: immediately before Sam's airborne graduation ceremony, a large tour bus drove up to the field and some very elderly veterans got off and slowly walked to the dignitary seats. Many had walkers or could only move with the assistance of others, and several wore faded WWII Army paratrooper uniforms and well-worn boots. It was then announced that these men are the remaining veterans of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, immortalized in HBO's "Band of Brothers" series. It was a poignant and touching scene to see these heroes, many stooped and now very frail, slowly make their way to this ceremony to watch new paratroopers graduating almost 65 years after the members of the 508th made their first jump. I don't think anyone that witnessed this had a dry eye.

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Deadline for Submission of Applications for Assimilation into the Regular Corps 15 February 2006

The Office of Commissioned Corps Operations (OCCO) is currently accepting applications for assimilation. The deadline for Assimilation Year 2006 applications is 15 February 2006. Assimilation is the appointment of Reserve Corps officers into the Regular Corps. The Regular Corps is the career component of the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (Corps) and is composed of officers who have expressed a long-term commitment to the mission and goals of the Corps. Regular Corps appointments are currently limited by statute to 2,800 officers. The appointment process, which may be lengthy, begins with individual officer’s applications and ends with U.S. Senate confirmation, and an official personnel order being promulgated.

Complete information, including eligibility criteria of the assimilation program, can be found on the Commissioned Corps Management Information System (CCMIS) Web site. (Click on ‘Publications’ and then ‘Regular Corps Assimilation Program’ for the assimilation package). Any Reserve Corps officer who has not already applied for Regular Corps assimilation, and who believes that he or she meets the requirements, is invited to submit form PHS-7034, “Application for Assimilation into the Regular Corps” (form PHS-7034 is available on the CCMIS Web site - click on ‘Services’ and then ‘Official Forms’).

Applications must be postmarked by 15 February 2006 to be eligible for Assimilation Year 2006.

Important: Officers who have applied in the past but were notified by OCCO that they were ‘not recommended’ for assimilation, or officers who have been reviewed by three successive boards, are required to reapply to be considered in Assimilation Year 2006. Officers who have been reviewed by less than three boards and who were ‘recommended’ but who did not score above the success lines will automatically be sent to the Assimilation Year 2006 board for review. Officers should refer to their electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF) for copies of prior notification from OCCO regarding assimilation. All assimilation notifications and memorandums are automatically sent to officers’ eOPFs by OCCO.

Officers who were successful in Assimilation Year 2004 are awaiting U.S. Senate confirmation. Once the assimilation package returns from the U.S. Senate and final administrative reviews are performed, all eligible officers will be promptly notified by OCCO to complete the assimilation process. Officers being assimilated are required to: have a 2005 Commissioned Officers’ Effectiveness Report on file; have a completed background investigation; meet license/certification appointment standards; have a 5 year physical and 1 year medical history on file with the Medical Affairs Branch, Office of Commissioned Corps Support Services; and be Basic level ready. Officers are strongly encouraged to review their eOPFs and address any deficiencies now.

If you have any questions regarding assimilation, please contact the OCCO Assimilation Coordinator, LCDR Julian Canizares, at 240-453-6051.

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The Military Coalition Expresses Concern about Stalled PHS Transformation

Source: COA National website, http://www.coausphs.org/, accessed 1/30/06

The Military Coalition (TMC), a consortium of some 35 uniformed services and veterans organizations representing some 5.5 million current and former members of the seven uniformed services, their families and survivors, recently expressed concern about the stalled transformation of the PHS Commissioned Corps. The issue is one of the top three items on TMC’s Personnel and Compensation Committee’s list of legislative priorities for 2006.

TMC will advocate development and implementation of a billet-based force management system enabling the PHS Commissioned Corps to define annual end strength requirements, and centralization of the Corps’ organization, policy development, billets and operations under the Office of the Surgeon General – especially for crisis response functions.

This legislative goal for the PHS Commissioned Corps was included in TMC’s legislative goals following the historic response of the Commissioned Corps incident to hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma in the late summer of 2006. While the Corps responded magnificently to unprecedented tasking before, during, and after the hurricanes, the crisis underscored the need for better organization and training for the Corps in order to more effectively respond to future public health emergencies.

The inclusion of Commissioned Corps’ transformation in TMC’s 2006 top legislative goals is tacit recognition by TMC of the prominent role that defending public health occupies in national security.

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New TRICARE Policy Regarding Explanation of Benefits (EOB)

Waiting for an explanation of benefits (EOB) that never came? Need an EOB to rectify a billing discrepancy? Being audited by the IRS for fraudulent deductions and need proof of medical payments? Read on to learn about TRICARE’s new position regarding paper EOBs and the tool provided to enable you to receive the information you need online.

In accordance with TRICARE policy, Humana Military is reducing the amount of paperwork it produces in an attempt to minimize overhead costs on both paper and postage and save you the hassle of receiving unwanted mail. As part of this effort, Humana Military is reducing the number of TRICARE EOBs that it sends to your home. EOBs are statements detailing the claims that were processed, the portion that TRICARE paid and, when applicable, the portion that you, the beneficiary, owe.

Now, you will no longer receive an EOB if either (1) your financial responsibility for a service is $0, or (2) your financial responsibility for a service is equal to the TRICARE Prime co-payment (which is collected at the time of visit). If you owe an amount above the co-payment, you will receive an EOB.

If you receive a statement from your doctor’s office and it looks like they are charging you an amount more than you think you should be paying, please request a copy of your EOB.

Request an EOB for Your Records

Although you will no longer automatically receive an EOB in either of these two situations, you can always request one either by phone or over the Internet. To request that an EOB be mailed to you, call Humana Military’s claims processor PGBA, LLC, at 1-800-403-3950. When you call, you will need the sponsor’s information, the provider’s information, and the date of service. You can also view your EOB on the Internet by logging into the members’ section at www.myTRICARE.com.

All PHS officers enrolled in TRICARE are encouraged to enroll in myTRICARE. The site is sponsored by PGBA (Palmetto Government Benefits Administrators), the billing and claims contractor for TRICARE’s South Region. From this site officers can: access beneficiary information; check a claims status; print an EOB; and submit claims questions electronically.

As always please call CDR Dan Cline, your Health Benefits Advisor, for any questions or concerns regarding your health and/or dental care entitlements. He can be reached at 770-488-1883.

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It’s Never Too Late to Make a New Year’s Resolution!

Submitted By Nurse PAC Readiness & Response Committee

Every year we all start out with the best of intentions...and somehow arrive at "THE POINT" and realize that we may have missed an opportunity or two. The following is intended to help get officers back into the readiness swing. We hope you'll consider the following suggestions and pick one or two for your personal resolution list.

This year I resolve to:

Make a calendar appointment with myself for the first Monday of each month to update my OFRD record.

• Re-evaluate my personal physical fitness program to ensure that it includes cross-training that includes at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at least 3-5 days a week, as well as strength and flexibility training.

• Move to the next higher APFT category by increasing my training program.

• Complete and record any outstanding immunizations required for deployment.

• Schedule, complete, and record my annual Tuberculin Skin Test.

• Schedule, complete, and record my annual Influenza shot.

• Update my physical exam if it is older than 5 years.

• Update my license 30 days BEFORE it expires (if applicable).

• Update my BLS 30 days BEFORE it expires. I'll even consider becoming a BLS instructor.

• Seek out a clinical practice site consistent with my selected response role to keep my skills sharp and expand my experience base (if applicable).

• Record my clinical currency hours on the OFRD website (if applicable).

• Record and mail my APFT results to the MAB.

• Ready and pack my deployment bags (one with BDUs and one with khakis).

• Update my deployment credential packet (copy of my professional license or certificate, any certifications, BLS card, and immunizations) and put it with my deployment bags.

• Complete the elective modules of the readiness training.

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Staying on Track with Fitness

Submitted by: LCDR Tina Lankford, DNPA and Lauren Williams, Lifestyle Program

It’s not easy to start a habit; the rule of thumb is that you must repeat something for 21 days before it becomes a habit. Think of one additional activity that you can do and sustain for 21 days. Here’s a short list:

• Take the stairs while entering and exiting the building or at least when visiting other floors.

• Try a walk around the building (inside or outside) at lunch or other scheduled break.

• Go ahead and walk around the block when you check your mail at home.

• Corporate Square, Century Center & Executive Park - Walk an extra block at lunch.

• Koger Center - Walk, instead of drive, to your meeting in another building.

• Roybal - Venture off-campus! (walk to Emory or Lullwater Park across the street).

• Chamblee - Try the stairs (start with a goal of going up the stairs at least once per day)

The idea is not necessarily to increase your activity over the next 21 days, but to perform a new, small, simple activity that you can repeat. Use stickers on a calendar, draw yourself a smiley face, or enter it into the President’s online challenge (it does accept short bouts of activity) – whatever works for you. In the end, this will be one way that you will have become more active!

Watch out for these stalemates along the way:

• Lack of Time - As you closely monitor your activities over this period, it is likely that you will find more time than you realized you had.

• Lack of Energy - Schedule the new habit to take place during the time of day that you have the most energy, after you have begun this new activity, it will become easier and you’ll gain more energy.

• Too Late to Become Physically Active - Even those over 90 years old who have become frail have successfully built strength through simple activities in a short time. Retirement is a time to be more active, not less.

Check out these resources for further information:
CDC’s Lifestyle Center
CDC’s Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, Physical Activity Website
Healthier US
President’s Challenge

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USPHS Pharmacy Category Celebrates 75th Anniversary

On Friday 18 November 2005, the Pharmacy category of U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps celebrated its 75th Anniversary in Gaithersburg, MD, by honoring past and present Chief Pharmacists and Flag officers. The banquet was attended by over 180 pharmacists, spouses, family members, and friends, including ACOA members CAPT Paul Weidle and CDR Nita Sood.  CAPT Weidle and CDR Sood had the opportunity to review a copy of the Pharmacy Commissioned Corps Reserve Entrance Exam (circa 1965), which was used as part of the application process for the PHS Commissioned Corps.

CAPTION: ACOA members CAPT Paul Weidle and CDR Nita Sood with RADM John Babb

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