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Calendar of Events

Announcements
1. 2005 ACOA Dining-In
2. PHS Wind Ensemble
3. ACOA is Selling US Public Health Service Flags
4. DEERS Reminder
5. BLS Classes Offered at VA Hospital

Articles
1. Awards 101 - Defining Impacts
2. Meeting Basic Readiness Standards
3. Understanding DEERS
4. Air Transportation to the 2005 Public Health Professional Conference
5. Register Now for Dinner Cruise at COA
6. The Benefits of a Resistance Training Program
7. ACOA Sponsors Successful Roadside Clean-up on March 12, 2005
8. ACOA Serves Troops Bound for Iraq at USO in Atlanta
9. Elementary School Career Day
 

Atlanta COA Roadside Cleanup.  May 14, 0930-1130, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (1450 Ponce De Leon Ave NE). If you are interested in volunteering, please contact LCDR Melanie Myers at (770) 488-8510 or CAPT (ret.) Gary Noonan (770) 488-3449.

Crunch and Run. April 16 and May 21, 0900, St. Pius High School Athletic Track at Shallowford Rd and I-85. Contact: CAPT Arnold Manangan at (770) 488-1869.

CCRF Computer Modules.  April 22 and May 27, 0800 to 1630, Koger Center, Stanford Building, Goddard Computer Room at 2160 Brandywine Road. Contact: CAPT Arnold Manangan (770) 488-1869.

Jerry Farrell “Update on COA and Commissioned Corps Issues.” April 14, 1200-1300, Corporate Square, Building 8, Conference Rm 1A, 1B, 1C. Contact: CDR Linda West at (770) 488-5923. [Directions and Map]

Tentative PAC Precept Benchmark Presentations (Subject to change. Please visit the ACOA website for updated information). Contacts: CDR Deborah Levy at (404) 498-1259 or LCDR Joe Little at (770) 488-3339.
SciPAC. May 4th, Century Center 1825 A, 1230- 1400
VetPAC. May 4th, Century Center 1825 B, 1230-1400
EHOPAC. May 26th, Chamblee 102, Room 2201, 1100-1300
PPAC. May 26th, Century Center 1825 A, 1230-1400
NPAC. May 26th, Century Center 1825 B, 1230-1400


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Articles

Awards 101 – Defining Impacts

Awards nominations have two major elements - accomplishments and impacts. Accomplishments are the easiest part to write, as they merely involve a careful itemization of what the officer did. The harder part for most nominators to write, and which happens to be the part that most strongly influences the level of the award, is the impact section.

An impact statement answers these questions:
- So what?
- Why should we care that the officer did this?
- How is the world (or CDC or whatever) a better place as a result of this officer's accomplishments?

Examples of impacts include: decreased mortality (lives saved), decreased morbidity, cases prevented, less transmission of disease, decreased risk factors, increased adoption/use of known effective interventions, policy/practice change, examples of how better data influenced policy, improved provider practice, improved accountability, enhanced monitoring, improved protection of the health/safety of workers, better preparedness, improvement of research practice, dollars saved, etc. With increased use of proven interventions, it is often possible to estimate the number of cases prevented, lives saved, etc. from prior knowledge of the intervention’s effectiveness.

Impacts do not consist of a personnel appointment, honor or title (e.g. CAPT Jones was made Chair of the Board), publishing, giving a speech, having a meeting to discuss something, and obtaining program funding. All of those are accomplishments. Being published is not an impact per se; but having CAPT Jones' publication used to change policy is an impact. Completing a study is not an impact, but the use of the study's results to change public health practice is an impact. One "no-no" when writing about impacts is referring to future impacts, e.g., this will happen as a result of CAPT Jones' efforts….- how can the nominator know what the future holds?

Weak impacts, non-specified impacts, or accomplishments listed as impacts are some of the main reasons nominations are rejected or revisions are requested! Nominators are strongly advised to clearly label impacts, so the Awards Board can easily identify them. For example:

Impact: Nominators adhering to the recommendations in this article have been shown to be twice as likely to have their write-ups approved at the level submitted and without a rewrite as nominators who don’t follow these guidelines.

For officers who need the highest award possible or need to have it approved in a given award cycle, e.g., for reasons of upcoming promotion, any delay in approval (because of rewrites) or reduction in award level could thwart their chances. Clearly, the clear specification of impact matters in this regard, but it is also important to realize that the clarity of writing, format, and presentation can also affect the approval or result in a change to the level for an award. Accordingly, nominators are strongly advised to review the awards guidelines and use the checklists available on the CDC website.

Thank you to CAPT Jeff Sacks for contributing this article to The Signal.

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Meeting Basic Readiness Standards

After May 1, 2005, officers eligible for promotion, either temporary or permanent, must meet basic readiness standards. Those not meeting the standards will not be promoted. This affects all officers being reviewed by the Spring 2005 promotion boards. If an officer qualifies for promotion by gaining a score above the cutoff line for category and grade, but does not meet basic readiness standards, he or she will not be promoted. Failure to gain promotion because of not successfully meeting basic readiness standards will count as a "strike" for temporary promotions.

To determine your most recent readiness status, please log in on the CCRF website and click on "Officer Summary Page".

Meeting physical fitness requirements of basic readiness can be attained by two routes. One is enrollment in the President’s Fitness Challenge; however, there is insufficient time to accomplish the requirements by this means by May 1, 2005. The other alternative is to successfully pass the Annual Physical Fitness Test (APFT). The test may be administered witnessed and documented by a fellow PHS officer. ACOA schedules regular group tests (“Crunch-and-Runs”). Any interested officer may practice for the APFT and take part in the next Crunch-and-Run, April 16th. Contact CAPT Arnold Manangan at (770) 488-1689 for details.

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Understanding DEERS

Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) is a computerized database of military sponsors and dependents worldwide. DEERS is not part of your health care entitlement but a mechanism used by TRICARE to determine eligibility. DEERS registration is required for TRICARE eligibility.

Registration in DEERS
Active-duty and retired service members are automatically registered in DEERS, but they must take action to register their eligible family members and ensure they are correctly entered into the DEERS database. Errors in the DEERS database can cause a delay in or denial of TRICARE claims. Therefore, it is critical to maintain accurate DEERS information. To register a family member, sponsors may contact any RAPIDS Processing Center. Atlanta area sites are listed below.

Verifying and Updating DEERS Information
Sponsors may update their DEERS address, telephone number, and e-mail data in various ways:
• Visit the DEERS website, under “DoD Community”, then select the link to the left “Personnel Services.” This is the quick and easy way to update your information. The best time to update is during non-peak hours!
• Visit a local personnel office that has a uniformed service ID card facility. Atlanta area sites include:

USPHS
Office of Commissioned Personnel
Office of the Director
Koger Center, Stanford Bldg
2960 Brandywine Road, Room 1034
Atlanta, GA 30341, (770) 488-1886

USA
Fort McPherson
Military Personnel Division
1322 Cobb Street, Bldg. 181
Atlanta, GA 30330, (404) 464-2240

USAFR
94th AW Dobbins ARB
94th AW MSS/DPMPS
1430 First St., Bldg. 838 Room 1403
Marietta, GA 30069, (678) 655-4880

USAR
Army Reserve Center Decatur
2125th Garrison Support Unit
1650 Corey Blvd
Decatur, GA 30032, (404) 286-6347

Call ahead for hours of operation and for instructions, especially if you are updating a record for someone who is housebound.

• Fax address changes to DEERS at 1-831-655-8317.
• Call the Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office (DSO) Telephone Center at 1-800-538-9552 or for the Deaf (TTY/TDD): 1-866-363-2883. Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Pacific time), except Federal holidays.

Those officers who are located outside of Atlanta, can visit the RAPIDS website to locate the nearest RAPIDS site.

Things to Keep in Mind
• Once registered in DEERS, it is important to keep your DEERS records updated when personal eligibility information changes. Any changes that impact you or your family (e.g., marriage, birth, adoption, divorce, death, retirement from active duty, etc.) need to be reported to DEERS so that eligibility can start or stop under DoD and Uniformed Service guidance.
• Once you retire, you need to make sure DEERS reflects your change from active duty to retiree status for yourself and eligible dependents.
• Retail network pharmacies check TRICARE eligibility through DEERS. Prescriptions will be filled only for dependents who are listed as eligible in DEERS.
• If you have a child that is over age 21 and a full-time student, you need to get his or her student status entered into DEERS to ensure continuity of benefits. Full time students are eligible for TRICARE benefits until their 23rd birthday, a certified letter from the institution is needed showing the expected graduation date.
• If you or a family member is Medicare eligible, entitled to Part A and enrolled in Part B, DEERS must be updated to reflect MEDICARE Part A and B status to retain TRICARE coverage. When you turn 65, the medical section of your military ID card may also need to be updated.
• Officers are encouraged to visit the OCCP web site for Frequently Asked Questions.

Updating Information other than Addresses
Dependents will need to provide important pieces of documentation, such as marriage, birth, or death certificates; DD 214s; notarized copy of DD1172; etc. Dependents should contact the nearest military ID card facility to find out what documents they need to enroll or update eligibility information in DEERS. Once dependents have the necessary documents, they can present them to the ID card facility.

Remember:
TRICARE does not determine eligibility: All eligibility information is determined by the Uniformed Services and recorded in DEERS. It is your responsibility to make sure personal information is correctly maintained and updated in DEERS in order to continue to be covered by TRICARE benefits.
For questions regarding DEERS enrollment, please contact Mr. Aaron Arnold, Office of Commissioned Corps Personnel at (770) 488-1886. CDR Dan Cline may be contacted to assist with your health and dental care entitlements at (770) 488-1883.

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Air Transportation to the 2005 Public Health Professional Conference

The possibility has arisen for requesting military air transportation for officers planning to attend the 40th Public Health Professional Conference and The International Public Health Summit in Philadelphia between June 5 -11, 2005. The Health Services Professional Advisory Committee and the Scientist Professional Advisory Committee are requesting responses to this article to determine the level of interest of officers in military air transportation to these events. If interest warrants, a flight will be requested. As in the past, if a flight can be arranged, officers will be able to travel at no cost to themselves or their agencies. However, the level of interest must be sufficient for a request to be considered. Consideration will be given to requests for flights originating at other locations if at least 15 officers provide a strong assurance that they would take the flight, if arranged. Civilians are not eligible for transportation on such flights.

If you will attend the Philadelphia meeting and are interested in this offer, please call (770-488-5923) or e-mail CDR Linda West and provide the following information: name, rank, social security number, office telephone number, home telephone number, cell phone number, location, electronic-mail address, and the dates you will attend. Once signed-up, you will be kept informed of the flight status.

Priority for seats will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Officers should understand that accepting this transportation entails the following obligations: (1) you must have a valid uniformed service identification card and the rank on your card must match the rank on your uniform; (2) you must fly in uniform; (3) there may be limitations on the amount and type of luggage transported; (4) there are items which may not be transported, e.g., alcohol, firearms, or ammunition; and (5) dependents may not take this flight unless they are eligible in their own right based upon service in the uniformed services.

Please note again, this solicitation is being used only to determine the level of interest. It is not a guarantee of transportation.

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Register Now for Dinner Cruise at COA

The HSO Category invites you to join us on the Spirit of Philadelphia Cruise line on Tuesday, June 7, 2005 for an evening of fun and relaxation.

Registration: The on-line registration site for the June 7th Spirit of Philadelphia is now "LIVE"! Scroll down to EVENT REGISTRATION and click on DINNER CRUISE.

Please register on-line ASAP as the cut-off date is MAY 4. We have currently reserved one deck. We will create a wait-list if more people sign up than space allows and we will try to contract with the cruise line for a larger deck if required. We will NOT be offering on-site registration.

Location of Boat: The boat is docked at Penn's Landing on the Delaware River. We will cruise along the Delaware River and will enjoy both the New Jersey and the Philadelphia skylines. The boat has climate-controlled dining rooms and a pleasant outdoor deck.

Departure Time: Passengers will board the boat at 6:30 p.m. The cruise is from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Bus transportation will be provided from the Wyndham Hotel.

Dinner: The Spirit of Philadelphia will offer a delicious variety of menu options, including vegetarian items, for our evening of fun.

Entertainment: There will be live entertainers and a 15 minute musical revue. A D.J. will be on board and we can dance the night away! The music tends toward the popular and the particular interests of the group.

Cost: The cost is $38 per person. Please note that there will be a CASH bar.

Cancellation Policy: No refunds will be provided. All sales are final. The boat will cruise along the Delaware River 'rain or shine'.

Dress Code: Dressy casual. That means nice pants, skirts, etc. but please, not jeans!

Please contact CAPT Amy Barkin at (301) 443-4425 if you have any questions. We hope that you will consider joining us for this fun, relaxing evening.

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The Benefits of a Resistance Training Program

Most of us are aware of the importance of participating in a regular exercise program. The CDC and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommend that adults accumulate 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days of the week. The benefits of such activity are substantial: lower blood pressure, decreased risk of heart disease, weight management, and an improved blood lipid profile, to name a few. While most of these benefits are associated with cardiovascular exercise, it is important to include resistance training in exercise programs. Along with cardiovascular exercise and flexibility training, resistance training is one of the three components of a complete exercise program.

Several benefits are specifically associated with resistance training, including:
• Improved quality of life (improvement in the ability to perform activities of daily living),
• Decreased risk of joint and/or muscle injury that can occur with physical activity,
• Increased strength of bones, muscles, and connective tissue,
• Lessened loss of muscle strength and bone density with aging,
• Increased muscle tone,
• Improved self-esteem,
• Increased muscle mass, and
• Weight control.

As we age, we experience a natural loss in muscle mass. Without strength training, we can lose up to ½ lb. of muscle every year after the age of 25. Participating in a resistance training program can help offset this loss. Additionally, increasing or even maintaining muscle mass can help weight management. Muscle tissue is more metabolically active than fat tissue, so the more muscle we have, the higher our resting metabolic rate. This means that we are able to burn more calories at rest than if we did not resistance train.

There are many different ways to resistance train. The ACSM recommends the following for adults looking to build muscular strength and endurance:

• 8-10 exercises for the major muscle groups,
• 2-3 days per week on non-consecutive days,
• 1-3 sets of each exercise, and
• 8-12 repetitions per set, at a resistance that is heavy enough so that when you perform the set, you won’t be able to do more than 12 repetitions at that resistance level.

Depending on your goals, there are a few ways that you can train. For those looking to increase both strength and endurance, it is best to follow the recommendations listed above. If you are looking to increase strength (refers to the maximum amount of weight a muscle can lift for a single repetition), it is best to lift heavier weights at a resistance that you can only perform 6-8 repetitions. If you are looking to increase muscular endurance (refers to using minimal to moderate weight for repeated repetitions), you can increase the number of repetitions to 15 per set.

It is important to follow a few simple rules when performing resistance training exercises:
1. Use full range of motion. If you are unable to perform an exercise through its full range of motion, you are probably using a resistance level that is too heavy. Additionally, not going through the full range of motion can increase the risk of injury when resistance is applied to a point that has not been previously trained.
2. Breathe normally as you perform each exercise to prevent a spike in blood pressure.
3. Use a “spotter” – an observer who can assist you – when performing exercises that require a lot of balance, when a heavy weight is lifted overhead, or when the resistance is so heavy that you may have trouble completing the repetition on your own.
4. Perform all exercises with a slow and controlled motion.
5. Be sure to include exercises for all of the major muscle groups. Too much emphasis on training one muscle group, while inadequately training other groups, can lead to muscle imbalances, and ultimately, injury.
6. Progress slowly. Do not increase the level of resistance until you can complete all repetitions with good technique and form.

The Office of Health and Safety Lifestyle Program is available to help you design a resistance training program to fit your needs. Stop by anytime between 6:30 a.m. - 6:30.p.m., Monday-Friday, for assistance. We look forward to helping you become stronger!

Thank you to Lauren H. Williams, Office of Health Safety Lifestyle Program, for contributing this article to The Signal.

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ACOA Sponsors Successful Roadside Cleanup on March 12, 2005

Nearly 30 officers and members of their families participated in the one-mile roadside cleanup sponsored by the Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association (ACOA) on March 12, 2005. The volunteers gathered at a local church on Saturday morning to remove roadside litter along a one-mile stretch of Ponce De Leon Avenue, between Briarcliff and Clifton Roads. This community service project has been accepted and sustained by the Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association as part of the Georgia Adopt-a-Highway program. COA contractually agreed to clean up a section of roadway four times each year. Please join us for our next quarterly cleanup on May 14th at 9:30 am. We meet at the Church of the Latter Day Saints (LDS), 1450 Ponce de Leon Avenue, NE, Atlanta, GA. Please bring interested family members and friends. For questions, contact Melanie Myers at (770) 488-8510 or Gary Noonan at (770) 488-3449.

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ACOA Serves Troops Bound for Iraq at USO in Atlanta

On Saturday, March 19, 2005, three officers with ACOA volunteered to serve at the USO (United Service Organizations) at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (HJIA) in Atlanta. This is a continuation of the program begun in May 2004, when three officers served on the third Saturday of each month from 1000-1400 hours. CDR Mehran Massoudi, LCDR Catherine McLean, and LCDR Ross Spears (pictured) purchased food and served in the kitchen at the USO. The USO is located on the second floor of the atrium at the HJIA.

The experience was a memorable one. The officers prepared dozens of sandwiches, sanitized the kitchen in true public health fashion, and provided other services during the brief four-hour tour. Approximately 100 servicemen and women and their family members (including one retired PHS officer), were served sandwiches and other food. Most of the servicemen and women were outbound for Iraq after R&R in the States. As the PHS officers, along with volunteers from Equifax, escorted the soldiers through the airport to ticket desks, the airport erupted in applause for these brave men and women. The PHS officers provided other services such as helping a toddler find toys in the back room, giving directions to parents of a soldier on their way to the airport, and finding milk for coffee: LCDR McLean purchased milk from a vendor for a non-commissioned officer who strongly desired it for his coffee. A number of questions were asked about us “Navy” officers, which gave us a wonderful opportunity to explain and promote the Public Health Service.

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Elementary School Career Day

LCDR D. Ross Spears spoke to about 50 fourth graders and some 40 sixth graders at Carmel Elementary School, in Woodstock. LCDR Spears is stationed at CDC’s Division of Select Agents and Toxins, part of the Coordinating Office of Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response. He talked to the children about the Public Health Service and how it came to be. He talked about the relevance of infectious diseases to everyone’s health, and their prevention through such routines as washing hands, proper food storage and preparation, and covering one’s mouth when coughing. He also raised the topic of the misuse of biological substances for war and terrorism. He talked about how CDC’s Division of Select Agents and Toxins made sure that labs who were working with dangerous germs were safe and secure so “bad guys” and terrorists could not access those germs to deliberately make people sick. He encouraged the students to study math, science, and reading so that they could be Public Health Service Officers one day and contribute to improving the health and safety of the country.

This is LCDR Spears’ third time at Carmel. He has been able to inform the children about the PHS uniform, which some had assumed to be that of other uniformed services. This has been a rewarding activity for LCDR Spears. All officers are encouraged to participate in school career day activities. These young children are the future of the Corps.

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