The Signal, Volume 17, Issue 2

CDR Bruce Tierney, President LCDR Danice Eaton, VP/President Elect LCDR Lauren Zapata, Secretary CDR Robert Knowles, Treasurer CDR Jeff Bosshart, Past President LCDR Ali Danner, Member-at-Large LCDR Amanda Dunnick, Member-at-Large LCDR Joan Tapper, Member-at-Large LCDR Kristen Uhde, Member-at-Large LCDR Robert L. Williams, Member-at-Large LT Michael Schmoyer, Member-at-Large
	Front, L to R: LCDR Danice Eaton, CDR Bruce Tierney, LCDR Lauren Zapata. Back, L to R: CDR Robert Knowles, LCDR Robert Williams, LCDR Ali Danner.	L to R: LT Michael Schmoyer, LCDR Kristen Uhde, CDR Jeff Bosshart

ACOA Trip to Braves Game

Based on expressed interest, ACOA will be sponsoring a group trip to see the Atlanta Braves play the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, May 6 at 1:05 p.m. Your ACOA executive committee will be purchasing the Upper Box tickets at a reduced rate: $10 a person to ACOA members and $12 a person for non-members. This rate applies to all adults and children older than 24 months. Children 24 months and under do not need a ticket.

If you wish to attend, please e-mail LT Michael Schmoyer the following information: 1) your name, 2) your ACOA membership status (member or non-member), and 3) the number of tickets you would like to purchase. In addition, please send a check, made out to ‘Atlanta COA,’ no later than April 11 to CDR Robert Knowles at:

USPHS Scientific and Training Symposium

This year’s USPHS Scientific and Training Symposium (formerly the COA Conference) will take place June 3-7 in Cincinnati, OH, with the theme “The Many Faces of Public Health.” Highlights include: a panel discussion featuring the heads of the major public health agencies, training to meet requirements for crisis response, and immunization training for pharmacists and dentists. The event will close with a keynote address given by the Acting Surgeon General, RADM Kenneth Moritsugu. Visit http://www.coausphsconference.org/ for further details.

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BOTC following the USPHS Scientific and Training Symposium

A three-day Basic Officer Training Course (BOTC) will be offered by the Commissioned Officer Training Academy following the USPHS Scientific and Training Symposium. The BOTC will be held June 8-10 at the Millennium Hotel in Cincinnati, OH. Registration for BOTC is now available at:

Commissioned Corps Uniform Inspection Station at the USPHS Scientific and Training Symposium: Sponsored by the Junior Officer Advisory Group

Are you confident that you are wearing your PHS rank and/or uniform correctly? The Junior Officer Advisory Group’s (JOAG) Professional Development (PD) Committee is sponsoring a Uniform Inspection Station during the 2007 USPHS Scientific and Training Symposium in Cincinnati, OH. Members of the PD Committee will provide on-the-spot assistance with uniforms and uniform questions to officers of all ranks. The location of the Uniform Inspection Station is still pending, and the available times will be posted around the Symposium area.

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Biological Response Training at the USPHS Scientific and Training Symposium

Many experts believe that it is not a matter of if, but when disaster will strike. Make sure that you are ready. Join us on Thursday, June 7 for an essential one-day training course on what all public health officials need to know to be prepared. This training is appropriate for Tier 1, 2 and 3 responders, and directly addresses roles identified in the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services' playbooks for disaster response. Visit http://www.coausphsconference.org/ for more details about this important training.

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USPHS Officer’s Guide Available

ACOA has received copies of the Knoben & Knoben USPHS Officer’s Guide: Protocol & Service Standards from National COA. The guide was published by the Commissioned Officers Foundation in 2006, and a FREE copy was made for each active duty PHS officer. If you are interested in receiving a copy, please contact or visit one of the officers below. If you are stationed out-of-state, please ask your local COA chapter for a copy or contact COA directly at 301.731.9080 or 866.366.9593. Only one copy per officer. Unfortunately, ACOA does not have the resources to mail or send copies via private delivery services such as the USPS or FedEx.

CDR Jeff Bosshart, Corporate Square, Building 8, at 404.639.6275
CDR Robert Knowles, Century Center, Building 1825, at 404.498.0426
CDR Joseph Little, Chamblee Campus, Building 101, at 770.488.3339
CDR Bruce Tierney, Clifton Road Campus, Building 16, at 404.639.4223
LCDR Rachel Avchen, Executive Park, Building 12, at 404.498.3550
LCDR Amanda Dunnick, Koger Center, Stanford Building, at 770.488.1989
LCDR Danice Eaton, Koger Center, Columbia Building, at 770.488.6143
LCDR LaTonya T. Jiggetts, 60 8th St, NE at 404.253.1200 x5470(Food and Drug Administration - Downtown Atlanta)

L to R: CDR Ann Knoben, author; CDR Bruce Tierney, ACOA President; and CAPT James Knoben (Ret.), author

Schedule for Upcoming Crunch and Runs

Have you been putting off taking the physical fitness test required for OFRD readiness? Procrastinate no more! We anticipate that it will take less than an hour for an officer to complete the three components of the fitness test, which include: 1.5 mile run/walk, push-ups, and crunches or the side-bridge exercise. For more information on the OFRD physical fitness requirements, please visit: http://oep.osophs.dhhs.gov/ccrf/physical.htm.

Monthly Crunch and Runs are scheduled for 2007 on the following dates:

Location: St. Pius X High School Track, Atlanta GA
Time: 0800 (please be on time!)
What to bring: Water bottle and towel or mat.

Please RSVP by NOON of the preceding Friday to LCDR Ed Dieser. Your scores will go home with you, so feel free to use this as a practice or the actual fit test.

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EIS Prediction Run on Tuesday, April 17

The Annual Prediction Run is a 2 mile fun run/walk, where the winner accurately predicts how long they will take to run/walk the course. No watches are allowed and predictions are made before the run. PHS Commissioned Officers who register for the annual EIS Prediction Run will also have the opportunity to count their time for the Annual Physical Fitness Test (APFT). However, registration for Prediction Run is not required to participate in the APFT. The APFT is a 1.5 mile event and will be part of the 2 mile Prediction Run. The APFT also requires push-ups and sit-ups or side-bridge within 2 hours of the run, and these events will be administered after the Prediction Run.

Where: The event will take place at Piedmont Park. The run will start and end at the 14th Street park entrance, just down from the EIS Conference hotel (Sheraton Colony Square, 188 14th Street, NE, Atlanta, GA, 30361).
Date: Tuesday, April 17
Time: Prediction Run starts at 1800.

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Volunteers Needed for Crunch and Runs and EIS Prediction Run

Volunteers are needed to assist with the monthly Crunch and Runs. Please contact LCDR Ed Dieser if you are interested in helping. Please see the announcement in this newsletter for more information about the dates, times, and location of the Crunch and Runs. Volunteers are also needed for the EIS Prediction Run.

Location: Piedmont Park
Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Time: Volunteers will need to arrive by 1700 for set-up, assignment, and coordination. Race begins at 1800 and all activities will be concluded by 1930.
Supplies Needed: We need additional stop watches and clip boards, so please plan to bring yours if you have one.

Last year, approximately 70 PHS Commissioned Officers participated in the Prediction Run APFT! Please consider volunteering to help with this important and fun activity! All volunteers will receive a thank-you letter from ACOA at the end of the year for their eOPF.
For more information, or to volunteer, please contact LCDR Ed Dieser or LCDR Amanda Dunnick.

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New PHS Flag Sales Coordinator

In an effort to support esprit de corps, as well as raise funds to support organization activities, ACOA developed and sells full-size USPHS flags and US/USPHS miniature flag desk sets. These flags are available for purchase by USPHS officers and civilians nationwide. In 2006, ACOA sold 86 USPHS flags and 61 flag desk sets. These flags were purchased for use at MOAA, as retirement, birthday and holiday gifts, and much more.

ACOA would like to introduce and welcome LT Carlos Bell as the new PHS Flags Sales Coordinator. LT Bell is an Epidemiologist/GIS Analyst for the Public Health Geospatial Research, Analysis & Services Program (GRASP) at ATSDR. LT Bell was commissioned on August 1, 2005 as a Health Services Officer. ACOA would also like to thank LCDR Amanda Dunnick, who served as the Flag Coordinator for the past two years.

ACOA members receive a discount and can purchase the USPHS flag for $50 and the US/USPHS miniature flag desk set for $16. Non-ACOA members can purchase the USPHS flag for $55 and the desk set for $18. For more information, please contact LT Bell, 404.498.0393.

Please note: These items are for personal use. The USPHS flag is not intended to replace official USPHS flags, as noted in Subchapter CC29.9 of the Commissioned Corps Personnel Manual.

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Don’t forget that ACOA has a uniform sale and swap! This is an important part of our fundraising efforts, so your contributions can make a difference.

Contact us if you have uniforms and/or uniform components (rank insignias, etc.) that you wish to donate, or if you would like to purchase these items at very reduced rates. We also swap gently-used shoulder boards. A full listing of the current uniform shop inventory is available at ACOA's website.

Officers at CDC can donate uniforms and components by sending them via interoffice mail to the mailstops listed below. Atlanta-based officers outside of CDC may contact the representatives below for donation instructions.

Male Uniform Contact: LT Jasen Kunz, 404.639.3419, MS F-05
Female Uniform Contact: LT Jamie Mutter, 404.639.0769, MS F-05

ACOA is seeking volunteers to support the Jean R. Amos USO Center at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. ACOA staffs the USO in every third Saturday of each month from 0800 to 1400. Two shifts are available: 0800 to 1100, or 1100 to 1400.

Commissioned Corps officer volunteers are needed on the following dates (2-3 volunteers are needed per shift):

There are many reasons that people exercise. One of the most popular is weight loss and weight control. In a country where 66% of adults are overweight or obese, it is crucial that we recognize the importance of incorporating regular exercise into our lives.

In an age of ever-expanding waist lines, we are not only seeing increasing body mass, but also increasing health problems. By maintaining an appropriate weight, we can reduce our risk of developing a number of disorders, such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Body mass index, or BMI, is one way of determining whether or not we are at a healthy weight. BMI is simply a ratio of height to weight, and can be determined by using the BMI calculator on the Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity’s website. CDC recommends that adults maintain a BMI of 18.5-24.9.

How our body fat is distributed can tell us a lot about our health risk. Unfortunately, this pattern is primarily genetically predetermined. Waist circumference, measured at the narrowest part of the torso, can be an indicator of whether or not one needs to lose weight. It is suggested that men with a waist circumference greater than 40 inches and women with a waist circumference greater than 35 inches begin a weight loss program. This is because fat distributed in this area is associated with a higher risk of coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes, and high total cholesterol.

Waist-to-hip ratio is another indicator of a health risk that is based on body fat distribution. It is a ratio of the measure of the narrowest part of the waist to the widest part of the hips. Higher ratios are often referred to as “apple-shaped” bodies, while lower ratios are often referred to as “pear-shaped” bodies. Ideal ratios are below 0.95 for men and 0.86 for women. Waist-to-hip ratio has been found to be a stronger predictor of cardiovascular risk than body weight, body fat percentage, or BMI.

For weight control, there are two forms of exercise that need to be included in any workout plan: aerobic exercise and resistance training. Aerobic exercise is any exercise that utilizes large muscle groups and is performed for an extended period of time. Examples include walking, jogging, swimming, and cycling, just to name a few. Resistance training uses weights, machines, or your own body weight to strengthen the muscles. Both forms of exercise bring valuable benefits that are important for weight control.

In addition, aerobic exercise burns body fat. The type of exercise you do will determine how much exercise is needed to make a difference in your weight. The current public health recommendation for physical activity is 30 or more minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on 5 or more days per week (CDC and American College of Sports Medicine).

If you are currently inactive, try beginning an exercise program by walking for 20 to30 minutes a day. As this becomes a regular habit, you will need to add more time or intensity to your exercise to assist with your weight control. If you are currently active, try increasing the amount or intensity of physical activity in your daily routine. As your body adapts to the increasing demands you place upon it, you will require a greater challenge for weight control to continue. Studies have shown that approximately 60 minutes per day (200 to 300 minutes per week) of physical activity may be needed to prevent weight gain.

Resistance training is important because it builds muscle tissue. Muscle uses calories at a faster rate than fat, so it is vital to increase the amount of muscle tissue in the body if you are trying to lose or maintain your weight. It is worth noting that after the age of 25, the average American gains one pound of body fat and loses one third to one half pound of muscle each year. In addition, resting metabolism decreases approximately 2 to 5% each decade after age 25. By participating in a regular resistance training program, we can preserve or increase our muscle mass, helping to reverse these changes. It is recommended that individuals participate in resistance training 2 to 3 times per week, performing 8 to 10 exercises for the major muscle groups.

The staff in the Lifestyle Fitness Centers is ready to help you develop an exercise program and reach your goals. Be sure to stop by anytime for assistance. We look forward to seeing you!

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To get a job done right, you need the right tools. The same theory holds true for maximizing your prescription drug benefit. When it comes to your medicine, the Department of Defense (DoD) and Express Scripts, Inc., (ESI) are working together to help you and your family get the most value from your prescription drug coverage.

The TRICARE Pharmacy web site at http://www.tricare.osd.mil/pharmacy has been redesigned to provide easier access to information about your prescription drug benefit. The site now features the TRICARE Formulary Search Tool, which enables TRICARE beneficiaries to:

The TRICARE Formulary Search Tool also allows you to find information using a drug name or a medical condition. With so much information at your fingertips, making the right medication choices for you and your family just got easier. To access the TRICARE Formulary Search Tool, visit www.tricare.osd.mil/pharmacy.

For more information on your prescription drug benefit, please visit http://www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE, or call 866.363.8779 for retail pharmacy, or 866.363.8667 for TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy.

A recent survey of TMOP users conducted in October 2006 showed that 97 percent indicated overall satisfaction with the service. Beneficiaries may save as much as 66 percent of the cost of using retail pharmacies on medications. Beneficiaries receive up to a 90-day supply of most medications for the same amount they would pay for a 30-day supply at a retail pharmacy. Beneficiaries may still fill prescriptions for medications needed for immediate or short term use at local retail pharmacies or military treatment facilities. Beneficiaries may enroll in the mail order program by mail or online. For more information, call 1-866-363-8667 or visit www.tricare.osd.mil/pharmacy/tmop.cfm.

DoD pays 30 to 40 percent less for prescriptions filled through the mail-order service, as compared to retail pharmacies. To date, only 6 percent of the uniformed service community’s prescriptions have been filled through TMOP. DoD could save $24 million a year if just 1 percent of prescriptions were shifted from retail pharmacies to the mail order pharmacy.

Prescriptions filled by TMOP are 99.9% accurate (Pharmacotherapy 2005), compared to 98.3% accuracy with retail pharmacies (Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 2003).

Using TMOP for your maintenance medication needs will help ensure that we, as active duty service members, will be able to maintain our current healthcare entitlements and assist our retired brethren in keeping retired medical costs from significant increases in the future.

Please contact CDC’s Health Benefits Advisor, CAPT Dan Cline, 770.488.1883, for any questions/concerns regarding the content of this article.

ACOA sponsored an Assimilation Lunch & Learn on February 8, 2007 to provide critical assimilation and PHS career information to Atlanta-area Commissioned Corps officers. The speaker, LCDR Ali Danner, Assimilations Coordinator at CDC’s Office of Commissioned Corps Personnel (OCCP), advised that ALL applications for the 2007 assimilation year were due to the Office of Commissioned Corps Operations (OCCO) by February 15, 2007. Applications postmarked after that date will be processed the following year.

It is important to note that a Commissioned Corps officer can submit their application packet at any time during the year, but must meet the February deadline, plus have the minimum 3 years active duty in their current Commissioned Corps tour, to be considered by that year's OCCO Assimilation Board.

LCDR Danner shared the benefits of becoming a Regular Corps officer, including possible promotion advantages and being eligible to become a Chief Professional Officer (CPO. He also shared updates on new assimilation requirements, such as being Basic readiness qualified, and presented scenarios for officers at different phases in their careers and how this applies to the assimilation Lower and Higher boards. The presentation and handout resources are available at the ACOA Events website and CDC’s OCCP website.
Lastly, OCCO posts assimilation criteria a few months before the annual February deadline. You may contact LCDR Danner, 770.488.1858, with any questions or for an assimilation consultation. Strengthen your PHS career: apply for assimilation as early as you are eligible and remain Basic readiness and medically qualified!

Spring Cleaning: PHS Uniform Changes for the Short and Long Term
Submitted by: CDR Bruce Tierney

As our clocks “spring forward” a little earlier than usual for the start of daylight savings time, it serves as a reminder that the Uniform of the Day will be changing soon as well. Usually around the start of April, the Local Uniform Authority (LUA) releases the notification for the Spring/Summer Uniform of the Day. CAPT Austin Hayes is the LUA for the Atlanta area. This typically means a change-over from authorized wear of the Winter Blue uniform to the Summer White uniform. In addition, the Service Khaki and Service Blue uniforms (a.k.a. Salt and Pepper) have typically been authorized for year-round wear, along with the Service Dress Blue uniform.

There are, however, a number of potential changes on the horizon that may determine whether some of these uniforms will remain a part of the family of PHS uniforms in the future. Over the past 2 to 3 years, the Navy has been undergoing an evaluation of a new working uniform intended to replace a variety of Navy working uniforms. These include: Working Khaki, Winter Blue, Indoor Duty White, Tropical Khaki, Utilities, Coveralls, and woodland style BDUs. If these uniforms are eliminated from the Navy inventory, it may prove difficult for PHS officers to obtain them in the future. In addition, the Navy has been evaluating a replacement uniform for enlisted personnel to wear in classroom and office environments when a BDU-style uniform would not be appropriate. On March 2, 2006, both of these new uniforms were approved for release. Details on the wear of these new Navy uniforms are still forthcoming, and distribution is not expected to begin until the Fall of 2007, followed by a phase in period of at least 12 to 24 months.

With these changes in mind, the PHS has recently established a working group to evaluate the impact that these Navy uniform changes will have on the availability of uniform components used by PHS Commissioned Officers. In addition, the uniform working group will evaluate the current inventory of PHS uniforms and the instructions that apply to them, as well as instructions for personal appearance and grooming standards. The most immediate potential change is that the woodland pattern BDU may become increasingly difficult to obtain from military sources now that the Navy will also be moving to a new working uniform as other services have recently done (see the special issue BDU article on the ACOA website from July 2006). One of the goals of the PHS uniform working group will be to align the Commissioned Corps Uniforms, Personal Appearance, and Grooming Standard policies as closely as possible to U.S. Navy’s policies. This would create the potential for “one-stop” shopping through Navy uniform sources for all Commissioned Corps officers. Although this could potentially result in the changes of some current uniform items, any changes would be phased in over a period of time.

Stay tuned for updates on possible uniform changes for Commissioned Corps officers over the next few months as current PHS uniform policy is evaluated to reflect the many new changes occurring in Navy uniform regulations.

ACOA Sponsors Successful Roadside Clean-up on March 17, 2007
Submitted by: LT Jay Wamsley

Early on the morning of Saturday, March 17, in 34°F temperatures, about a dozen officers and family members bundled up, met for a quick donut and coffee, and headed out for the one-mile roadside clean-up. ACOA is responsible for and organizes expeditions 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 ACOA as part of the Georgia Adopt-a-Highway program. ACOA contractually agrees to clean up a section of roadway four times each year. The Georgia Department of Transportation has erected signs noting our sponsorship. These signs are seen by tens of thousands of motorists and passengers throughout the year. Please join us for our next quarterly clean-up on Saturday, May 12 at 0930. We meet at the Church of the Latter Day Saints, 1450 Ponce de Leon Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA. Family members and friends are always welcome! For questions, contact: LCDR Robert L. Williams, 770.488.3341, or LT Jay Wamsley, 770.488.7263.

The CDC Office of Health and Safety (OHS) has established a CDC/ATSDR Responder Readiness Program (RRP) that outlines the most up to date Responder Readiness Clearance Guidance for CDC/ATSDR Commissioned Officers

A Responder Readiness website is being developed to provide responders with a wealth of information on deployment health and safety. The website will outline the services offered by OHS, as well as the process for deploying. You will also be able to download education and training PowerPoint modules that provide event specific briefings.

The table below contains the Responder Readiness requirements for Commissioned Corps officers at CDC/ATSDR. If you have any questions, contact CDR Janice Ashby, 404.639.3148. CDR Ashby is the Senior Deployment Safety Officer in the Deployment Health and Safety Program, Occupational Health and Prevention Services.

Office of Health and Safety CDC/ATSDR Responder Readiness Program Responder Readiness Clearance Guidance
	Commissioned Corps (CDC/ATSDR-based Only) Requirements
Medical Clearance	Initial – The required Commissioned Corps 5-year physical takes the place of the initial medical evaluation. Proof of physical must be submitted to the CDC/ATSDR Occupational Health Clinic for documentation after each subsequent completion of the 5 year physical examination. Officers will also be expected to maintain the physical fitness and readiness requirements annually as prescribed by Commissioned Corps guidance. Annually thereafter – an electronic medical screening questionnaire will be completed. If this screening identifies any new problems or significant changes in health status, further in-person medical evaluation will be required. Officers may be referred to a private medical provider if further evaluation is required to determine clearance status.
Respirator Clearance	Initial – An in-person respirator user screening questionnaire and medical exam is required. This may include spirometry and other testing as indicated by the user’s history and condition. The medical clearance is followed by in-person respirator training and fit-testing. Annually thereafter – A respirator user screening questionnaire is completed by the user and reviewed by the physician. If any concerns, problems or changes in health status are identified, an in-person evaluation may be required. In-person respirator training and fit testing is required annually.
Urgent Responder Readiness Clearance	To support a public health response, urgent “out-the-door” medical and respirator use clearances will be available through the CDC/ATSDR Occupational Health Clinics for all CDC/ATSDR Commissioned Officers. However, for maximum responsiveness, persons who are likely to deploy and are identified as such by their Emergency Coordinator, or who are rostered for any type of deployment through the Director’s Emergency Operations Center, should maintain responder readiness clearance status at all times.
Additional Pre-deployment Preparations: International Travel Clearance	Additional immunizations (Hepatitis A, typhoid vaccine, others based upon destination), and/or Travel kits, medications, other interventions
Additional Pre-deployment Preparations: WHO Clearance	Additional screening questionnaire, exam components, and documentation, Lab work (CBC and UA), CXR may be indicated, and/or Likely, additional immunization, based upon destination


ACOA officers and family at the March 17 Roadside Clean-up. Front, L to R: Unknown, CDR Januett Smith-George, Cheyenne Thompson, CDR Larry Cseh, Ashleigh Cseh. Middle, L to R: LCDR Robert Williams, Margie Scott-Cseh, CDR Bruce Tierney. Back, L to R: CAPT Mike Campsmith, CDR Joseph Little, CAPT Gary Noonan (Ret.)	It’s a family affair: CDR Larry Cseh and daughter participate in the Roadside Clean-up

Office of Health and Safety CDC/ATSDR Responder Readiness Program Responder Readiness Clearance Guidance

Commissioned Corps (CDC/ATSDR-based Only) Requirements

Office of Health and Safety
CDC/ATSDR Responder Readiness Program
Responder Readiness Clearance Guidance