Readiness & Medical Affairs

As Public Health Service Officers and America’s Health Responders, we stand ready to preserve public health and national security during national or global health emergencies. All Public Health Service Officers must maintain readiness, this includes physical fitness standards, vaccinations, and deployment preparedness. Readiness information for the Commissioned Corps can be found on CCMIS under the Readiness tab.

Readiness and Deployment Branch

Chief – CDR Kami Cooper
Contact Information:

Annual Physical Fitness Test (APFT)

The APFT is the process for officers to demonstrate a minimum level of physical fitness and requirements are necessary to ensure that officers can meet the rigors of deployment. An APFT score is comprised of four categories: cardiorespiratory endurance, upper body endurance, core endurance, and a flexibility. Since Oct. 1, 2018, all officers must report all weight information when completing and submitting their APFT.

Keys for Success

  • Height, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) results must be included on the APFT record. If height and weight reflect a BMI of 27.6 kg/m2 or greater per Retention Weight Standards, Percent Body Fat (PBF) or “taping” must also be completed and included on the APFT.
  • If the required weight information was not included on the APFT, a supplemental record submission via Verified Weight Report (7044-1) can be submitted to capture the BMI (and PBF, if needed).
  • Please review the Corps Retention Weight Standards webpage for policies, more information and guidance.
  • APFTs must both be completed and submitted via eDOC-U to meet basic readiness requirements. Detailed instructions on uploading the APFT are available in the eDOC-U User Guide within the application.
  • Officers who are unable to do a category of exercises (cardiorespiratory endurance, flexibility, etc.) due to a medical limitation can request a medical waiver for that component but will need to complete the rest of the APFT. Please visit the Medical Waiver Program webpage for information and instructions on submitting a medical waiver request.

Resources

Deployment Preparation Plan (DPP)

This is a new readiness requirement. The form and tools for completing the requirement will be available soon. 

The U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps requires all officers to complete a Deployment Preparation Plan (DPP). This plan requires officers to proactively plan for the care of their family, children and personal and professional affairs prior to deployments and other duty related absences. By anticipating deployment challenges that will arise due to officer’s absence, officers can focus fully on their mission knowing that loved ones and home station responsibilities are well taken care of.

Officers are required to complete and submit an initial DPP annually. Additional information will be released regarding the timeline for subsequent DPP submissions. A DPP is valid for twelve months and is required to be updated when a change in circumstances occurs (i.e. new family member, divorce, dependent parent). Information on plan requirements can be found here.

Immunizations

There are seven (7) required vaccine requirements for the Commissioned Corps outside the COVID-19 vaccine:

  1.  PPD – negative result, or negative chest x-ray or quanti-feron (QTF) <1 year for a positive PPD history
  2.  Tetanus <10 years
  3.  Hepatitis A – two doses, or a positive titer
  4.  Hepatitis B – three doses, or a positive titer
  5.  MMR – two doses, or positive titers for measles, mumps, and rubella
  6.  Varicella – two doses, or positive titer for history of chicken pox disease
  7.  Influenza – one dose (current season/year)

Medical Affairs will only accept immunization submissions via eDOC-U located in the Officer Secure Area (OSA). For more information on submitting your immunizations to Medical Affairs, visit the Immunizations webpage.

Periodic Health Update (PHU)

The U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps requires officers to undergo annual periodic health updates to better protect the health of officers and meet mission priorities.  Maintaining this requirement is also vital to assuring your continued access and continuity of services at military treatment facilities.

With some allowances for the continuing public health emergency and the burdens it imposes, all officers are required to complete and submit a PHU in their 2022 birth month period (from the first day of the month prior to their birth month until the last day of the month after their birth month). Some officers who entered the USPHS Commissioned Corps in 2021 or early 2022 may be exempt until 2023. Medical Affairs Branch (MAB) will contact those individuals directly.

Officers should review the PHU Instructions for Officers before completing and submitting their PHU.

The requirements for the 2022 PHU include seven components:

  1. Medical History: Self-reported update of the officer’s medical history since their last submitted PHU which is given to the officer’s medical provider for review, verification, and signature (form DD-2807-1)
  2. Physical Examination: In-person examination based on the officer’s health risk factors, as determined by the officer’s provider. Minimal requirements are the officer’s vital signs (pulse and blood pressure), weight, and height. The DD-2808* must be dated in Field #1 and signed by the provider.
    • If the officer’s Body Mass Index (BMI) exceeds 27.5 kg/m2, the provider or their designate must perform “taping” and complete a PHS-7044-1, “Verified Weight Form” which must be submitted with the PHU
  3. Behavioral Health Survey: Self-reported (after downloading the form to the officer’s computer) then given to the officer’s provider for review and signature. The behavioral health survey will facilitate a discussion with the provider about the mental well-being of the officer (form PHS-7083)**
  4. Dental Examination: Done within the six (6) months prior to the PHU submission (form DD-2813)* dated and signed by the dental provider.
  5. Additional Tests: Screening tests as recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) (e.g. cervical, breast and colorectal cancer screening) and any other testing recommended by the officer’s provider based on the officer’s age, medical, family, and deployment history, and the officer’s occupational and environmental exposures and risks.
  6. Disclosure Statement: dated and signed by the officer.
  7. 2022 PHU Submission Checklist: completed, dated and signed by the officer.

*The DD-2808 and DD-2813 will not open in most browsers. Download the document (even if the document does not appear on your screen) to your computer desktop (it should open from there) then complete and save.

**In order for the PHS-7083 to properly score and save your responses, you must first download the form to your computer.

Officers should provide all necessary forms and a copy of the PHU Instructions for Providers and PHU Instructions for Completing DD-2807-1, 2808, 2813 to their medical providers at the time of their appointment or before, if possible.  They should also take a copy of the dental form, DD-2813, to their dentist at the time of their appointment.

All forms and provider instructions are included in a single PDF file, “PHU Appointment Documents,” which can be found on the CCMIS website under Forms/Medical.

Most common reasons for rejection of a PHU submission:

  • Scanning errors or illegible scans
  • Missing PHU required component
  • PHU components are not submitted in a single PDF file
  • Forms are not dated
  • Required forms are not signed by the provider (only an officer signature on the DD-2807-1 will be rejected)
  • Minimum requirements for the physical exam (Height, Weight, Blood Pressure, and Pulse) are not documented on the DD-2808
  • A PHS 7044-1 is not submitted with the PHU when an officer’s BMI exceeds 27.5 kg/m2