August 2017
The BLUF…Dynamic and Deliberate Colleagues, Greetings!
On 31 July 2017, the Secretary, Chief of Staff, and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force signed- out a document articulating the Air Force priorities. I am sure you have already seen this important message. That said, I want to dedicate this space in this edition of the BLUF to retransmit the SECAF/CSAF/CMSAF message. It is critically important we understand the strategic direction of our Air Force, which charts the direction of Air Force Medicine and our M edical Service Corps.
“To the Airmen of the United States Air Force:
For more than 70 years, our fellow Americans have asked you to be the sentinels of air and space for the nation, delivering unmatched capabilities every day. The demand for what you, as American Airmen, bring to the fight will only increase. We will continue to lead and support the Joint Force in defending our homeland, owning the high ground, and projecting Brig Gen James J. Burks serves as the Director, power with our allies. As the most dominant air force in the world, we will continue to face Manpower, Personnel and serious and ever-changing threats. In order to ensure our Air Force remains lethal and ready Resources and Chief of the when the nation calls, we have established the following Air Force priorities: Medical Service Corps, Office of the Surgeon (CONTINUE BRIG GEN BURKS ARTICLE) General, Falls Church, VA.
SENIOR LEADER PERSPECTIVE: KX Corps Chief Corner AFPC UPDATE: Promotion Quotas – How Are They Defense Health Agency: Unified and Ready Determined? Colonel Dan Lee, DHA Chief of Staff Useful Links Major David Shwalb, Chief of DHA Director’s Have you ever wondered how the promotion Action Group quotas were calculated for each promotion board? The calculation is outlined in AFI 36- AF MSC-Kx site What an exciting time to be a Medical Service 2501, OFFICER PROMOTIONS AND Corps officer! National healthcare reform and SELECTIVE CONTINUATION. Two references military health are front and center in the minds AFPC Utilization & in that AFI are particularly pertinent for this of the American public. The efforts of the Task Education calculatio n: Force on MHS Governance (which established (CONTINUE…) the DHA in 2011) culminated with the 2017 MSC Strategic Plan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Career Intermission Program (CIP) dramatically changing the landscape of the MHS. Colonel Paul Martin, Deputy Command Surgeon, AFSOC Congress now looks to the DHA and the military HSA Schoolhouse Services to fulfil the goals laid out in our joint Are you currently conflicted between family issues and your continued Air Force Quadruple Aim — better care, better health, The MSC Gallery Career?…then read on. increase readiness and lower cost. Failure is not an option. To succeed and thrive, the DHA and (CONTINUE…) Services must be unified and ready. Order Your MSC
Air Force District of Washington ‘MERCH’ Here! (AFDW) Realignment (CONTINUE READING ARTICLE…)
On June 16, 2017, the 79th Medical Wing at RETIREMENTS!
Joint Base Andrews cased its colors, marking See the July, August, and September another historic day in the National Capitol retiree list HERE. Region. The Wing Staff was reorganized into Thank you for your service to the Air Force & MSC! The Corps Office is here to support you! Let us know the Air Force District of Washington what you want to see in the Command Surgeon Directorate. UPCOMING MSC EVENTS next BLUF. Simultaneously, the 779th Medical Group at Send “CORPS-espondence” 31 Aug-3 Sep 17- MSC Association Biennial Joint Base Andrews and the 579th Medical to the Reunion will be held in Seattle at the Hilton Group at Joint Base Anacostia Bolling cased MSC Office Mailbox DoubleTree Hotel, near Sea-Tac Airport. There is a their colors as well, unfurling new colors and great line-up of speakers, dinners, a hospitality transitioning into the 11th Medical Group and HQ USAF/SG1A suite, and recreational/sight-seeing tours. the 11th Medical Squadron, respectively. The https://www.mscassociation.org/event/2017- 7700 Arlington Blvd Suite 5157 11th Medical Squadron was realigned to biennial-re…a-sept-dates-tbd. For more report to the 11 Medical Group, and the 11th Falls Church VA 22042 information, contact the POC for the MSCA https://kx2.afms.mil/kj/kx5/ Medical Group was realigned to report to the Reunion, our 16th Corps Chief, Col (ret) Steve Meigs AFMedicalServiceCorps/Page 11th Wing, the host Wing at Joint Base at [email protected]. s/home.aspx 1 | Page Andrews. Mission, Service, Commitment…We Get It Done!
August 2017
Defense Health Agency: Unified and Ready (continued…)
Readiness is the top priority of the Armed Forces. We, the MHS, must be able, on demand, to provide a medically ready force and a ready medical force to Combatant Commands. To meet the wide spectrum of readiness demands, we should certainly take advantage of each Services’ unique capabilities and experiences. At the same time, however, whenever it makes sense we must come together as a medical community to provide interoperable Joint solutions. The future of the entire military, not just military healthcare, is clearly one in which the strengths and efforts of each Service is becoming increasingly unified and co-reliant on one another to create a synergy stronger than any single Service could produce alone.
In addition to increasing readiness, we must simultaneously deliver the other strategic aims of the MHS –better care and better health. Some mistakenly believe that readiness and healthcare are separate functions or competing priorities. Nothing could be further from the truth. Readiness and healthcare are inseparable and interwoven aspects of our patient’s lives. A service member who is medically ready is one who has received better care and who is consequently in better health. Conversely, if your patient receives poor care and is in poor health, they will not meet their unique readiness requirements. Our patients do not package and neatly categorize their health into boxes labeled “readiness” and “non-readiness” –neither should we. The delivery of our healthcare should be holistic and patient-centered. We should involve our patients in the design and delivery of healthcare solutions.
Remember, through all our efforts, we must work collaboratively. No one person, group, Service or Agency can possibly achieve the aims of the MHS alone. We owe our beneficiaries and the American people a medical system that is efficient, effective, and transparent, with appropriate management controls and accountability. The military medical community must be unified and ready as we move forward and the statutes of the NDAA 2017 take shape.
So what can you do to help? First, get involved. If an opportunity comes your way to volunteer for a working group or advisory panel—raise your hand. Second, share your ideas. We need healthcare leaders to provide input on where we should go and how we should structure our future. Third, do not be afraid of change; embrace this opportunity to improve the MHS and help design the way ahead! Be willing to step outside of your comfort zone and into the unfamiliar. Finally, continue to be proud of your Service, but also open to being part of the larger Military Health System. Whether your signature block says Army, Navy, Air Force, or DHA, be unified and ready!
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AFPC UPDATE: Understanding Promotion Board Statistics (continued…)
2.23. Promotion Quota Computation. The board promotion quota is computed by multiplying the SECAF-authorized promotion opportunity, expressed as a decimal, by the number of IPZ officers being considered…If BPZ is applicable on a given board, the quota is then reduced by the maximum number of SECAF-authorized BPZ quotas.
A2.5.7. Have a DOS or retirement within 90 days following the date a board convenes provided the application for separation or retirement was approved prior to the board convening date. Individuals whose applications for separation or retirement are approved on or after the board convening date regardless of the separation or retirement date remain eligible for the board.
Based on these references, there are a couple of key numbers. First is the SecAF authorized promotion opportunity for each board. In 2017, the promotion opportunity for each MSC promotion board was 95% for majors, 85% for lieutenant colonels, and 55% for colonels. The second key figure is the number of IPZ officers meeting the board. Paragraph A2.5.7. is important because IPZ eligible officers, with approved separation dates, may still be counted towards the quota calculation. It just depends on when their DOS was approved and when it is effective.
As an example, let us consider the 2017 colonel promotion board. There were 22 eligible lieutenant colonels IPZ. This number multiplied by a 55% opportunity resulted in 13 board quotas (22 * .55 = 12.1 --> rounds up to 13). The BPZ quota is subtracted which means that 12 board quotas were available for IPZ and APZ lieutenant colonels.
Please contact your AFPC team at DSN 665-4094 for any questions or concerns. RETURN TO BLUF To submit your article, click here: MSC Office Mailbox 2 | Page August 2017
Career Intermission Program (CIP) (continued…)
When Brig Gen Burks first became our Corps Chief he asked me to look at improving Diversity within our senior ranks. Over the last couple of years I have looked at what factors are driving good leaders in our corps to choose to retire or not take the career opportunities necessary to succeed at the Colonels Promotion Board. One issue has persistently stood out. Many of our leaders reach that decision because they have reached a point where they have conflicting family concerns. Among those concerns are conflicting career development needs between spouses, the support needs of ailing parents or the desire to allow their children to finish school at their current location. In many instances, these conflicts can be resolved by open frank discussion with the assignment team at AFPC and members of the MSC Development Team (DT).
However, when that is not the case, the Air Force has instituted a great new program that allows you to take a knee for up to 3 years. The Career Intermission Program (CIP) is a unique retention tool that provides select Total Force (TF) Airmen the opportunity for a one-time temporary transition from active duty to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) to meet personal or professional needs outside the service while providing a mechanism for seamless return to pre-CIP active duty status. The participation period is generally from one year not to exceed three years. Before you make the decision to retire or separate in lieu of continuing to grow in your Air Force career, I encourage you to both seek the advice of a member of the MSC DT and to check out the details of this new program at https://mypers.af.mil/app/answers/detail/a_id/27945/kw/cip/p/8%2C9
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Medical Service Corps Retirements- July, August, and September 2017
Thank you for your years of dedication and service to Air Force and the Medical Service Corps!
July August September Col Adam Bearden Col Mark Batcho Col Rachel Lefebvre Col David Berthe Col Richard Roessler Lt Col Michael Bruhn Col Michael Lovering Col Paul Willingham Lt Col Brenda Corrunker Col John Savage Maj Jamie Kaauamo Maj Sarah Byronsmith Lt Col Vicky Pratt Maj Renee Mcclennon Maj Janelle Just Quinn
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Mission, Service, Commitment…We Get It Done! To submit your article, click here: MSC Office Mailbox 3 | Page