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Approved-By: [log in to unmask]
Message-ID:  <[log in to unmask]>
Date:         Mon, 19 May 2008 13:28:22 -0400
Reply-To:     Karen Siegel <[log in to unmask]>
Sender:       Information for the USPHS Therapist Category
              <[log in to unmask]>
From:         Karen Siegel <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      COF Symposium Uniform

Attention Therapists attending the COF Symposium,

The Acting Surgeon General, in his capacity as the National Uniform 
Authority for the PHS Commissioned Corps has prescribed the following 
uniforms for PHS Commissioned Corps officers attending the 2008 PHS 
Scientific and Training Symposium in Tucson from 8 through 12 June: 

1)Service Khaki is the prescribed uniform of the day for Symposium 
attendees;

2)The uniform for the closing dinner is Dinner Dress White Jacket (0-5 and 
above). Service Dress Blue with miniature medals is an appropriate 
alternative for the closing dinner for 0-4 and below.

Many questions have been posed to the CPOs and COA about the designation 
of the Service Khaki this year, particularly since some officers are 
unable to wear khaki uniforms at their duty stations. Uniform regulations 
state that the working khaki is one of 3 uniforms officers currently are 
required to own and maintain (CC 26.3.1 F.2.c.). 
http://dcp.psc.gov/eccis/documents/CCPM26_3_1.pdf Therefore OSG has 
UNofficially said that any khaki uniform is acceptable for wear at the 
conference. 

(CNT fabric is only a service uniform. Polywool items can serve as a 
service or working khaki uniform, but the polycotton is only a working 
uniform. Wear of ribbons is another distinquishing feature between service 
and working khaki uniforms.) 

The directive to wear the khaki uniform includes those presenting and 
attending the opening ceremonies. Last week the Acting Deputy Surgeon 
General restated no whites, and no salt and pepper are to be worn at the 
symposium. Officers should be in khaki uniforms as directed. Some are 
uncomfortable with not wearing the SDB for presentations and receiving 
awards, and there appears to be some inconsistency in the unofficial 
comments that are being circulated about the options for this uniform. As 
of today, the information shared with me is that officers are expected to 
wear their khaki uniform as directed except for the closing dinner. I 
acknowledge this may be different from information some of you received 
from COA.

I hope this guidance is helpful to those of you planning to attend the 
conference. I look forward to seeing you in Tucson.


Karen Lohmann Siegel, PT, MA
 
CAPT, US Public Health Service
Chief Therapist Officer

Health Scientist Administrator
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
540 Gaither Road
Rockville, MD 20850
301-427-1321 (v)
301-427-1640 (f)
[log in to unmask] (e-mail)

Center for Information Technology National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland 20892 301 594 6248 (v) 301 496 8294 (TDD) Comments and Assistance Accessibility