OFRD Basic Readiness Checks
Recently posted on the Commissioned Corps E-Bulletin website (June 1, 2007), RADM Moritsugu announced the quarterly reporting system of officers readiness data. The Commissioned Corps Personnel Team, OWCD, has identified key items that may affect officers, who are found not meeting basic readiness requirements. RADM Moritsugu’s memo to all officers is listed below. We would encourage all active officers to maintain a constant state of readiness. Our office will gladly assist and/or clarify any requirements, please feel free to contact LT Steve Miller, Readiness Coordinator at smiller@cdc.gov .
All commissioned officers are expected to comply with the Commissioned Corps readiness standards at all times. The Office of Force Readiness and Deployment (OFRD) maintain officer readiness data in order to assure operational readiness of the entire Commissioned Corps. There are various other entities and offices which use the OFRD generated Commissioned Corps readiness data in deciding issues related to commissioned officers (awards, special pays, etc.). To provide consistency in reporting readiness data, and to assist those who use the data to plan and schedule accordingly, OFRD will be changing to a standardized frequency with which it checks the readiness status of all commissioned officers. Starting on 30 June 2007, barring unforeseen circumstances, OFRD will check and report the readiness status of officers every three months, corresponding to the following dates: 31 March; 30 June; 30 September; and 31 December.
Please become familiar with these dates and update your Official Personnel Folder, medical records, and OFRD Officer Summary Page accordingly so as to ensure that the assessments made by OFRD accurately reflect the readiness status of all officers within the Commissioned Corps.
Though OFRD will check and post readiness data on the above dates, this does not preclude OFRD from checking the readiness status of officers at other times throughout the year nor does it obviate the requirement of all commissioned officers to maintain basic readiness status at all time.
Sincerely,
Kenneth P. Moritsugu, M.D., M.P.H.
RADM, USPHS
| Immediate Effects of Not Meeting Force Readiness Requirements | |
| Date of Check | Effect if found non-compliant |
| 31 March | If Officer is above the line for temporary promotion, name removed from promotion list. If Officer is submitted for award during this cycle, award will be withheld. |
| 30 June | If Officer is above the line for permanent promotion, name removed from promotion list. If Officer is submitted for award during this cycle, award will be withheld. |
| 30 September | If Officer is submitted for award during this cycle, award will be withheld. |
| 31 December | If Officer is eligible for temporary or permanent promotion, name is not submitted to promotion board. If Officer is submitted for award during this cycle, award will be withheld. |
If it is determined that an officer is "not qualified" on the dates identified above, s/he will be "not qualified" for the entire 3 month period.
Officers approved for assimilation who are not ready, will be removed from the assimilation list and must reapply if they wish to be considered for assimilation in the future.
Officers who are continually found not ready will be referred to a Retention Board for possible disciplinary action.
Proposed Effects of Not Meeting Force Readiness Requirements
For officers who have done little or nothing to meet Basic Force Readiness standards there is a proposed cascade of consequences that you should be aware of. It is likely that this will become a regulation in the very near future. The proposed consequences for officers who do not currently meet basic readiness standards are as follows:
- The first quarter an officer is found to be "not qualified", s/he will receive notification from OFRD.
- If the officer has not remedied the deficiencies from the first quarter and is found to be "not qualified" in the second quarter, the officer will receive a Letter of Reproval.
- If in the third quarter the officer is found to be "not qualified", s/he will receive a Letter of Reprimand. Please be cognizant that a Letter of Reprimand in an officer’s file can adversely affect the officer's career in multiple ways to include but not limited to: promotions, special pays, awards, special assignments, etc. – for up to 2 years.
- If an officer is determined to be "not qualified" for the fourth quarter in a row, his/her name will be forwarded to a Retention Board who will determine the officer’s future in the Corps.
Once an officer becomes basic ready s/he is expected to continuously maintain their readiness status, if an officer is determined to be "not qualified" twice (2) in a 24 month period, s/he will receive a “Letter of Reprimand” and be subject to the effects of that disciplinary action.