Call to Order: The Fort Detrick Branch COA meeting convened 1800 hrs at the FT Detrick facility with LCDR Rick Gussio and LCDR Lucienne Nelson of the Executive Committee present. Other members present included CAPT Bobby Brown, LCDR Tom Doss, LT Gregory Langham and CDR Kriete.

Reading of minutes: No changes to meeting minutes.

Treasurer’s report: The membership fees from the National COA office have not been dispersed to the Branch. Members present were reminded to designate Ft. Detrick as their Branch affiliation on National COA membership renewals.

Other reports: Prior to the meeting, our branch submitted a News article for the April issue of COA Frontline. This article announced our new branch formation and detailed some of our activities. We are hopeful that the publicity will bring members, alliances and new activities.

Introduction of newly elected members: No new election held.

Reports of Standing Committees: Formation of other committees was postponed until membership has had an opportunity to expand.

Unfinished Business: Our mission statement is an important unresolved issue. The executive committee has begun brainstorming about the content of these statements for the membership to review and discuss. This will be an agenda item for a future meeting. Furthermore, the National COA’s mission statement may be under revision, and this will delay the finalization of our local branch mission statement.

The creation of trifold a Branch brochure continues.

New Business:

• LCDR Gussio asked who are CCRF members, so as to forward the names to Dan Beck of OEP/CCRF. LCDR Gussio is working with CCRF offering our MSC testing services to CCRF members interested. Discussions are continuing in how to accommodate the variations of the CCRF PT requirements.
• CCRF has agreed to present the CCRF program to the Branch members at our next meeting, May 16, 2001. We hope to have some new members gathered at the meeting for this special presentation.
• FD COA website features the fitness standards. LCDR Gussio demonstrated the fitness standards to members present and discussions flowed about qualifying times. The scheduled Spring MSC testing is planned for April 23-25, 2001 at the Ft. Detrick running tract. More information is available on the MSC section of the branch website. On line registration is available to schedule your test.
• LT Langham offered to form a basketball group at the Ft. Detrick athletic facility for all interested. A posting has been made to the Branch website announcing this. He reports he has had no inquires yet.

Nat’l COA reading and actions:

LCDR Gussio shared with the members the National COA meeting announcements, most of which pertained to the National meeting to be held in Washington, DC in late May. All members have been encouraged to attend. LCDR Gussio had handouts available from National COA related to the May meeting. The Surgeon General’s Walk was also highlighted.

Legislative actions and proposals were presented for members’ information and some discussions occurred about the effect on actions on officers. There was a good dialogue from the seasoned officers present. Topics discussed included:

• CPO should be made a flag rank for all categories
• Reserve drill credit at 20 years of service with retirement eligibility
• Legislation in supporting the use of Inactive Reserves to augment the Army Medical Department
• Modified definition of the Uniform Services in tax code-Pennsylvania. Currently states on DoD and Coast Guard. Needs USPHS added to the definition. Mike Lord had addressed this in a letter to the appropriate official. LCDR Gussio reviewed some of the tax deductions available for PHS officers.
• Words to the PHS song were reported to be on BOTC website
• Return of the SG to DCP as policy setter and direct authority of PHS troops as it was pre-revitalization. Discussions about the impact on officers with a change in authority of SG and mobility in duty locations, impact if called to serve , on current positions, on return to duty stations after call up, etc made for a lively exchange.
• SG request to CPO-category device development was officially tabled for now.
• The question of why USUHS graduates aren’t automatically placed in Regular Corps as in other branches of service was brought forth.

Program:

Our Branch priority is to focus on increasing our membership. LCDR Gussio will obtain the list of potential members with category designation for members present to view. This follows CAPT Wickizer’s suggestion that current Branch members give potential members of their own category a personal invitation.

Nominations and elections:

Search for a C.O. for the Military Standards Cadre continues. This individual functions as a liaison regarding MSC and directs inquiries accordingly.

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 2020 hrs following plans to meet again every second Wednesday of every odd month. Next meeting set for May 16, 2001 1900 hrs in Bldg. 426 on the Ft. Detrick installation. This is our regular meeting place. Future meeting dates are posted on the Branch web page.

LCDR Lucienne Nelson

Secretary