Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service

Last updated

Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service
AbbreviationCOA
Formation1951;73 years ago (1951)
TypeProfessional organization
Headquarters Landover, Maryland
Region
United States
Membership
5,000
Executive Director
Jacqueline Rychnovsky [1]
22 elected/voting members
1 non-voting member
Website coausphs.org

The Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service, often referred to as the Commissioned Officers Association (COA), is a professional association of officers of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps. It is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the interests of the USPHS Commissioned Corps. COA describes itself as a "nationally recognized member-based organization" formed to "protect and enhance the public health and safety of the United States by supporting and advancing the interests of the Commissioned Corps and its officers." It describes itself as the only organization "that works exclusively on behalf of active, inactive, and retired" USPHS Commissioned Corps officers. [2]

Contents

COA describes itself as serving as "a legislative aid, a media consultant, and a career development specialist to its members" which provides "representation and advocacy, education and training for health professionals, collaboration with related organizations, and dissemination of public and professional information." [2]

History

In the 1920s, small groups of USPHS Commissioned Corps officers began to hold informal meetings to discuss issues of importance to public health in general or to the U.S. Public Health Service. The meetings eventually led to the formal establishment of the Commissioned Officers Association in 1951 [3] to advocate for their interests of USPHS Commissioned Corps officers though leadership, education, and communication. [4]

In the mid-1960s, the association took action to oppose a proposal to close USPHS hospitals and outpatient clinics, contacting members of the United States Congress and its committees to express opposition to the proposal. Ultimately, the hospitals were closed during the 1980s. [3]

In the 1970s, a strong movement began to abolish the USPHS Commissioned Corps. COA secured the support of members of Congress, the United States Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, and the Surgeon General of the United States and succeeded in blocking any move to abolish the Commissioned Corps. [3]

In June 2000, the USPHS Commissioned Officers Foundation for the Advancement of Public Health (COF), a sister organization of COA, was established as a not-for-profit organization to serve the education and research needs of COA. [5]

In 2002, COA worked through the Military Coalition to lead an effort to defeat a proposal by the George W. Bush Administration to classify USPHS Commissioned Corps officers as civil servants for purposes of compensation. [3]

Organization

COA is governed by a board of directors. The board consists of the executive director of COA in a non-voting, ex officio capacity and 22 elected, voting members. The executive director and four of the elected, voting members (the chair, the chair-elect, the treasurer, and the past chair) make up the board's executive committee. The rest of the elected voting members include one active-duty USPHS Commissioned Corps officer from each of the 11 USPHS categories (Dental, Dietitian, Engineer, Environmental Health, Health Services, Medical, Nurse, Pharmacist, Scientist, Therapist, and Veterinarian), three field representatives, an officer of the USPHS Commissioned Corps Ready Reserve, and three retired USPHS Commissioned Corps officers. The board of directors approves changes to COA's bylaws (subject to final approval by COA's membership) and significant policies of COA. [6]

Membership in COA is open to active regular, active reserve, reserve, retired, and former officers of the USPHS Commissioned Corps. [7] In 2011, COA had about 5,000 members, six full-time employees, and an operating budget of about US$1,800,000. [4] It is headquartered in Landover, Maryland, [4] and maintains over 70 local branches throughout the United States and overseas. [2] [8]

Advocacy

COA addresses issues which it deems of importance to the future of the USPHS Commissioned Corps. [3] It describes one of its top priorities as working with the Reserve Officers Association, the Military Officers Association of America, and the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States to ensure that USPHS Commissioned Corps officers maintain parity with officers of the other seven uniformed services of the United States. [3] [8] It also describes itself as a proponent for a major transformation of the USPHS Commissioned Corps to better position it to meet new public health challenges in the 21st century. [3] COA is an active member of The Military Coalition, [8] which in 2020 described itself as " a group of 35 military, veterans, and uniformed services organizations in joint pursuit" of a number of common goals. [9]

COA Ribbon

Public Health Service Commissioned Officers Association ribbon.png Commissioned Officers Association Ribbon

USPHS Commissioned Corps officers receive the COA Ribbon when they join COA. The USPHS Commissioned Corps authorizes COA members in good standing to wear the ribbon when attending a COA function. [8] [10] [11] [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps</span> Federal uniformed service

The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, also referred to as the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service, is the uniformed service branch of the United States Public Health Service (PHS) and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States alongside the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Space Force and the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. The commissioned corps' primary mission is the protection, promotion, and advancement of health and safety of the general public.

A Sea Service Ribbon is an award of the United States Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Army, and the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps which recognizes those service members who have performed military duty while stationed on a United States Navy, Coast Guard, Army, or NOAA vessel at sea and/or members of the Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard who have been forward-deployed with their home unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armed Forces Reserve Medal</span> United States military service award

The Armed Forces Reserve Medal (AFRM) is a service medal of the United States Armed Forces that has existed since 1950. The medal recognizes service performed by members of the reserve components and is awarded to both officers and enlisted personnel. The medal is considered a successor award to the Naval Reserve Medal and the Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon, which were discontinued in 1958 and 1967, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uniform Service Recruiter Badges (United States)</span>

The Recruiter Badge is a decoration of the United States uniformed services that is awarded to personnel who have performed recruitment duties as service recruiters. The Recruiter Badge is issued by every branch of the U.S. uniform services except for the Marine Corps and the NOAA Commissioned Corps. With the exception of the U.S. Army, a Recruiting Service Ribbon is also awarded to those personnel who have completed successful tours as recruiters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Identification badges of the uniformed services of the United States</span> List of identification badges of the US Uniformed Services

Identification badges of the uniformed services of the United States are insignia worn by service members conducting special duties, many of which can be awarded as permanent decorations if those duties are performed successfully. There are a few identification badges that are awarded to all services, others are specific to a uniform service. The Office of the President and Vice President and department/service headquarters badges are permanent decorations for those who successfully serve in those assignments. Some of the service level identification badges can be permanent decorations and others are only worn by a service member while performing specific duties, such as the Military Police Badge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Army Veterinary Corps</span> Verterinary service of the U.S. Army

The U.S. Army Veterinary Corps is a staff corps of the U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD) consisting of commissioned veterinary officers and Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) veterinary students. It was established by an Act of Congress on 3 June 1916. Recognition of the need for veterinary expertise had been evolving since 1776 when General Washington directed that a "regiment of horse with a farrier" be raised. It has evolved to include sanitary food inspectors and animal healthcare specialists.

Pay grades are used by the eight uniformed services of the United States to determine wages and benefits based on the corresponding military rank of a member of the services. While different ranks may be used among the eight uniformed services, pay grades are uniform and equivalent between the services and can be used to quickly determine seniority among a group of members from different services. They are also essential when determining a member's entitlements such as basic pay and allowances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Awards and decorations of the Public Health Service</span>

The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC), one of the eight uniformed services of the United States, has the authority to issue various awards, commendations, and other insignia to its members. These include individual honor awards, unit honor awards, service awards, training ribbons, special skill badges, and identification badges. The following PHSCC awards are listed in the service's order of precedence:

The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is a professional association of United States military officers. It is a nonprofit organization that advocates for a strong national defense, but is politically nonpartisan. The association supports government policies that benefit military members and their families. Its membership is made up of active duty, retired, and former commissioned officers and warrant officers from the uniformed services of the United States.

Clare Helminiak is a rear admiral (retired) in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. She served as the Chief Medical Officer and Assistant Surgeon General of the United States Public Health Service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Officer (armed forces)</span> Person in a position of authority

An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Captain (United States O-6)</span> Rank in the United States uniformed services, O-6

In the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHS), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps, captain is the senior-most commissioned officer rank below that of flag officer. The equivalent rank is colonel in the United States Army, Air Force, Space Force, and Marine Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis M. McCarthy</span> United States Marine Corps general (1945–2023)

Dennis M. McCarthy was a United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General and served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs from June 2009 - April 2011. McCarthy was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated from the University of Dayton and the Capital University Law School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public Health Service Crisis Response Service Award</span> Decoration of the US Public Health Service

The Public Health Service Crisis Response Service Award is a decoration of the United States Public Health Service presented to members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. It recognizes service in response to a crisis within the United States.

The Public Health Service Global Response Service Award is a decoration of the United States Public Health Service presented to members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. It recognizes service in response to a crisis outside the United States.

The Public Health Service National Emergency Preparedness Award is a decoration of the United States Public Health Service presented to members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. It recognizes service to provide emergency medical or support services between 2006 and 2019.

The Public Health Service Regular Corps Ribbon is a decoration of the United States Public Health Service presented to members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. It recognizes membership in the Regular Corps of the USPHS Commissioned Corps.

The Commissioned Corps Training Ribbon is a decoration of the United States Public Health Service presented to members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. It recognizes an officer's completion of the USPHS Commissioned Corps Officer Basic Course.

The Public Health Service Outstanding Unit Citation is a decoration of the United States Public Health Service presented to members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. It is the second-highest unit award of the USPHS Commissioned Corps.

The Public Health Service Outstanding Unit Commendation is a decoration of the United States Public Health Service presented to members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. It is the third-highest unit award of the USPHS Commissioned Corps.

References

  1. ↑ Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service: Contact Us Accessed 13 November 2023
  2. 1 2 3 Scientists of the U.S. Public Health Service: Commissioned Officers Association (COA) Accessed 13 November 2023
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service: History Accessed 13 November 2023
  4. 1 2 3 Sterling Martin Associates: The Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service Accessed 13 November 2023
  5. ↑ COF PHS Commissioned Officers Associatio: About Us Accessed 13 November 2023
  6. ↑ Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service: Our Board of Directors Accessed 13 November 2023
  7. ↑ Scientists of the U.S. Public Health Service: Commissioned Officers Association (COA) Accessed 14 November 2023
  8. 1 2 3 4 Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service: Membership Accessed 13 November 2023
  9. ↑ The Military Coalition: Who We Are, 21 May 2020 Accessed 14 November 2023
  10. ↑ Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service: Commissioned Officers’ Awards Program Types of Recognition & Awards Criteria Accessed 9 November 2022
  11. ↑ "Commissioned Officers' Awards Program" (PDF). Commissioned Officer Corps of the US Public Health Service. July 28, 2020.
  12. ↑ U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COMMISSIONED CORPS INSTRUCTION AND HUMAN SERVICES CCI 512.01 EFFECTIVE DATE: 2 July 2020 AMENDED: 4 January 2023
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.