Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 New policy helps Guard members coming off COVID duty By Master Sgt. Amber Monio,
                National Guard Bureau
 ARLINGTON, Va. – A new policy intended to help National Guard members who were activated to support COVID-19 operations is a “win for the health of the force.” That is according to Army Maj. Gen. Jill Faris, director of the National Guard Bureau’s Office of the Joint Surgeon. “We’ve had so many people who have been on sustained COVID operation orders (502(f) orders), that we asked if – instead of trying to seek out an active-component facility to conduct the separation health exams, [since] many of our locations aren’t located close to any military treatment facility – we would be granted the authority to do it,” Faris said. After a nine-month review by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, a memorandum was signed Feb. 28. The new policy enables Guard members to undergo a separation history and physical examination, or SHPE, when demobilizing from full-time National Guard duty orders under Title 32 section 502(f) after continuous active service of 180 or more days. Members have up to 90 days after coming off activation to do so. “It was almost like delivering a baby,” said Faris, adding she made the policy her top priority when she began her current job in June. “I took this one thing, and I put it to the top of the list, and I said we absolutely need to get after this,“ Faris said. “And to me, it was a no-brainer because what we were doing is volunteering to be able to take workload off of active duty and bring it into the state.” The policy allows fully credentialed National Guard medical clinicians to administer the SHPEs locally, thus decreasing the administrative burden on active-duty military treatment facilities and the Department of Veterans Affairs. This will also reduce costs associated with using Department of Defense-contracted health care services. Several exceptions are also included within the memorandum, which are intended to improve SHPE access for covered National Guard members and to preserve the opportunity to record service-related health concerns. For example, audiograms and laboratory testing may be completed as needed, according to the professional medical judgment of a Department of Defense health care provider, or HCP. Additionally, on a case-by-case basis and after conducting a mission risk assessment, the military department concerned may authorize the replacement of the SHPE requirement with alternatives. Faris explained that documentation is key, and Guard members should not procrastinate in addressing medical challenges. “What I would say to Soldiers and Airmen is if there is a medical challenge going on in your life, it’s very important that you seek treatment so that we can document it, look into it, and explore it and hopefully try to resolve it,” said Faris. “By pushing it aside, these things will add up. And you may have a situation where you don’t have anything documented and you want it to be in the line of duty and because there’s no medical documentation, it’s very hard to prove that it was.” According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, some examples of service-related injuries may include chronic back pain, breathing problems resulting from a current lung condition or lung disease, severe hearing loss, scar tissue, loss of range of motion, and more. With each case, a Defense Department HCP will determine whether a separation physical examination is in the best interest of the National Guard member. They will consider factors such as known or reasonably expected requirements for the member to produce medical documentation to support a line-of-duty inquiry or transition to a medical hold status. To waive the physical examination, the member must concur with the HCP’s determinations. “Normal day-to-day things can happen in a person’s life, [and] this is a way for us to be able to document it and for it to live in their medical record,” said Faris. “If something else happens along the way, then we have a touchpoint of any medical challenge that we have. Then, we can collectively do a really good medical assessment on our Airman or Soldier.” Ultimately, she added, the new policy helps ensure that Guard members are ready for future challenges. “It’s just a way to be able to promote the readiness of the force,” she said. “It’s also a way to justify and signify that the part-time force, the Reserve component – in our case the National Guard – has been doing a heavy lift for our nation.” The current memorandum will stay in effect until Feb. 28, 2023. Faris said she hopes it will be evaluated after that and, if the Guard can demonstrate proficiency, be considered by OSD Health Affairs for permanent implementation.
 SHARE
 PRINT
  national guard
 National Guard Bureau's Office of the Joint Surgeon
 COVID-19
 
 National Guard Professional Education Center Celebrates 50 Years
 By Sgt. 1st Class Christie Smith,
  Exercise Gobi Wolf 2024 Begins in Heart of Mongolian Steppe
 By Capt. Balinda O’Neal,
  Hokanson: Nation’s Investment in National Guard Comes at Pivotal Moment
 By Sgt. 1st Class Zach Sheely,
  More
 New England Civil Engineers Strengthen Skills During Training Exercise Guard News • 17 hours ago
 Idaho Guardsmen Train with Canadian and Polish Allies Guard News • 22 hours ago
 New York National Guard Headquarters Staff Marks Memorial Day Guard News • yesterday
 Tennessee Guard, Local Partners Practice Disaster Response Guard News • yesterday
 Air Guard Units Test Readiness at Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • 2 days ago
 2024 (160)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil