DOD INSTRUCTION 6490.03

DEPLOYMENT HEALTH

Originating Component: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness

Effective: June 19, 2019 

Releasability: Cleared for public release. Available on the Directives Division Website 

at http://www.esd.whs.mil/DD. 

Reissues and Cancels: DoD Instruction 6490.03, “Deployment Health,” August 11, 2006 

Incorporates and Cancels: DoD Instruction 6490.12, “Mental Health Assessments for Service 

Members Deployed in Connection with a Contingency Operation,” 

February 26, 2013 

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Memorandum, 07-029, 

“Policy on Analysis of Metal Fragments Removed from Department of 

Defense Personnel,” December 18, 2007 

Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Memorandum, 

04-004, “Department of Defense Deployment Biomonitoring Policy and 

Approved Bioassays for Depleted Uranium and Lead,” February 6, 2004 

Approved by: James N. Stewart, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and 

Reserve Affairs, Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary of Defense 

for Personnel and Readiness 

Purpose: In accordance with the authority in DoD Directives (DoDDs) 5124.02, 5136.13, and 6200.04; 

and Sections 1074a, 10149, and 10206 of Title 10, United States Code (U.S.C.), this issuance: 

• Establishes policy and assigns responsibilities for deployment health activities. 

• Implements policies for joint and Service-specific deployments to monitor, assess, and prevent 

disease and injury; control or reduce occupational and environmental health risks; document and link 

occupational and environmental exposures with deployed personnel; record the daily locations of 

deployed personnel; and conduct individual deployment-related health assessments. Implementation 

procedures and deployment health activities are described in detail in the Defense Health Agency 

(DHA) deployment health procedural instruction. 

• Takes precedence over all DoD Component publications that contain conflicting guidance 

regarding deployment health. 
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1: GENERAL ISSUANCE INFORMATION ........................................................................ 3

1.1. Applicability. .................................................................................................................... 3

1.2. Policy. ............................................................................................................................... 3

1.3. Information Collections. ................................................................................................... 4

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES................................................................................................... 5

2.1. Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R)). ........................ 5

2.2. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. ............................... 5

2.3. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (ASD(HA))........................................ 5

2.4. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Readiness Policy and Oversight. ...... 6

2.5. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Services Policy and Oversight. ......... 6

2.6. Director, DHA................................................................................................................... 6

2.7. Director, Defense Intelligence Agency............................................................................. 8

2.8. USD(A&S). ....................................................................................................................... 9

2.9. DoD Component Heads. ................................................................................................... 9

2.10. Secretaries of the Military Departments. ...................................................................... 10

2.11. Secretary of the Army. .................................................................................................. 11

2.12. CJCS. ............................................................................................................................ 12

2.13. CCDRs. ......................................................................................................................... 12

SECTION 3: DEPLOYMENT HEALTH ACTIVITIES ...................................................................... 14

3.1. General Requirements. .................................................................................................... 14

3.2. Conducting Deployment Health Activities. .................................................................... 14

3.3. Deployment Health Activities......................................................................................... 14

3.4. Deployment Health Activity Data and Information........................................................ 17

GLOSSARY ............................................................................................................................... 21

G.1. Acronyms. ...................................................................................................................... 21

G.2. Definitions. ..................................................................................................................... 22

REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................ 24

TABLES

Table 1. Individual Location Data Elements. ........................................................................ 18
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019 

SECTION 1: GENERAL ISSUANCE INFORMATION 3 

SECTION 1: GENERAL ISSUANCE INFORMATION

1.1. APPLICABILITY. This issuance applies to: 

a. OSD, the Military Departments (including the Coast Guard at all times, including when it 

is a Service in the Department of Homeland Security by agreement with that Department), the 

Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) and the Joint Staff, the Combatant 

Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense 

Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities within the DoD (referred 

to collectively in this issuance as the “DoD Components”).

b. Service members who are deploying, deployed, and returned-from-deployment

(redeployed), as well as DoD civilian employees, DoD contractor personnel deploying with U.S. 

forces consistent with DoD and Service-specific guidance, including DoDDs 6200.04 and

6400.04E, DoD Instructions (DoDIs) 1400.32, 3020.41, and 6200.05, and Directive-type 

Memorandum 17-004. DoD contractor personnel are included to the extent provided in the 

applicable contracts, Subparts 207.503 and 252.225-7040 of the Defense Federal Acquisition 

Regulation Supplement, pursuant to DoDI 3020.41 or Service policy. 

c. Shipboard operations when identified health risks indicate actions are necessary beyond 

the scope of shipboard occupational health programs, per the decision of the commander 

exercising operational control. Otherwise, shipboard operations that are not anticipated to 

involve operations ashore will report individual daily deployment locations, but are exempt from 

other requirements of this issuance. 

d. Deployments to enduring locations within operational areas, when identified health risks 

indicate actions are necessary beyond the scope of occupational and environmental health 

programs pursuant to DoDI 4715.05 and DoDI 6055.05. 

1.2. POLICY. It is DoD policy that:

a. DoD Components will conduct deployment health activities before, during, and after joint 

and Service-specific deployments to assess and manage health risks. The DoD implements 

deployment health activities in order to deliver a medically ready force and protect the health of 

that force through individual medical readiness (IMR) occupational and environmental health 

practices, health assessments, and health surveillance in accordance with DoDIs 6025.19, 

6055.05, 6200.06, 6490.07 and DoDD 6490.02E. Deployment health activities will anticipate, 

recognize, monitor, evaluate, record, report, communicate, control, and mitigate health threats, to 

include their immediate and long-term effects.

b. Deployments that last longer than 30 days outside the United States require the full range 

of deployment health activities described in Section 3 of this issuance and the DHA deployment 

health procedural instruction. Deployments of shorter duration outside of the United States, and 

operations within the United States require the minimum deployment health activities described 

in applicable procedures published by the DHA, plus any additional deployment health activities 
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019 

SECTION 1: GENERAL ISSUANCE INFORMATION 4 

per the decision of the commander exercising operational control, as indicated by identified 

health risks. 

c. DoD deployment health activities will be monitored, recorded, and used to promote IMR

and protect the health of all deploying U.S. military and DoD civilian personnel. 

d. Deployment health activities and the associated data and information will be coordinated 

and shared throughout the DoD (except where limited by law, policy, or security classification), 

in accordance with DoDI 8320.02. 

e. For deploying contract personnel, all pre-, during-, and post-deployment medical 

assessments, examinations, treatments, and preventive measures are the responsibility of the 

contractor unless otherwise stated in the contract, except that the government will provide 

theater-specific immunizations and medications not available to the general public in accordance 

with Title 48, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and Subparts 207.503, 252.225-7040 of the 

Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement. 

f. The DoD will include military working animals in deployment health activities, consistent 

with DoDD 6400.04E. 

1.3. INFORMATION COLLECTIONS. The health surveillance data collected for the 

purposes of monitoring the individual and collective health of Service members and deployable 

DoD civilian employees before, during, and following deployment are not considered public 

information collections, and do not require licensing, in accordance with

Paragraphs 8.b.(3), 8.b.(5), 8.b.(11) and 8.b.(12) of Volume 2 of DoD Manual 8910.01. 
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019 

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES 5 

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1. UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PERSONNEL AND READINESS 

(USD(P&R)). The USD(P&R), pursuant to Section 136 of Title 10, U.S.C.: 

a. Establishes deployment health and personnel policy and oversees the effectiveness of its 

implementation. 

b. Provides resources to the Defense Manpower Data Center necessary to receive, maintain, 

and provide individual deployment location records, and to interface with health surveillance 

systems, line accountability, and readiness-related reporting systems such as Defense 

Occupational and Environmental Health Readiness System – Industrial Hygiene (DOEHRS-IH). 

2.2. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR MANPOWER AND RESERVE 

AFFAIRS. Under the authority, direction, and control of the USD(P&R), the Assistant 

Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs ensures deployment health policies for 

the Reserve Components are consistent with the policies established for the Active Components. 

2.3. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR HEALTH AFFAIRS (ASD(HA)). 

Under the authority, direction, and control of the USD(P&R), the ASD(HA): 

a. Directs the provisions of deployment health-related policy. 

b. Establishes medical requirements for individual and population health risks and exposures 

of deployers and military working animals to industrial, occupational, operational, and 

environmental hazards (including CBRN agents) at deployment locations. 

c. Coordinates policies with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to share deployment 

health information between the VA and the DoD. 

d. Coordinates with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and 

Sustainment (USD(A&S)) for acquisition and fielding of new and existing technologies and 

programs to support deployment health activities. 

e. Requires that deployment health information is shared (except where limited by law, 

policy, or security classification) throughout the DoD and other federal agencies, using 

applicable systems of record including, but not limited to, the systems listed in Paragraph 3.4. 

f. Ensures that policies on the collection, use, and disclosure of protected health information 

about deploying U.S. military and DoD civilian personnel by DoD Components comply with all 

applicable laws, regulations, or policies. Enables the appropriate release and use of protected 

health information, health surveillance information, and individual location data necessary for 

deployment health activities for personnel assigned, attached, on temporary duty, or temporary 

additional duty to deployed units. 
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019 

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES 6 

2.4. DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR HEALTH READINESS 

POLICY AND OVERSIGHT. Under the authority, direction, and control of the ASD(HA), the 

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Readiness Policy and Oversight: 

a. Develops policies for deployment health activities. 

b. Develops policies for responses to individual and population health risks and exposures of 

deployers and military working animals to industrial, occupational, operational, and 

environmental hazards (including CBRN agents) at deployment locations. 

c. Monitors deployment health activities to assess and protect the health of the force in 

accordance with DoDD 6200.04. 

d. In concert with other DoD Components, supports existing and new technologies and 

programs that enhance deployment occupational and environmental (OEH) surveillance and 

assessment of the health effect of physical, chemical, radiological, and biological hazards on 

individual’s health. 

e. Defines and establishes deployment health performance measures, metrics and goals, 

including force health protection (FHP) quality assurance measures in accordance with 

DoDI 6200.05. 

f. Oversee research and development activities that support the deployment health needs of 

DoD.

2.5. DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR HEALTH SERVICES 

POLICY AND OVERSIGHT. Under the authority, direction, and control of the ASD(HA), the 

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Services Policy and Oversight: 

a. Develops policies for deployment mental health programs. 

b. Reviews, evaluates, and undertakes management oversight activities for DoD deployment 

mental health programs to ensure they comply with, and are executed according to, established 

DoD policy and standards. 

c. In concert with other DoD Components, supports existing and new programs to enhance 

deployment mental health surveillance.

d. Defines and establishes deployment mental health policy goals, objectives, and metrics for 

policy assessment.

2.6. DIRECTOR, DHA. Under the authority, direction, and control of the USD(P&R), through 

the ASD(HA), and in addition to the responsibilities in Paragraph 2.9., the Director, DHA:

a. Recommends and advises ASD(HA) on deployment health policy and requirements. 
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019 

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES 7 

b. Develops and publishes standardized deployment health procedural guidance, in 

collaboration with the other DoD Components, for implementing this issuance and related health 

policies. The procedural guidance will include, but is not limited to: 

(1) Deployment health activities to manage deployment-related health risks.

(2) Collecting deployment health performance measures, metrics, and goals.

(3) Optimizing the collection, preservation, use, and availability of health surveillance 

data and information. 

(4) Ensuring deployment health information containing personally identifiable 

information and individually identifiable health information will be collected, used, distributed 

(including to the VA, as appropriate), and archived in accordance with: 

(a) DoD 5400.11-R. 

(b) DoD 6025.18-R. 

(c) In the case of civilian personnel: 

1. Sections 791 through 794d of Title 29, U.S.C. (also known as “The 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973”), as amended. 

2. Title II of Public Law 110-233, (also known as “Genetic Information 

Nondiscrimination Act of 2008”). 

3. Parts 293, 297 and 339 of Title 5, CFR. 

4. Part 1635 of Title 29, CFR. 

(5) Sharing deployment health information with the VA and other federal agencies, as 

appropriate, to enhance health management and benefits determinations.

c. Operates and maintains the Defense Medical Surveillance System (DMSS) and provides 

individual and aggregated electronic DMSS data to the DoD Components. 

d. Operates and maintains the DoD Serum Repository. 

e. Oversees, manages, and maintains the DoD Food and Water Risk Assessment (FWRA) 

Program and Veterinary Service Information Management System (VSIMS) in accordance with 

DoDD 6400.04E. 

f. Oversees, manages, and maintains the Veterinary Service Systems Management (VSSM), 

the electronic DoD veterinary health record for documenting the health care provided to military 

working animals in accordance with DoDD 6400.04E. 

g. Develops implementing guidelines for existing and emerging technologies and programs 

that fully support the range of deployment health activities, such as an individual longitudinal 
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019 

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES 8 

exposure record and joint health risk management initiative, and that share data and information 

with appropriate systems of record such as the electronic medical record, DOEHRS-IH, Military 

Exposure Surveillance Library – Secret Internet Protocol Routing (MESL(SIPR)), DMSS, 

VSIMS, VSSM, and personnel record systems. 

h. Supports the development and fielding of biomonitoring and biosurveillance capabilities 

and procedures for conducting short-term and long-term health surveillance. 

i. Establishes and manages a Deployment-Related Health Assessment Working Group as 

described in the DHA deployment health procedural instruction. 

j. Develops procedures to authorize appropriate medical, dental, and behavioral treatment, 

and disability evaluations for Reserve Component military members in accordance with 

DoDI 1241.01. 

k. Establishes quality assurance and quality control parameters for the uniform 

implementation, monitoring, and review of the FHP quality assurance program, in accordance 

with DoDI 6200.05. 

l. Solicits requirements from and provides guidance to DoD Components on FHP medical 

requirements and procedures. 

m. Coordinates with the Director, Defense Human Resources Activity, who establishes

standardized procedures and systems to track the duty locations of Service members, DoD 

civilians, and DoD contractor personnel during deployment periods, in accordance with this 

issuance, DoDD 6490.02E and DoDIs 3020.41, 6055.05, and 1400.32. 

2.7. DIRECTOR, DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY. Under the authority, direction, 

and control of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, and in addition to the 

responsibilities in Paragraph 2.9., the Director, Defense Intelligence Agency: 

a. Ensures intelligence products address health threats from CBRN weapons and agents. 

Products should address the needs of the Combatant Commanders (CCDRs), deploying unit 

commanders, and policymakers. 

b. Ensures the National Center for Medical Intelligence routinely provides finished 

intelligence analysis products to DoD Components on foreign medical capabilities, infectious 

disease threats, environmental health risks, toxic industrial chemical threats, and developments in 

biotechnology and biomedical subjects of military importance, pursuant to DoDI 6420.01. 

c. Makes medical intelligence products available to the DoD Components that identify 

environmental threats and hazards posed by disease, epidemics, hazardous animals and plants, 

toxic zones, and industrial or radioactive waste.

d. Coordinates with the DHA to ensure that medical intelligence, health surveillance, and 

biosurveillance products are compatible and not duplicative. 
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019 

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES 9 

2.8. USD(A&S). The USD(A&S): 

a. Ensures effective logistics and acquisition support for deployment health activities at 

tactical, operational, and strategic levels.

b. In coordination with the ASD(HA) and the Director, DHA, provides policy and oversight 

for environment, safety, and OEH programs pursuant to DoDD 4715.1E, DoDI 6055.01, and 

DoDI 6055.05. 

2.9. DOD COMPONENT HEADS. The DoD Component heads that deploy units or 

individuals will: 

a. Provide guidance and direction within their components to implement and monitor 

compliance with this issuance and applicable procedures published by the DHA. 

b. Plan, program, and budget to implement this issuance and meet deployment health 

requirements. 

c. Provide or arrange for provision of deployment health activities, outlined in Section 3, in 

coordination with supported Combatant Commands and supporting military medical treatment 

facilities. 

d. Identify deployable personnel and ensure they are medically ready, briefed on health 

threats, trained, and equipped with necessary countermeasures (e.g., personal protective 

equipment, immunizations, force health prescription products) prior to deployments of any 

duration or operations within the United States, pursuant to DoDD 6200.04, DoDIs 6025.19 and 

3020.41, Directive-type Memorandum 17-004, and this issuance. 

e. Ensure contracts for all contracted personnel deploying in support of DoD operations 

include specific and clear information regarding a contractor’s obligations, in accordance with 

DoDI 3020.41and Combatant Command requirements, to provide fully medically screened and 

ready personnel, and to make provisions for medical care, including tactical and strategic patient 

movement. 

f. Ensure contracts for food and foodservice (appropriated or non-appropriated funds) 

include food protection requirements for provisioning DoD-approved sources of food and 

FWRA of potential foodservice facilities or caterers, regardless of duration or frequency of use, 

in accordance with DoDD 6400.04E. 

g. Implement a system to record geographic location of deployed individuals. 

h. Designate a primary action office with responsibility for serving as the component point 

of contact for coordination with the DHA in developing and publishing deployment health 

procedural instructions. 
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019 

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES 10 

2.10. SECRETARIES OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS. In addition to 

responsibilities in Paragraph 2.9., the Secretaries of the Military Departments:

a. Support the geographic CCDR in providing deployment health measures within the area 

of responsibility (AOR) and institute deployment health activities in accordance with this 

issuance. 

b. Ensure Service members meet IMR requirements pursuant to DoDI 6025.19. 

c. Establish procedures to conduct comprehensive retrospective analyses of relevant OEH 

exposure and monitoring information, in coordination with other DoD Components. 

d. Establish clear policies for performing quality assurance reviews of the health surveillance 

data collected during deployment, including verifying the completeness and the reasonableness 

of these data, and to ensure the data’s consistency. 

e. Provide deployment health support throughout the deployment, when their respective 

Service is designated the lead Service in accordance with DoDD 3000.10 or other policy, for 

military and DoD civilian tenants of the deployed location and consistent with the applicable 

contracts, contractors authorized to accompany the force, including, but not limited to: 

(1) Food protection including DoD-approved sources of food and water. 

(2) Medical surveillance and OEH surveillance (such as occupational and environmental 

health site assessment (OEHSA), and (when applicable) periodic occupational and 

environmental monitoring summary (POEMS). 

f. Ensure coordination between tenant and lead Military Service to provide designated or 

Service-specific deployment health support, in accordance with DoDD 3000.10 and 

DoDI 4000.19. 

g. Ensure health assessments are electronically recorded, and health assessment data 

transferred to the DMSS. 

h. Ensure procedures are in place for the documentation of individual medical encounters 

provided at all levels of care (before, during, and after all deployments), using the DoD 

electronic health record to the maximum extent possible in accordance with DoDI 6040.45, 

including but not limited to: 

(1) Any paper medical, dental, or mental health records (e.g., evaluation, health 

assessment, therapeutic, routine and preventive health care encounters), are integrated with the 

DoD health record and DoD electronic medical record at the permanent duty station and Reserve 

Component units, in accordance with DoDI 6040.45. 

(2) Medical evaluation of cases of OEH exposure or exposure concern, with available 

and relevant OEH data or information to inform treatment and follow-up. 
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019 

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES 11 

(3) Pulmonary function testing on deploying Service members and DoD civilians who 

have known pre-existing pulmonary conditions and disease, but are medically ready to deploy 

and cleared by established policies and guidelines in DoDI 6200.06, DoDI 6025.19, and 

DoDI 6490.07, using spirometry in accordance with DoD Manual 6055.05. 

(4) Animal bite cases and other potential exposures to rabies, using DD Form 2341 to 

document assessment, tracking, and treatment including (when indicated) rabies immunizations, 

in consultation with Military Rabies Advisory Boards. 

i. Ensure clinical care provided by health care providers to military working animals is 

documented and made available for recording in the DoD veterinary health record, in accordance 

with Paragraph 2.1l.f. 

j. Implement deployment biomonitoring procedures, including collection, analysis, and 

recording samples during or post-deployment. 

(1) Use bioassays that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration or validated 

for military-unique exposures (e.g., depleted uranium and embedded fragments), and ensure 

laboratory data archival systems link medical test data to the DoD electronic medical record. 

(2) Forward data and information to designated DoD archives and registries. 

(3) Ensure results of depleted uranium biomonitoring on Service personnel are 

transmitted to the applicable Military Service Dosimetry Center. 

2.11. SECRETARY OF THE ARMY. In addition to the responsibilities in Paragraphs 2.9. 

and 2.10., the Secretary of the Army will ensure:

a. The operation and maintenance of the MESL(SIPR) to support all military deployments, 

including establishing standards of completeness, reasonableness, and consistency for 

information submitted to the MESL(SIPR).

b. The establishment of procedures for quality assurance reviews of deployment OEH 

surveillance data in DOEHRS-IH, to include verifying the completeness and the reasonableness 

of these data, and to ensure consistency. 

c. All POEMS, completed by the DoD Components, are recorded in DOEHRS-IH, with any 

portion-marked classified content recorded in the MESL(SIPR). 

d. The operation and maintenance of designated registries using the DoD system of record, 

DOEHRS-IH. Currently, these consist of the following registries: 

(1) Depleted Uranium Biomonitoring. 

(2) Iraqi Chemical Warfare Agent Exposure Assessment. 

(3) Gulf War Oil Well Fire Smoke Registry. 
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019 

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES 12 

(4) Khamisiyah Investigation. 

(5) Operation Tomodachi. 

e. The operation and maintenance of the public access website for posting cleared POEMS.

f. Procedures are in place for recording veterinary medical encounters and health 

assessments for military working animals in the DoD VSSM, consistent with DoDD 6400.04E. 

2.12. CJCS. In addition to the responsibilities in Paragraph 2.9., the CJCS will incorporate this 

issuance into joint doctrine, training, and plans, and monitors its implementation.

2.13. CCDRS. In addition to responsibilities in Paragraph 2.9. and through coordination with 

the CJCS, the CCDRs will: 

a. Specify all deployment health resource requirements in contingency and crisis action 

plans, deployment orders, and instructions for all deployments. 

b. Specify supporting resources for managing health risks and request the appropriate 

deployment health capabilities to conduct and record deployment health activities in theater. 

Request capabilities to plan and conduct applicable deployment health activities including, but 

not limited to food protection and use of DoD approved sources of food and water, medical 

surveillance and OEH surveillance, such as OEHSAs and (when required in accordance with 

Paragraph 2.13.d.) POEMS, and health risk communications. 

c. Communicate theater and location-specific deployment health requirements and health 

threats to supporting DoD Components and commanders prior to deployment, in deployment 

orders or other combatant command instructions. 

d. Establish written deployment health requirements and procedures based on this issuance, 

component policy, and identified health risks for the theater and for specific deployment 

locations. Specify which AOR locations, including those on the enduring location master list,

require deployment health activities in addition to those described at Section 3, based on 

identified health risks. Specify which locations require POEMS based on the OEHSA or 

preliminary hazard assessment and determination of potential exposure risks. 

e. Ensure deployment health activities are conducted during deployment by the lead Service 

or support agreements for each deployment location, in accordance with DoDD 3000.10 and this 

issuance. 

f. Plan and monitor deployment health risk assessment and mitigation activities, to include 

health surveillance, food protection and feral animal risk mitigation, at deployment locations in 

the AOR.
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019 

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES 13 

g. Ensure commanders’ decisions on whether to implement risk mitigation recommendations 

identified in OEHSAs are adequately documented and consistently monitored by the appropriate 

command. 

h. Elevate any shortfalls in deployment health support to the Joint Staff. 

i. Ensure health risk communication plans are developed and implemented during 

deployment. Include health threats identified in the OEHSA and subsequent findings, medical 

countermeasures, and exposure incidents faced by deployed personnel. 
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019 

SECTION 3: DEPLOYMENT HEALTH ACTIVITIES 14 

SECTION 3: DEPLOYMENT HEALTH ACTIVITIES

3.1. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS. 

a. DoD Components will conduct deployment health activities before, during, and after 

deployment as described in this issuance and deployment health procedural instructions 

published by the DHA. 

b. Combatant Commands, Service Component Commands, lead Military Services for 

specified deployment locations, medical treatment facilities, and other pertinent organizations 

will collaborate on the planning and execution of the deployment health activities to achieve 

maximum force health protection and enablement of combat effectiveness.

3.2. CONDUCTING DEPLOYMENT HEALTH ACTIVITIES. DoD Components will 

conduct deployment health activities as described in this section. Deployment health activities 

are required based on duration or location of the deployment or at the discretion of the CCDR, 

Service component commander, or commander exercising operational control based on health 

risk assessments: 

a. For deployments greater than 30 days outside the United States, conduct the full range of 

deployment health activities described in Paragraph 3.3., and applicable procedures published by 

the DHA. 

b. For deployments of 30 days or fewer outside of the United States, and operations within 

the United States (e.g., emergency response), conduct the minimum deployment health activities 

described in applicable procedures published by the DHA, and any additional, risk-based, 

deployment health activities directed by the CCDR, Service component commander, or 

commander exercising operational control. 

c. For shipboard operations, when potential health threats indicate including deployment 

health activities beyond daily location reporting and the scope of shipboard occupational health 

programs, conduct risk-based deployment health activities directed by the commander exercising 

operational control. 

3.3. DEPLOYMENT HEALTH ACTIVITIES. The full range of deployment health activities 

consist of, but are not limited to: 

a. Implementing effective FHP strategies in accordance with DoDD 6200.04, including but 

not limited to provision for medical countermeasures (e.g., immunizations, prophylaxis, FHP 

prescription products), and personal protective equipment. 

b. Identifying deployable personnel and ensuring they are medically ready to deploy in 

accordance with DoDD 6200.04, DoDIs 3020.41 and 6025.19, Directive-type Memorandum 17-

004, and this issuance. 
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019 

SECTION 3: DEPLOYMENT HEALTH ACTIVITIES 15 

c. Identifying and addressing deployment-limiting medical conditions in accordance with

DoDI 6490.07 and the October 7, 2013 Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs 

Memorandum. 

d. Ensuring access to comprehensive counseling on the full range of methods of 

contraception pre-deployment and during deployment healthcare visits in accordance with DHA 

Interim Procedures Memorandum 16-003 and Section 718 of Public Law 114-92. 

e. Combat and operational stress control in accordance with DoDI 6490.05. 

f. Conducting safety and occupational and environmental health risk assessment, mitigation, 

communication, and documentation in accordance with DoDIs 6055.01 and 6055.05. 

g. Completing deployment health requirements and activities, including safety and OEH 

requirements, in concert with the lead Military Service and providing Component-specific 

capabilities in accordance with this issuance, and DoDIs 6055.01, 6055.05, and 4000.19. 

h. Conducting comprehensive health surveillance in accordance with DoDD 6490.02E, 

which includes: 

(1) Conducting medical surveillance. 

(2) Conducting occupational and environmental health surveillance. 

(3) Ensuring or arranging for the collection, analysis, and recording of disease and injury 

occurrences and rates, biomonitoring, reports of animal bites or other potential exposure to rabies 

(DD Form 2341), and reportable medical events, in accordance with the June 30, 2017 Defense 

Health Agency Memorandum. 

(4) Ensuring reportable medical events and other data that populate the DMSS are 

submitted using the Disease Reporting System internet as the system of record in addition to any 

designated theater enterprise system. 

i. Ensuring food protection in accordance with DoDD 6400.04E. 

j. Documenting OEH surveillance data and information, exposure-related data and 

information, CBRN monitoring information, and incident reports in DOEHRS-IH. 

k. Conducting quality assurance reviews of deployment health-related data in accordance 

with DoDI 6200.05 

l. Enabling medical evaluations and health assessments, with appropriate medical follow-up 

of illnesses, injuries, mental health and dental care encounters, and OEH and CBRN agent 

exposures, documented in the DoD health record in accordance with DoDI 6040.45, and the 

recording of health assessments in the DMSS.

m. Facilitating follow-up of deployment-related exposures, injuries, or illness. For DoD 

civilian employees, this includes ensuring follow-up is consistent with workers compensation 
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019 

SECTION 3: DEPLOYMENT HEALTH ACTIVITIES 16 

laws, medical care in a military treatment facility as authorized by Part 108 of Title 32, CFR, and 

other deployment provisions as prescribed by Directive-type Memorandum 17-004. 

n. Conducting deployment-related health assessments. Health assessments for Service 

members and DoD civilians are conducted when required according to Paragraph 1.2.b., at 

specific intervals throughout the deployment cycle. Assessments may be combined or conducted 

concurrently to streamline administration when established requirements are met, pursuant to 

DoDIs 6200.06 and 6490.13 and this issuance, as described in the companion DHA procedural 

instruction for deployment health. 

(1) For Service members, health assessments related to deployment include the PreDeployment Health Assessment (DD Form 2795), Post-Deployment Health Assessment (DD 

Form 2796), Post-Deployment Health Re-Assessment (DD Form 2900), and Deployment Mental 

Health Assessment (DD Form 2978). DD Forms 2796, 2900, and 2978 apply if a PreDeployment Health Assessment was required during the pre-deployment phase and the Service 

member completed the deployment or per the instructions of the commander exercising 

operational control, based on health risk during deployment. Service members may complete 

health assessments related to deployment as part of the Annual Periodic Health Assessment (DD 

Form 3024) when established requirements are met. 

(2) For DoD civilians, health assessments related to deployment include the PreDeployment Health Assessment (DD Form 2795), Post-Deployment Health Assessment (DD 

Form 2796), and Post-Deployment Health Re-Assessment (DD Form 2900). DD Forms 2796 

and 2900 apply if a Pre-Deployment Health Assessment was required during the pre-deployment 

phase and the individual completed the deployment or per the instructions of the commander 

exercising operational control, based on health risk during deployment. DoD civilians will 

complete deployment-related health assessments at the redeployment site or military treatment 

facility designated by their DoD Component. 

(3) Health assessments for military working animals are conducted and entered into the 

DoD veterinary health record. 

o. Submitting individual daily deployment location information. Record location data for 

contractors in accordance with DoDI 3020.41. Record individual daily location data for each 

deployed Service member and DoD civilian as follows: 

(1) Use the individual location data elements shown in Table 1. 

(2) Ensure individual location data are submitted and archived according to the most 

current established processes, and send the data electronically to the Defense Manpower Data 

Center. 

p. Ensuring information containing individual location data, personally identifiable 

information, and individually identifiable health information is collected, recorded, distributed 

(including to the VA, as appropriate), and archived before, during, and after all deployments. 

q. Ensuring any classified individual location data or deployment health activity data and 

information reference the applicable original classification authority or security classification 
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019 

SECTION 3: DEPLOYMENT HEALTH ACTIVITIES 17 

guidance so that it may be downgraded or declassified accordingly and as soon as appropriate, in 

order to facilitate medical follow-up and study of health outcomes associated with deployment 

locations, exposures or incidents, and deployed individuals or groups for all deployments. 

3.4. DEPLOYMENT HEALTH ACTIVITY DATA AND INFORMATION. Deployment

health activity data and information will be recorded in the designated DoD primary electronic 

medical record or DoD veterinary health record (VSSM), DOEHRS-IH, MESL(SIPR), DMSS, 

VSIMS, and personnel record systems. This data and information will be shared, as appropriate, 

to improve deployment health activities and health outcomes. 

a. The DOEHRS-IH is the authoritative repository for deployment OEH surveillance 

information and data and will be used to the maximum extent possible. Any OEH surveillance 

data and information classified by the original classification authority will be recorded in the 

MESL(SIPR), portion marked, with reference to the applicable security classification or 

declassification guide and original classification authority and moved to DOEHRS-IH once 

declassified accordingly.

b. VSIMS is the authoritative repository for FWRA checklist-reports and FWRA after action 

reports. 

c. Relevant activities and information associated with personnel accountability activities 

described in DoDD 5124.02, environment, safety, and occupational health activities described in 

DoDD 4715.1E, and comprehensive health surveillance activities described in DoDD 6490.02E 

will be coordinated and shared with deployment health activities. 

d. Health surveillance information, including deployment OEH surveillance data, and food 

protection surveillance data will be matched to individuals by deployment location to support 

medical care and identify cohorts with similar deployment location, health outcome, or exposure 

risk. 
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019 

SECTION 3: DEPLOYMENT HEALTH ACTIVITIES 18 

Table 1. Individual Location Data Elements. 

Element Name Description

DoD Electronic Data Interchange Person 

Identifier

The DoD Electronic Data Interchange 

Person Identifier stored on the Common 

Access Card.

Social Security Number The identifier assigned by the Social 

Security Administration to a person.

Service Branch Code A Army; N Navy; M Marine Corps; F Air 

Force; C Coast Guard 

Uniformed Service Organization 

Component Code

R Regular; G Guard; V 

Civilian; E Contractor

Reserve; C DoD 

Surname Text The text of a designation applied to a 

person, generally referred to as the last or 

family name.

Forename Text The

person, 

text of a designation

generally referred to

applied to a

as the first

name.

Middle Initial Text The

applied

between

initial of a name designation

to a person, commonly used

 the first and last names. If not 

applicable, report as blank.

Birth Calendar Date The date when

YYYYMMDD

a person was born. Format: 

Assigned Unit 

(UIC)

Identification Code The Service-unique code that

represents the unit to which the member is 

assigned.

Army: Report a W, the UIC and one 

blank 

Navy: Report an N, the UIC and one 

blank

Marine Corps: Report the 

Reporting Unit Code and the 

Monitored Command Code 

Air Force: Report an F, the unit 

portion of the Personnel Accounting 

System Code and two blanks 

Coast Guard: Report the UIC
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019 

SECTION 3: DEPLOYMENT HEALTH ACTIVITIES 19 

Table 1. Individual Location Data Elements, Continued.

Element Name Description

Attached UIC The Service-unique code represents 

the unit to which member has reported 

to duty. 

Army: Report a W, the UIC and 

one blank 

Navy: Report an N, the UIC and 

one blank 

Marine Corps: Report the 

Reporting Unit Code and the 

Monitored Command Code 

Air Force: Report an F, the unit 

portion of the Personnel Accounting 

System Code and two blanks 

Coast Guard: Report the UIC

Deployment Start Date The date and Zulu time that

member began the deployment. 

Format: YYYYMMDDHHMM

the

Deployment End Date The date and Zulu time that

member ended the deployment. 

Format: YYYYMMDDHHMM

the

Operation Plan Identification Code The operation plan identification code 

originates from the Joint Chiefs of Staff,

Joint Operation Plan and Execution Segment

system and is used to identify a specific 

operation plan.

Location Start Date The date and Zulu time that the member 

arrived at the location being reported. 

Format: YYYYMMDDHHMM

Location End Date The date and Zulu time that the 

member departed at the location being 

reported. Format:

YYYYMMDDHHMM

Location Longitude Coordinate Report the degrees, minutes and 

Code (Not required when six-digit grid seconds of the longitude of the 

coordinates or geographic location member’s location

codes (geolocation codes) are provided)

Location Longitude Direction Code

(Not required when six-digit grid 

coordinates or geographic location 

codes (geolocation codes) are provided)

E East; W West
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019 

SECTION 3: DEPLOYMENT HEALTH ACTIVITIES 20 

Table 1. Individual Location Data Elements, Continued.

Element Name Description

Location Latitude Coordinate

Code 

(Not required when six-digit grid 

coordinates or geographic location 

codes (geolocation codes) are 

provided)

Report the degrees, minutes

and seconds of the latitude of the 

member’s location

Location Latitude Direction Code

(Not required when six-digit grid 

coordinates or geographic location 

codes (geolocation codes) are 

provided)

N North; S South

Grid Coordinate Code 

(Not required when latitude/longitude 

coordinate codes or geographic (geolocation 

codes) are provided)

Two byte alphabetic map sheet

designation and six-digit grid

coordinate. Format: AB123456 

Geolocation Code 

(Not required when 

latitude/longitude coordinate codes or 

grid coordinate codes are provided)

Geographic Location Code

Location Country Code The two-byte alphabetic code that

represents the principal geopolitical entity

of the world. Report US for the 50 states

and District of Columbia. If afloat at sea or 

unknown, report ZZ.

Location State Code The two-byte alphabetic code that

represents the state or the District of 

Columbia for domestic deployments.

Location Calendar Date The date the member was at 

the reported location. Format: 

YYYYMMDD

Operation Name Text Joint Staff or Service component 

an operation

name of 

Location Name Text Joint Staff or component name of the 

location (e.g., forward operating base, 

contingency location, enduring location, base 

camp, etc.)
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019 

GLOSSARY 21 

GLOSSARY

G.1. ACRONYMS. 

AOR area of responsibility

ASD(HA) Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs

CBRN chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear 

CCDR Combatant Commander 

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

CJCS Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 

DHA Defense Health Agency

DMSS Defense Medical Surveillance System

DoDD DoD directive 

DoDI DoD instruction 

DOEHRS-IH Defense Occupational and Environmental Health Readiness System 

– Industrial Hygiene 

FHP force health protection

FWRA food and water risk assessment

IMR individual medical readiness

MESL(SIPR) Military Exposure Surveillance Library (Secret Internet Protocol 

Router) 

OEH occupational and environment health 

OEHSA occupational and environmental health site assessment

POEMS periodic occupational and environmental monitoring summary 

UIC unit identification code 

U.S.C. United States Code 

USD(A&S) Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment 

USD(P&R) Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness

VA Department of Veterans Affairs

VSIMS Veterinary Service Information Management System 

VSSM Veterinary Service Systems Management
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019 

GLOSSARY 22 

G.2. DEFINITIONS. Unless otherwise noted, these terms and their definitions are for the 

purpose of this issuance. 

AOR. Defined in the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. 

bioassay. A specific biomonitoring method to assess biological specimens for changes resulting 

from exposure to materials foreign to the body or detect parent compounds or the metabolites of 

exposure agents. 

biomonitoring. The process of assessment of individual exposures to various substances by 

measuring the parent compound or its metabolites in biological media (e.g., in biologic tissues 

and fluids, blood, urine, hair, and breath) from exposed individuals. 

contingency operation. Defined in the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. 

deployment. Defined in the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. 

deployment health activities. Health-related activities and measures that are undertaken to 

assess and minimize health risks associated with deployment. Activities encompass the regular 

collection, analysis, interpretation, recording, archiving, and distribution of health-related data 

used for monitoring the health of individuals or a deployed population, and for intervening in a 

timely manner to prevent, treat, or control the occurrence of disease or injury. Activities are 

described in the DHA deployment health procedural instruction and may include, but are not 

limited to, health risk assessment, health risk mitigation including feral animal risk mitigation, 

risk communications, medical countermeasures, health surveillance including OEH surveillance 

and, when appropriate, medical surveillance (e.g., applicable occupational medical surveillance 

or deployment-related health assessments), force health protection, safety and occupational 

health, personal protective equipment, sanitation and hygiene, integrated pest management, food 

protection, and food and water risk assessments. 

disease and injury. Injury or degradation of functional capability sustained by personnel, 

caused by disease and non-battle injury or by enemy action. 

disease and non-battle injury. Defined in the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated 

Terms. 

DoD electronic medical record. The electronic medical record system used by the DoD; 

specifically, the Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application or its successor. 

DoD health record. Defined in DoDI 6040.45. 

DoD veterinary health record. The electronic or hard copy medical record system used by the 

DoD to capture all veterinary medical and dental health care documentation. The electronic 

system is the VSSM or its successor. 

enduring location master list. Defined in DoDI 3000.12. 
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019

GLOSSARY 23

feral animal risk mitigation. A combination of policies, procedures, and practices that when 

collectively employed in an operational environment reduces the traumatic injury and disease risks

posed by feral animals (free-roaming animals, usually a domestic species with no apparent owner).

food protection. Defined in DoDD 6400.04E. 

FWRA. Defined in DoDD 6400.04E.

health surveillance. Defined in DoDD 6490.02E. 

OEH. Defined in DoDI 6055.05. 

occupational and environmental health surveillance. Defined in DoDD 6490.02E. 

OEHSA. Documents the OEH conditions found at a site (e.g., deployment site such as a base 

camp, bivouac site or outpost, main operating base or forward operating site, enduring location, 

or contingency location) beginning at or near the time it is first occupied by U.S. forces, and 

updated as high risk hazards are identified. The assessment, done by Service preventive 

medicine personnel, includes site history; environmental health survey results for air, water, soil, 

and noise; entomological surveys; occupational and industrial hygiene surveys; and ionizing and 

non-ionizing radiation hazard surveys, if indicated. Its purpose is to identify hazardous exposure 

agents with complete or potentially complete exposure pathways that may affect the health of 

deployed personnel.

operational area. Defined in the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. 

POEMS. Unclassified and publically-releasable OEH monitoring summaries (e.g., noise, 

thermal stress, airborne pollutants, soil and water contaminants, incidents, and infectious 

diseases) that identify location specific OEH hazards and population based health risks. POEMS 

provide estimated exposures, assessment of whether estimated exposures are acceptable or 

unacceptable, and the criteria used for the estimate (i.e., above or below Military Exposure 

Guidelines) along with anticipated acute, chronic, or latent health effects. POEMS are updated 

or certified current at least annually.

preliminary hazard assessment. The process of reviewing relevant intelligence data, past 

hazard assessments, and other available information for the area of deployment to identify 

potential health threats to deploying personnel. The preliminary hazard assessment should be 

accomplished prior to deployment to inform the content of the initial OEHSA.

preventive medicine. Defined in DoDD 6200.04. 

redeployment. Defined in the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. 

reportable medical events. An event that may represent an inherent, significant threat to public 

health and military operations. These events have the potential to affect large numbers of 

people, to be widely transmitted within a population, to have severe or life threatening clinical 

manifestations, and to disrupt military training and deployment.

United States. Defined in the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. 
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019

REFERENCES 24

REFERENCES

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Memorandum, “Clinical Practice Guidance for 

Deployment-Limiting Mental Disorders and Psychotropic Medications,” October 7, 2013

Code of Federal Regulations, Title 5

Code of Federal Regulations, Title 29, Part 1635

Code of Federal Regulations, Title 32, Part 108

Code of Federal Regulations, Title 48

Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), current edition

Defense Health Agency – Interim Procedures Memorandum 16-003, “Clinical Practice 

Guidelines for Access to Methods of Contraception and Contraceptive Counseling,” 

December 11, 2017

Defense Health Agency Memorandum, “Revised Armed Forces Reportable Medical Events

Guidelines and Case Definitions,” June 30, 2017

Directive-type Memorandum 17-004, “Department of Defense Civilian Expeditionary 

Workforce,” January 25, 2017, as amended

DoD 5400.11-R, “Department of Defense Privacy Program,” May 14, 2007

DoD 6025.18-R, “DoD Health Information Privacy Regulation,” January 24, 2003

DoD Directive 3000.10, “Contingency Basing Outside the United States,” January 10, 2013, as 

amended

DoD Directive 4715.1E, “Environment, Safety, and Occupational Health (ESOH),” March 19, 

2005, as amended

DoD Directive 5124.02, “Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness 

(USD(P&R)),” June 23, 2008

DoD Directive 5136.13, “Defense Health Agency”, September 30, 2013

DoD Directive 6200.04, “Force Health Protection (FHP),” October 9, 2004

DoD Directive 6400.04E, “DoD Veterinary Public and Animal Health Services,” June 27, 2013, 

as amended

DoD Directive 6490.02E, “Comprehensive Health Surveillance,” February 8, 2012, as amended

DoD Instruction 1241.01, “Reserve Component (RC) Line of Duty Determination for Medical 

and Dental Treatments and Incapacitation Pay Entitlements,” April 19, 2016

DoD Instruction 1400.32, “DoD Civilian Work Force Contingency and Emergency Planning 

Guidelines and Procedures,” April 24, 1995

DoD Instruction 3000.12, “Management of U.S. Global Defense Posture (GDP),” May 6, 2016, 

as amended

DoD Instruction 3020.41, “Operational Contract Support (OCS),” December 20, 2011, as 

amended

DoD Instruction 4000.19, “Support Agreements,” April 25, 2013, as amended

DoD Instruction 4715.05, “Environmental Compliance at Installations Outside the United 

States,” November 1, 2013, as amended

DoD Instruction 6025.19, “Individual Medical Readiness (IMR),” June 9, 2014
DoDI 6490.03, June 19, 2019

REFERENCES 25

DoD Instruction 6040.45, “DoD Health Record Life Cycle Management,” November 16, 2015, 

as amended

DoD Instruction 6055.01, “DoD Safety and Occupational Health (SOH) Program,” October 14, 

2014, as amended

DoD Instruction 6055.05, “Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH),” November 11, 

2008, as amended

DoD Instruction 6200.05, “Force Health Protection Quality Assurance (FHPQA) Program,” June

16, 2016, as amended

DoD Instruction 6200.06, “Periodic Health Assessment (PHA) Program,” September 8, 2016

DoD Instruction 6420.01, “National Center for Medical Intelligence (NCMI),” March 20, 2009, 

as amended

DoD Instruction 6490.05, “Maintenance of Psychological Health in Military Operations,” 

November 22, 2011, as amended

DoD Instruction 6490.07, “Deployment-Limiting Medical Conditions for Service Members and 

DoD Civilian Employees,” February 5, 2010

DoD Instruction 6490.13, “Comprehensive Policy on Traumatic Brain Injury-Related 

Neurocognitive Assessments by the Military Services,” September 11, 2015, as amended

DoD Instruction 8320.02, “Sharing Data, Information, and Information Technology (IT) Services 

in the Department of Defense,” August 5, 2013

DoD Manual 6055.05, “Occupational Medical Examinations and Surveillance Manual,” May 2,

2007, as amended

DoD Manual 8910.01, Volume 2, “DoD Information Collections Manual: Procedures for DoD 

Public Information Collections,” June 30, 2014, as amended

Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, “DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated 

Terms,” current edition

Public Law 110-233, “Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008,” May 21, 2008

Public Law 114-92, “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016”

United States Code, Title 10

United States Code, Title 29, Sections 791 through 794d (also known as “The Rehabilitation Act 

of 1973”) as amended