Jan. 28, 2015 DoD Tightens Focus on Health and Nutrition The Department of Defense (DoD) has made a concerted effort over the past few years to increase support programs for military families. In response to health concerns regarding military service members and their families, DoD recently completed the pilot phase of the Healthy Base Initiative (HBI), a
Jan. 21, 2015 Air Force Surgeon General visits Beale Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Thomas Travis, Air Force Surgeon General, visited Beale Air Force Base, Calif., Jan. 13-15, to get the latest updates on the 9th Medical Group's capabilities and accomplishments along with the overall health of the community.Travis oversees 75 military treatment facilities worldwide
Jan. 7, 2015 Mental misconceptions: Psychologist’s mental health perspective This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)It is 7 a.m. on a Monday in 2012. Nancy wakes up, puts on her best business attire, grabs a cup of coffee and heads out the door. Working as a high-paid
Dec. 29, 2014 DoD Scientists Work Globally to Improve Disease Diagnostics At the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases here, scientists who develop and refine diagnostics do more than work in a laboratory. Some take their disease-identifying tools into the field and try them out on a virus's home turf.That's what virologist Dr. Randal J. Schoepp as
Dec. 16, 2014 Holidays are time to reach out to those who may need help For some, the holidays come and go crazy fast with Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's. For others it doesn't go by fast enough. They find no fun at the office holiday parties rife with games others consider to be the highlight of the party. While
Dec. 10, 2014 Take precautions to reduce risk of getting sick during cold, flu season With flu season in full swing, there are steps that can be taken to protect you and your family. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that normally influenza activity is at its peak during the months of January and February, but there is currently widespread flu activity throughout
Dec. 8, 2014 Air Force makes strides in combating sexual assault Eight-hundred fewer Active-Duty Airmen experienced some form of unwanted sexual contact in fiscal year 2014 than in fiscal 2012, and 500 more Airmen reported the crime over the same period.This data was part of a report provided to the President, Dec. 2, that summarizes the progress the Department
Dec. 4, 2014 Public Health DHA's Latest Shared Service Comes Aboard The Defense Health Agency's latest shared service, the Public Health division, reached initial operating capability on Sept. 30, 2014."Now that the Division has stood up, we have a few challenges in front of us, including continuing to build trust with our stakeholders, proving our worth, analyzing
Dec. 4, 2014 Airman returns from front lines of fight against Ebola Before many volunteers could begin fighting Ebola in West Africa, U.S. Air Force Maj. Francis Obuseh was on the ground in Monrovia, Liberia, paving the way for safe execution of their mission.As an epidemiologist and international health specialist for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces
Dec. 1, 2014 Taking care of Airmen: How Air Force mental health services helped an Academy leader Chief Master Sgt. Max Grindstaff, the Academy's command chief, said taking advantage of Air Force mental health support services helps him cope today with the deaths of nine Americans he served with in Kabul, Afghanistan."I sought counseling because I needed it," the chief said. "If I feel like I
Nov. 3, 2014 Air Force Surgeon General absorbs Air Commando mission, culture Lt. Gen. Thomas Travis, Surgeon General of the Air Force, toured Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., Oct. 28 to gain insight into the expansive nature of the mission and the benefits of the local range facilities. The visit also provided an opportunity for Air Commandos working in each section of the 27th
Oct. 30, 2014 Quick Response - Defense Department officials establish Ebola medical support team When Air Force Capt. Stacey Morgan's commander sent her a text message saying that she needed to immediately call him, her first thought was, "Uh-oh. What did I do?"But after a minute or two of talking to her commander, her apprehension was quickly replaced by anxious excitement, as he asked her to
Oct. 22, 2014 Ramstein Airmen support Ebola fight, mitigate risks at home As service members travel to Africa in support of Operation United Assistance, Ramstein Air Base here continues to establish itself as a power projection platform for Europe and Africa.Medical professionals from the 86th Medical Group, along with leadership throughout Ramstein AB, recently
Oct. 16, 2014 Military Health System preparation for potential Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) infection among DoD Personnel Military Health System colleagues,Members of the U.S. military have begun to deploy to the Ebola-stricken nation of Liberia. The medical and logistic capabilities of the Department, along with our infectious disease expertise, will provide a significant level of support to the heroic clinical and
Oct. 1, 2014 Flu season fast approaching According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of between 5 percent and 20 percent of the U.S. population will come down with the flu this year.Of those, 200,000 people will have complications and require hospitalization. Those most vulnerable to the flu are the elderly, the
Sept. 26, 2014 MHS Leadership Message - We stand together as a community to prevent suicide Military Health System colleagues,Every September is Suicide Prevention Month. The Department of Defense will take this opportunity, along with our partners in the VA and civilian community to refresh our attention to this important national problem. September is only a one month fraction of our
Sept. 24, 2014 Prevention is the Best Medicine When Facing Enterovirus D-68 With recent cases of the respiratory illness enterovirus D-68 being reported in multiple states within the U.S., our doctors want to make sure that all the members of the military community are informed and safe when confronting this illness. Remember, if the proper precautions and prevention
Sept. 17, 2014 Obama Details Major Increase in U.S. Ebola Response In a whole-of-government approach and with international partners, the United States is significantly upping its response to the West African Ebola epidemic to save lives now and halt future outbreaks, President Barack Obama said today during a visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Sept. 12, 2014 Studies Link Lack of Sleep to Greater Suicide Risk Three out of four deployed service members have trouble sleeping, a particular concern for the Military Health System since recent studies show that getting enough sleep has a direct correlation to preventing suicidal thoughts.Recognizing the serious health risk that sleep issues present, the
Sept. 5, 2014 Suicide prevention takes courage, communication, official says The Veterans Affairs Department has named September National Suicide Prevention Month, but the Defense Department continues its year-round, comprehensive, multi-pronged approach to address the issue of suicide in the military, a Pentagon official said Aug. 21.Army Lt. Gen. Michael S. Linnington,