Air Force medical leaders host AFMEDCOM planning conference Published Aug. 15, 2024 By Maristela Romero Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- Air Force medical leaders hosted a three-day planning conference to align the Air Force Medical Command Programming Plan (PPlan) with readiness priorities outlined in Program Action Directive 24-01. The PPlan details a conditions-based, phased approach to accomplish priorities set by Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin to successfully establish AFMEDCOM. During the conference, held at the Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Virginia, Aug. 6-8, 2024, planners in eight objective working groups identified and outlined requirements for command, tasking realignment, and roles and responsibilities within the functional staff areas for command, manpower and personnel, command and control, readiness, resourcing, governance, and strategic communications. Lt. Gen. John J. DeGoes, U.S. Air Force and Space Force Surgeon General, emphasized the significance of the conference for the future of AFMEDCOM. “This PPlan work will help us operationalize AFMEDCOM as a Direct Reporting Unit and enable a new form of governance to execute readiness priorities and partner with the Defense Health Agency for healthcare delivery,” DeGoes said. “It is an awesome responsibility not only in supporting the Air Force mission, but in taking care of the Airmen and Guardians who are an integral part of that mission.” As the planners developed the requirements necessary for AFMEDCOM to reach initial operating capability (IOC) projected for early 2025, they created an integrated master schedule to track and monitor each functional area’s task and status ensuring transparent and unified collaboration between medical leaders and Air Force subject matter experts in areas like personnel, legal support, and compliance. Additionally, the master schedule lists required actions planners must complete during the transition period from IOC to full operating capability (FOC). Once established, AFMEDCOM will enhance the Air Force’s ability to generate medically ready forces, provide installation support, and strengthen the partnership with the Defense Health Agency for healthcare delivery. “The difference we’re making is critically important to get AFMEDCOM to IOC,” said Brig. Gen. Eveline Yao, AFMEDCOM planning team lead. “This week’s efforts are just the beginning of the work required to realize the benefits of AFMEDCOM.”