Achievable Imperative - Baseline Health of the Reserve Component
Abstract
A smaller active duty force and a dramatically increased operational tempo have made the Reserve Components essential to accomplishing the Army's missions. This requires a degree of readiness that depends on high levels of health. Currently, the baseline health status of the Reserve Components is not known, even though these members are being activated at increasing numbers to serve in settings where the environmental impact on health may be significant. Future decisions regarding force health protection and deployment policies will be based on analysis of scientific data on health and the environment. Capturing baseline health status is important for use prior to, during, and following deployments. Currently baseline health status is collected during the busy preparations for deployment. This has proven highly ineffective and exceptionally expensive. For Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom, the Army Medical Surveillance Activity received, respectively, 953 and 680 Pre-Deployment Health Assessments from a combined deployed population of 15,000 personnel. This paper provides justification for maintaining a current baseline health status and describes 'The Annual Health Certification and Survey/Health Assessment Longitudinal File' proposed by the Army Reserve to meet statutory requirements.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 22, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA404392
Entities
People
- Judith A. Kemper
Organizations
- United States Army War College