Medical Group ensures personnel reliability

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nathan W. Lipscomb
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  The Airmen of the 39th Medical Group play a crucial role in ensuring the medical reliability of Team Incirlik especially when it comes to personnel filling controlled and critical positions.

These Airmen perform medical evaluation and random substance abuse testing so that a certifying official can be totally confident when certifying personnel under the Personnel Reliability Program.

The Competent Medial Authorities also play a major role in the evaluation process.
According to AFMAN 10-3902, the CMA provides the certifying official with sufficient medical information to make sound judgment on an individual's suitability to perform their duties.

CMAs do this by evaluating the member's medical records and identifying potentially disqualifying information about an individual's physical capability or mental suitability for assignment. All potentially disqualifying medical information is documented in the individual's health records.

"Some of the main medical disqualifying factors may be attributed to serious health conditions," said Staff Sgt. Sandra Rivera, 39th MDG non-commissioned officer in charge of personnel reliability program records.

Only those personnel who have demonstrated the highest degree of individual reliability for allegiance, trustworthiness, conduct, behavior and responsibility are allowed to perform PRP regulated duties. The denial of eligibility of certification for assignment to PRP positions is neither a punishment nor the basis for disciplinary action.

"The failure of an individual to be certified for assignment to PRP duties does not necessarily reflect unfavorably on the individual's assignment to other duties," said Sergeant Rivera.

Responsibilities of PRP or those in consideration for PRP duties according to AFMAN 10-3902 include:

· Be responsible for monitoring your own reliability and the reliability of others performing PRP duties. This is a 24 hour per day, seven days per week responsibility. Failure to discharge these responsibilities may cast doubt on an individual's reliability.

· Be aware of how problems, concerns, and circumstances may reduce individual effectiveness and impair capability or reliability.

· Advise supervisors or the certifying official of any factors that could have an adverse impact on his/her performance, reliability, or safety while performing PRP duties.

· Inform support agencies of your active PRP status before treatment or consultation.

· When a PRP-certified individual receives any type of medical or dental treatment and/or evaluation, including TRICARE and Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services referrals, you will need to report treatment and/or evaluation to the certifying official and provide appropriate documentation to the CMA who, who in turn, will consult the certifying official.

· Personnel considered for or holding PRP positions have to make all medical records available to the CMA for their initial and subsequent screening requirements and for inspection.