Health Services Working Groups - Current

Current Health Services Working Groups:

Aerospace Medicine working group

Starting with an updating of the Fit for Flying (FFF) program that was originally developed under the DDR (Drug Demand Reduction) program and is now moved into the Health Services Program. This training is aimed both at HSOs and at Air Crew members. Providing aeromedical briefings to Air Crew members will be a responsibility for HSOs in the future.

Cadets and Health Services working group

There has been considerable interest among a subset of Cadets in potential careers in health services. This working group will be developing programs and approaches that Wings can use to respond to Cadets with those interests. As an example of a current program that already has a good track record, the VAWG has developed a FAST (First Aid Support Team) program that prepares interested cadets to serve at Encampment as an adjunct to the Health Service Officers at Encampment. Each Wing may develop their own opportunities and experiences that will similarly respond to cadet interests.

Encampment Health Services working group

There has been a wide range of health services provided at Encampments held by Wings across the country. These range from comprehensive, first aid based health care involving cadet “medics” and HSOs to Encampments with little or no formal health services. This Working Group is gathering information about all of the encampment health services being offered and developing a set of recommendations to assist Wings in developing and providing health services at their Encampments.

First Aid Training working group

First Aid training is a requirement for several Emergency Services training programs. The working group’s goal is to help serve as Subject Mater Experts (SME) and to encourage use of nationally recognized programs and standards in First Aid training programs utilized, facilitated or taught by CAP. The group also tries to learn of and share opportunities from across CAP that have been utilized to lower costs and increase training opportunities. CAP is not a certifying body but encourages and supports national programs such as the DoD’s TCCC (tactical combat casualty course, level 1), American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, ECSI, ASHI, and others.

Health & Wellness Briefings working group

A library of Health & Wellness Briefings is being built and will reside on the Health Services Page of the National Website, which is located under Operations. These briefings will consist of a PPT slide show, a handout for members, and a more in-depth briefing document for the HSO / SE presenting the briefing.

HSOs who would like to participate in preparing Health & Wellness briefings are welcome to join the working group responsible for this area.

HSO Training Curriculum working group

With the development of the first Specialty Track Guidelines for Health Services, this working group is preparing for the inclusion of HSO training in the AXIS system. Previously, training in CAP health services has been largely missing from CAP. Progression through the specialty track ratings has been inconsistent and often frustrating. This working group is addressing the challenge of developing an effective HSO training system that will better prepare the HSO to contribute needed and valuable services to CAP.

The position of Health Service Officer is a unique health service role that requires orientation and training for new HSOs to understand and effectively put into practice. New training programs are being developed along with mentoring to ensure that new HSOs receive the type of training and orientation that will best serve them in that Duty position.

MHSO Development working group

This working group is developing the knowledge base, tasks and qualifications for the new position of Mission Health Service Officer. The MHSO position would serve in the Incident management team at the same level as the Mission Safety Officer, the Mission Chaplain and the Mission PIO. These individuals will be trained to provide expert advisory services to the IC and to others on the IMT.

Pandemic and future disaster health services planning and preparations working group

The Pandemic and Future Disaster Health Services Planning Group is comprised of members who have more in-depth experience in areas of infectious disease and public health, and who engage, sometimes directly, with external organizations including World Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as developing an interface with the public health elements of the Defense Health Agency and Air Force medicine. This group is looking forward to Force Protection measures that may be employed in the event of the next epidemic or pandemic event, or in the case of planning for health safety and force protection concerns in the face of man-made and natural disasters. This could include planning for wastewater contamination of areas where CAP is operating, and mitigation of adverse effects (equipment, decontamination, assessment, avoidance), or planning for a chemical, biological radiological and/or nuclear environment (CBRN).

This Group has a wide scope with and is tasked with thinking “outside the box”, preparing, updating and maintaining plans that may never be required by CAP, and both anticipating, and predicting future trends in Public Health that could affect CAP and its personnel.

Health Service Officers interested in joining a National HS Working Group are encouraged to open and complete the document on this page and submit the completed form to CAP/HS (sleighton@capnhq.gov)