RAAUZYUW RUEWMCS0000 3651900-UUUU--RUCRNAD ZNR UUUUU R 281754Z DEC 07 ZYB FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// UNCLAS //N07220// NAVADMIN 361/07 MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/DEC// SUBJ/FY-08 INCENTIVE SPECIAL PAY FOR SPECIALTY NURSES// REF/A/DOC/ASD (HA)/15OCT2007/NOTAL// REF/B/DOC/OPNAV/28DEC2005// NARR/REF A IS THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (HEALTH AFFAIRS POLICY) (ASD (HA)) NURSE SPECIAL PAY PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008. REF B IS OPNAVINST 7220.17 SPECIAL PAY FOR MEDICAL CORPS, DENTAL CORPS, MEDICAL SERVICE CORPS, AND NURSE CORPS OFFICERS// RMKS/1. THIS NAVADMIN ANNOUNCES A NEW SPECIAL PAY, THE INCENTIVE SPECIAL PAY (ISP) FOR SPECIALTY NURSES (RN-ISP). THIS ISP ENHANCES NAVY'S ABILITY TO SIZE, SHAPE, AND STABILIZE THE FORCE BY USING A MONETARY INCENTIVE TO ENCOURAGE NURSES WITH CRITICAL SKILLS AND VALUABLE EXPERIENCE TO STAY NAVY. ADDITIONALLY, ISP IS AN INCENTIVE THAT ALLOWS NURSE CORPS COMMUNITY MANAGERS THE ABILITY TO STRATEGICALLY AWARD BONUSES TO PERSONNEL AS RETENTION NEEDS DICTATE, WHILE RESPONSIBLY STEWARDING FISCAL RESOURCES IN TIME OF WAR. DOING SO GIVES NAVY THE ABILITY TO RETAIN THE RIGHT MIX OF SKILLED AND MOTIVATED SAILORS WHO ARE CRUCIAL TO OUR MISSION SUCCESS TODAY AND READINESS TOMORROW. 2. PER REF A, THIS NAVADMIN ANNOUNCES THE FY-08 SPECIALTY NURSE ISP PLAN. THIS NAVADMIN DELEGATES AUTHORITY TO THE CHIEF, BUREAU OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY (CHBUMED) TO EXECUTE SERVICE AGREEMENTS, EFFECTIVE AS OF 15 OCT 07. PARA 3 IS POLICY GUIDANCE IN THE FORM OF AN INTERIM CHANGE TO REF B. PARA 4 IS IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE FOR FY-08. 3. INTERIM CHANGE TO REF B. FOR FY-08, CHAPTER 4 OF REF B IS AMENDED BY ADDING THE FOLLOWING NEW SECTION 4: CHAPTER 4 NURSE CORPS SPECIAL PAYS SECTION 4 ? REGISTERED NURSE ISP (RN-ISP) 440. DEFINITION AND ELIGIBILITY 1. RN-ISP IS A DISCRETIONARY BONUS GIVEN TO QUALIFIED NURSE CORPS OFFICERS WHO ARE SPECIALTY TRAINED REGISTERED NURSES AND WHO AGREE TO REMAIN ON ACTIVE DUTY FOR ONE TO FOUR YEARS AS DEFINED IN THE RN-ISP CONTRACT. 2. ASD (HA) AUTHORIZES SPECIALTIES AND ANNUAL PAY RATES NOT TO EXCEED STATUTORY LIMITS AND PROMULGATES THEM VIA AN ANNUAL NURSE SPECIAL PAY PLAN. CHBUMED SUBSEQUENTLY DESIGNATES THOSE SPECIALTIES THAT ARE CRITICAL TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE NAVY AND PROMULGATES THOSE SPECIALTIES EACH FISCAL YEAR VIA NAVADMIN. BASED ON THE NAVY?S UNIQUE REQUIREMENTS, CHBUMED MAY DECLINE TO OFFER SPECIAL PAY TO ANY GROUP OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE, OR RESTRICT THE LENGTH OF THE CONTRACT FOR ANY OR ALL ELIGIBLE GROUPS TO LESS THAN FOUR YEARS. 3. NAVY ACTIVE DUTY NURSE CORPS OFFICERS WHO MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE RN-ISP: A. UNDER A CALL OR ORDER TO ACTIVE DUTY FOR A PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN THREE YEARS. B. FULLY QUALIFIED REGISTERED NURSE WITH AN ACTIVE, FULL UNRESTRICTED LICENSE, AND HAVE A DESIGNATED NURSING SPECIALTY AS A PRIMARY SUBSPECIALTY CODE AND PRIMARILY WORKING FULL TIME IN THAT SUBSPECIALTY. IN UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES INDIVIDUAL WAIVERS FOR WORKING OUTSIDE THE SPECIALTY MAY BE REQUESTED BY DETAILERS OR COMMANDERS. ALL WAIVER REQUESTS WILL BE REVIEWED BY CHBUMED. C. HOLD A CERTIFICATION IN ONE OF THE DESIGNATED CLINICAL NURSING SPECIALTIES. CERTIFICATION MUST BE A NATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED, EXPERT CREDENTIAL RESERVED FOR THOSE WHO MEET RIGOROUS PRACTICE, CONTINUING EDUCATION, AND TESTING REQUIREMENTS IN THEIR NURSING SPECIALTY. D. MUST HAVE COMPLETED A SPECIALTY-NURSING COURSE APPROVED BY THE SURGEON GENERAL OF THE NAVY (SURGEON GENERAL APPROVED COURSES ARE PUBLISHED UNDER SEPARATE CORRESPONDENCE BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE NAVY NURSE CORPS) OR SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A GRADUATE PROGRAM WITH DEGREE CONFERRAL IN ONE OF THE CLINICAL DESIGNATED SPECIALTIES. E. FOR PERIOPERATIVE NURSING, INDIVIDUALS MUST HAVE ONE YEAR OF EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING AT LEAST 1,700 CLINICAL HOURS IN PERI- OPERATIVE NURSING. CERTIFICATION IN PERIOPERATIVE NURSING MUST BE OBTAINED WITHIN 18 MONTHS OF INITIAL ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALTY REGISTERED NURSE ISP. 4. REGISTERED NURSES UNDER AN OBLIGATION OR ATTENDING FULL TIME DUTY UNDER INSTRUCTION ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR RN-ISP. AN OBLIGATION IS INCURRED WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL ENTERS THE NAVY NURSE CORPS EITHER THROUGH ONE OF THE STUDENT TRAINING PIPELINE PROGRAMS TO INCLUDE: A. NAVY RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS NURSE OPTION (NROTC) B. MEDICAL ENLISTED COMMISSIONING PROGRAM (MECP) C. NURSE CANDIDATE PROGRAM (NCP) D. SEAMAN TO ADMIRAL (STA-21) OR RECEIVED A NURSE ACCESSION BONUS (NAB), PARTICIPATED IN THE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM (HPLRP), OR HAVE PARTICIPATED IN FULL-TIME DUTY UNDER INSTRUCTION (DUINS). NURSE CORPS OFFICERS RECEIVING THE RN-ISP WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO ACCEPT FULL TIME DUTY UNDER INSTRUCTION WHILE UNDER THE RN-ISP AGREEMENT. NOTE: ELIGIBLE OFFICERS WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF COMPLETING THEIR INITIAL OBLIGATION MAY SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR RN ISP, BUT PAYMENT WILL NOT COMMENCE UNTIL COMPLETION OF MINIMUM SERVICE REQUIREMENT. 441. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: 1. EXECUTE A WRITTEN REQUEST TO REMAIN ON ACTIVE DUTY FOR A PERIOD OF ONE TO FOUR YEARS. 2. INDIVIDUALS REQUESTING RN-ISP SHALL SUBMIT A REQUEST THROUGH THEIR CHAIN OF COMMAND. 3. FORWARD COMMAND ENDORSEMENT AND REQUEST FOR RN-ISP TO CHBUMED-M1C1 WITH A RECOMMENDATION DATED WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE REQUESTED EFFECTIVE DATE AND ENSURE THAT THE EFFECTIVE DATE ON THE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN VERIFIED TO BE CORRECT FOLLOWING THIS MESSAGE. 4. COMMANDING OFFICERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR VERIFYING THAT THE REQUESTING NURSE CORPS OFFICER IS ELIGIBLE PER PARA 440 ABOVE. 5. THE CHAIN OF COMMAND MUST PROVIDE A DETAILED AND SPECIFIC EXPLANATION OF ANY DELAY ON ALL RN-ISP REQUESTS NOT ENDORSED WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE REQUESTED EFFECTIVE DATE. CHBUMED-M1C1 MAY APPROVE RETROACTIVE RN-ISP AGREEMENTS WHEN THE REASON FOR DELAY IN INITIATING THE RN-ISP AGREEMENT WAS CLEARLY JUSTIFIABLE. 6. IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A HIGHER RN-ISP RATE AT THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF EACH FISCAL YEAR'S PAY PLAN, NURSE CORPS OFFICERS WITH AN EXISTING RN-ISP CONTRACT MAY BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO TERMINATE THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT TO ENTER INTO A NEW RN-ISP CONTRACT THAT WOULD GIVE THEM AN ACTIVE DUTY OBLIGATION EQUAL TO OR LONGER THAN THE EXISTING RN-ISP OBLIGATION. ANY UNEARNED PORTION OF THE RN-ISP CONTRACT IS RECOUPED ON A PRO RATA BASIS. THE EARLIEST CONTRACT EFFECTIVE DATE IS 1 OCTOBER OF THE FISCAL YEAR FOR WHICH THE PAY PLAN IS ANNOUNCED. 442. METHOD OF PAYMENT 1. RN-ISP WILL BE PAID IN ANNUAL INSTALLMENTS ACCORDING TO CONTRACT LENGTH. CHBUMED WILL SET ONE RATE FOR EACH CATEGORY. INITIAL ANNUAL INSTALLMENTS WILL BE PAID UPON APPROVAL OF THE RN-ISP AGREEMENT BY CHBUMED-M1C1. CONTRACTS WILL BE EFFECTIVE NO EARLIER THAN THE DATE APPROVED BY CHBUMED-M1C1. SUBSEQUENT ANNUAL INSTALLMENTS WILL BE PAID ON THE ANNIVERSARY DATE OF THE CHBUMED- M1C1 APPROVED EFFECTIVE DATE. 2. ISP WILL BE PAID AT THE RATE PUBLISHED IN THE FISCAL YEAR NAVADMIN FOR NURSE CORPS ISP. 443. TERMINATION OR DENIAL OF RN-ISP 1. RN-ISP WILL BE TERMINATED OR DENIED UNDER THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES: A. UPON VOLUNTARY SEPARATION FROM ACTIVE DUTY. B. UPON DETERMINATION THAT ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS EXIST: (1) FOR INADEQUATE MILITARY OR PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE, DOCUMENTED IN THE OFFICER FITNESS REPORT, THE ICF, OTHER QAI RECORDS, OR OTHER COMMAND FILES. DECISIONS TO TERMINATE SPECIAL PAY UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH SHOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATELY TIED TO INADEQUATE PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE THAN TO OTHER ASPECTS OF MILITARY PERFORMANCE. CO?S ARE ENCOURAGED TO USE OTHER MEANS TO CORRECT INADEQUATE BEHAVIOR PRIOR TO RECOMMENDING THE REMOVAL OF SPECIAL PAY. CO?S SHOULD SEEK CONSISTENCY IN THEIR DECISIONS CONCERNING SPECIAL PAY UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH. (2) UPON INITIATION OF PROCESSING FOR SEPARATION FOR CAUSE UNDER SECNAVINST 1920.6C, FOR RELIEF OR DETACHMENT FOR CAUSE, OR FOR A VIOLATION OF THE UCMJ OF WHICH THE OFFICER IS FOUND GUILTY VIA NJP OR COURT-MARTIAL. (3) WHEN THE OFFICER IS INCAPACITATED OR DISABLED DURING A PERIOD OF UNAUTHORIZED ABSENCE OR WHEN INCAPACITATION OR DISABILITY IS THE RESULT OF THE OFFICER?S MISCONDUCT OR GROSS NEGLIGENCE. (4) WHEN THE OFFICER'S CLINICAL PRIVILEGES HAVE BEEN REDUCED BELOW THE LEVEL OF FULL CORE PRIVILEGES FOR RN?S THROUGH ADVERSE PRIVILEGING ACTION. (5) WHEN THE OFFICER IS NO LONGER ASSIGNED OR PERFORMING THE PRIMARY SPECIALTY FOR WHICH THE RN-ISP WAS ORIGINALLY AUTHORIZED, EXCEPT WHEN THE OFFICER IS ASSIGNED TO DUTY UNDER UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES AS DESCRIBED IN PARA 440.3.B. ABOVE. 2. TO DENY OR TERMINATE AN EXISTING RN-ISP AGREEMENT, THE CO MUST RECOMMEND TO CHBUMED-M1C1, IN WRITING, THE TERMINATION, OR DENIAL OF RN-ISP. IN THE CORRESPONDENCE, THE CO MUST STATE THE REASON FOR DENIAL OR TERMINATION, AND ENCLOSE ANY SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION. TERMINATION IS EFFECTIVE THE DATE OF THE CHBUMED LETTER NOTIFYING THE INDIVIDUAL OF THE TERMINATION OR DENIAL. 3. AN OFFICER MAY APPEAL THE DENIAL OR TERMINATION OF RN-ISP. UPON NOTIFICATION, THE OFFICER MUST BE GIVEN 10 WORKING DAYS TO SUBMIT AN APPEAL VIA HIS OR HER CHAIN OF COMMAND TO CHBUMED. IN FORWARDING THE APPEAL, THE CO MUST PROVIDE AN ENDORSEMENT AND COPIES OF ALL PERTINENT DOCUMENTS NOT ALREADY SUBMITTED WITH THE ORIGINAL REQUEST FOR TERMINATION OR DENIAL. 4. CHBUMED (OR DESIGNEE) MUST CONVENE A SPECIAL PAY REVIEW BOARD (SPRB) TO EVALUATE THE OFFICER'S APPEAL. THE BOARD MUST BE COMPOSED OF AT LEAST THREE AND NOT MORE THAN FIVE SENIOR NURSE CORPS OFFICERS WITH A FLAG OFFICER OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT AS THE SENIOR MEMBER. A NURSE CORPS FLAG OFFICER IS NOT REQUIRED, BUT SHOULD BE USED IF AVAILABLE. THE SPRB MUST MAKE A NON-BINDING RECOMMENDATION TO CHBUMED (OR DESIGNEE) TO GRANT OR DENY THE APPEAL. CHBUMED'S (OR DESIGNEE?S) DECISION IS FINAL. IF THE DECISION IS TO UPHOLD CHBUMED- M1C1?S DECISION TO DENY OR TERMINATE RN-ISP, THE EFFECTIVE DATE MUST BE THE ORIGINAL TERMINATION OR DENIAL DATE. IF THE DECISION IS TO GRANT THE OFFICER'S APPEAL, THE ENTITLEMENT DATE MUST BE RETURNED TO THE ORIGINAL EFFECTIVE DATE. 5. TERMINATION OR DENIAL OF RN-ISP IS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR CASES OF PFA FAILURES. FOR ALL OTHER CASES OF INADEQUATE MILITARY OR PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE (ADVERSE CREDENTIALS, NJP, ETC), TERMINATION OR DENIAL OF RN-ISP MUST BE FOR A MINIMUM PERIOD OF ONE YEAR. PROCESSING FOR SEPARATION FOR CAUSE MUST BE INITIATED FOLLOWING TWO SUCCESSIVE DENIALS OR TERMINATIONS OF RN-ISP USING THE GUIDELINES OF SECNAVINST 1920.6C. 444. RECOUPMENT OF INDEBTEDNESS 1. TERMINATION OF AN EXISTING RN-ISP AGREEMENT CREATES INDEBTEDNESS TO THE UNITED STATES. THE OFFICER, THEREFORE, MUST REPAY THE UNEARNED PORTION OF RN-ISP ON A PRO RATA BASIS EXCEPT IN THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES: A. DEATH OR DISABILITY WHICH IS NOT THE RESULT OF MISCONDUCT, OR WILLFUL NEGLIGENCE, AND NOT INCURRED DURING A PERIOD OF UNAUTHORIZED ABSENCE. B. SEPARATION FROM MILITARY SERVICE BY OPERATION OF LAW OR REGULATIONS OF THE DOD OR SERVICE REGULATIONS OTHER THAN SEPARATION FOR MISCONDUCT. INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION FOR TWICE FAILING OF SELECTION TO THE NEXT GRADE IS AN EXAMPLE OF A SEPARATION FROM MILITARY SERVICE BY OPERATION OF LAW FOR WHICH RECOUPMENT OF RN-ISP WOULD NOT OCCUR. C. IN OTHER CASES WHEN UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT WAIVER OF THE RECOUPMENT REQUIREMENTS, OFFICERS MAY SUBMIT WAIVER REQUESTS WITH SUPPORTING JUSTIFICATION TO NAVPERSCOM (PERS-48). 2. IN THE EVENT AN OFFICER DIES BEFORE HE OR SHE RECEIVES THE FULL AMOUNT OF ISP, OR BEFORE THE OFFICER COMPLETES THE ASSIGNMENT FOR WHICH ISP IS PAYABLE (AND DEATH IS NOT CAUSED BY THE MEMBER'S MISCONDUCT), THE UNPAID/UNEARNED BALANCE OF THE ISP SHALL BE PAYABLE IN THE SETTLEMENT OF THE DECEASED MEMBER'S FINAL MILITARY PAY ACCOUNT (UNPAID ISP SHALL BE PAYABLE IN LUMP SUM). IF DEATH IS DETERMINED TO BE VOLUNTARY OR THE RESULT OF THE MEMBER'S OWN MISCONDUCT, TERMINATION OF ANY FUTURE PAYMENT AND PRORATION OR RECOUPMENT OF THE ISP, AS APPLICABLE, WILL BE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED FOR MEMBERS WHOSE INABILITY TO COMPLETE A CONTRACTED PERIOD OF SERVICE IS VOLUNTARY OR THE RESULT OF MISCONDUCT. 4. SPECIALTY NURSE ISP (RN-ISP) PLAN IMPLEMENTATION. A. ALL SERVICE AGREEMENTS MUST BE APPROVED BY CHBUMED M1C1. CHBUMED M1C1 WILL DETERMINE ACTIVE DUTY OBLIGATION (ADO) INCURRED FOR MEMBERS. MEMBERS WILL BE INFORMED OF ADO FOR MULTI-YEAR CONTRACTS VIA AN APPROVAL NOTIFICATION LETTER. ACCEPTANCE OF FIRST PAYMENT BY MEMBER INDICATES AGREEMENT TO TERMS OF ALL CONTRACTS AND ADOS. B. INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE 30 DAYS FROM THE RELEASE OF THIS NAVADMIN TO REQUEST RETROACTIVE PAYMENT TO 15 OCT 07 WITHOUT HAVING TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF A RETROACTIVE APPROVAL PER REF B. C. POLICY, INCLUDING ELIGIBILITY AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ALONG WITH THE SERVICE AGREEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW.NAVYMEDICINE.MED.NAVY.MIL (CLICK ON CHBUMED THEN CLICK ON SPECIAL PAYS). D. THE FOLLOWING NURSING SPECIALTIES ARE DESIGNATED BY CHBUMED AS ELIGIBLE FOR THE FY-08 RN-ISP: (1) PERIOPERATIVE NURSING (1950) (2) CRITICAL CARE (1960) (3) FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER (1976) (4) PEDIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER (1974) E. THE FOLLOWING PAY RATES ARE EFFECTIVE 15 OCT 07: (1) 5,000 DOLLARS PER YEAR FOR UNOBLIGATED INDIVIDUALS WHO SIGN A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT OR OBLIGATED INDIVIDUALS WITH LESS THAN 12 MONTHS OF INITIAL OBLIGATION. (2) 10,000 DOLLARS PER YEAR UNOBLIGATED INDIVIDUALS OR OBLIGATED INDIVIDUALS WITH LESS THAN 12 MONTHS OF INITIAL OBLIGATION WHO SIGN A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT. (3) 15,000 DOLLARS PER YEAR FOR UNOBLIGATED INDIVIDUALS OR OBLIGATED INDIVIDUALS WITH LESS THAN 12 MONTHS OF INITIAL OBLIGATION WHO SIGN A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT. (4) 20,000 DOLLARS PER YEAR FOR UNOBLIGATED INDIVIDUALS OR OBLIGATED INDIVIDUALS WITH LESS THAN 12 MONTHS OF INITIAL OBLIGATION WHO SIGN A FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT. F. DURING THE TIME OF AN INDIVIDUAL NURSE CORPS OFFICER?S RN- ISP OBLIGATION IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE NURSE, DETAILER, AND SENIOR NURSE EXECUTIVE/DIRECTOR NURSING SERVICE AT MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITIES TO ENSURE THE NURSE IS UTILIZED IN THE SPECIALTY FOR WHICH THE NURSE IS RECEIVING THE RN-ISP. INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS SHOULD CONSIDER CAREER PLANS AND MILESTONES WHEN DETERMINING THE LENGTH OF TIME OF OBLIGATION FOR THE SPECIALTY REGISTERED NURSE ISP. G. FOR THE PURPOSES OF DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY PER PARA 440.3 OF THE ABOVE INTERIM CHANGE TO REF B, THE EDUCATION SUFFIX ON THE MEMBER?S SUBSPECIALTY CODE REQUIRES EITHER A ?K? CODE MEANING CERTIFIED WITH SURGEON GENERAL APPROVED SPECIALTY-NURSING COURSE, OR A ?Q? CODE MEANING CERTIFIED AND MASTER?S PREPARED. H. FOR THE PURPOSES OF DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY PER PARA 440.4. OF THE INTERIM CHANGE TO REF B, OBLIGATED SERVICE CODES ARE TRACKED WITHIN THE BUREAU OF MEDICINE INFORMATION SYSTEM (BUMIS) AS AN "S - SUBSIDIZED TRAINING" FOR STUDENT TRAINING PIPELINES AND HPLRP, AN "I - INITIAL OBLIGATION" FOR NAB, DIRECT ACCESSIONS AND RECALLS, AND A "T - TRAINING OBLIGATION" FOR FULL-TIME DUINS. OBLIGATED SERVICE DATES ARE CALCULATED BASED UPON ONE'S GAINING CATEGORY, PARTICIPATION IN HPLRP, OR THE NUMBER OF MONTHS IN FULL-TIME DUINS. 5. POINTS OF CONTACT: - CHBUMED: MR. WILLIAM MARIN AT (301) 295-2073/DSN 295 OR EMAIL AT WILLIAM.MARIN(AT)MED.NAVY.MIL - CHBUMED: MS. KAREN GASTON AT (301) 295-9946/DSN 295 OR EMAIL AT KMGASTON(AT)US.MED.NAVY.MIL. - BUPERS: CDR L. BATEMAN AT (901) 874-2818/DSN 882 OR EMAIL AT LAWRENCE.BATEMAN(AT)NAVY.MIL. 6. RELEASED BY VADM J. C. HARVEY, JR., N1.// BT # NNNN