Closing the Gap on Post Deployment Health Re-assessments

By Lt. Cmdr. Erik Wells, Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy is stepping up its efforts to require all returning deployed Sailors to complete a mandatory post deployment health re-assessment (PDHRA).

The PDHRA is completed online and assesses the state of a Sailor's health and provides critical information to military health care providers to identify present and future medical care a member may need.

The assessment is due six months after the Sailor returns home from an individual augmentee manpower management assignment, Global War on Terrorism support assignment or overseas contingency operation support assignment.

"We don't want to ever forget that a Sailor might be dealing with a struggle in life," said Master Chief Scott Benning, fleet master chief of Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education. "Leadership is very much concerned about their health and well-being."

As of May 2010, the completion rate for the PDHRA was more than 90 percent, but the goal is 100 percent.

To reach that goal, the chief of naval personnel released NAVADMIN 246/10 in June 2010 which ties the completion of PDHRA with the periodic health assessment (PHA).

Sailors who are overdue on the PDHRA will be prohibited from taking the PHA and risk failure of the physical readiness test as a result.

"It is imperative that commands understand the importance of making sure their Sailors follow through on the PDHRA," said Benning. "But it's also the personal responsibility of the Sailor to complete it and seek help, if needed."

Benning said a Sailor's life changes when they are sent into theater. Upon their return, they need to be reintegrated back with their families, their shipmates and society. While the process is smooth for most, there are those who may need help but unless they come forward, the help could be elusive which is why identifying needs through the PDHRA is so important.

"Creating a culture where people need to come and ask for help when they need it is what we are trying to do," said Benning. "Operational stress control does that and so does the PDHRA. Ultimately, we all need to be responsible for our professional and personal well being."