Current Status and Impact of Army Transformation on Army Medical Entomology in Korea

LTC William J. Sames IV

Entomology Consultant 18th MEDCOM

USFK Transformation

• Significantly reduce the number of bases/posts/camps that are operated by USFK (transition to 2 Enduring Hubs)

• Reduce the number of USFK military personnel in ROK

• However, Command Sponsored positions increase from 2900 to 6000 by FY09

• Normalize Korea tours to 3 year tour of duty

Distribution of USFK

Pusan

Mu Juk

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Osan/Humphreys

Han

Riv

er

Seoul

Kunsan

Chinhae

Taegu

Gwangju

Osan/Humphreys

Pusan

Seoul

Chinhae

Taegu

Han

Riv

er

Mu Juk

Kunsan

Joint Training Facility

Gwangju

Current Future

USFK Entomologists• Entomology

Consultant, 18th MEDCOM

• Entomologists (3) at Med Det (Ento/Sani)

• Host Nation civilian entomologists (2) embedded within the 5th Med Det (Ento)

• Host Nation Civilian Entomologist (1) at 106th Vet Det

• GS Civilian (1) with part-time entomology duties at IMC-Korea

• Contractor (1) serving as the Regional Emerging Infectious Disease Coordinator

• Support Entomologist (1-2) at CHPPM-PAC, Cp Zama, Japan

IMC-Korea = Installation Management Command-Korea formerly known as IMA-KORO = Installation Management Authority-Korean Regional Office

Entomology Consultant

• Assigned at Yongsan (Seoul)• Position relocates to Hawaii with the activation of the

Medical Deployment Support Command (FY09)• Concerns:

– No boots-on-the-ground field-grade military entomologist in Korea; no substitute for in-country experience

– Lose prime resource for ensuring sound medical entomology decisions are presented to USFK leadership

– Lose entomology interaction with Host Nation resources– Lose opportunities to further medical entomology knowledge of

Korea– Lose opportunity to mentor junior entomologists in Med Dets

Detachment Entomologists• Entomologist in 5th Med Det (Ento) is the Commander• Entomologists in the 38th and 154th Med Dets (Sani) are

the Executive Officers• Transformation:

– 38th Med Det to inactivate in FY09 (or event driven: closure of Area I camps)

– 5th Med Det relocates to Camp Humphreys (date TBD)– 154th Med Det relocates to Camp Carroll (date TBD)– 5th and 154th convert to MRI configuration (FY09)– 5th and 154th subordinate to Multifunctional Medical Battalion– MMB will have PVNTMED planners (72D/03; 68S30)

• Reduced bases/posts/camps should allow Med Dets to provide increased services

• Need local Senior Entomologist and PVNTMED planners to direct and facilitate entomological surveillance

KGS Entomologists in 5th Med Det• Two professional entomologists (KGS)• Provide taxonomic and biological laboratory

support to USFK and DPW• Provide continuity, stabilization, and in-country

expertise on medical entomology subjects• Maintain extensive collection and database on

USFK entomological collections• Important entomological resource to USFK, must

keep• Relocation to Camp Humphreys with 5th Med Det• Need to ensure adequate laboratory space for

this group

Veterinary Entomologist• Host Nation Employee (KGS)• Provide Stored Product Pest inspections

and identifications on imported food commodities for use by USFK personnel– Food to commissaries– Food to dining facilities

• Position still required after transformation• No change in status expected other than

relocation to Camp Humphreys• Needs adequate laboratory space

IMC-Korea Entomologist• Duty as Natural Resource Coordinator with additional

duty as Entomologist (Change from full-time Ento)– Pest Management Coordinator for IMC-Korea– Responsible for DPW/garrison pest control

• Reduction in the number of bases (= fewer pest control shops/personnel) will significantly reduce but not eliminate workload

• DPW/Garrison entomology duties still required after transformation; relocates to Camp Humphreys

• Entomology duties seen as secondary by IMC-Korea – expect decreased oversight and monitoring of entomology programs

IMC-Korea = Installation Management Command-Korea formerly known as IMA-KORO = Installation Management Authority-Korean Regional Office

Regional Emerging Infectious Disease Coordinator

• Contractor funded by GEIS– Initial year plus four option years– Dependent upon yearly GEIS funding

• Works with 18th MEDCOM personnel– Former Army Entomologist (COL-retired) with 10

years in-country experience– Maintains liaison with KCDC and Korean Universities

for data and asset collaborations– Advises on infectious disease issues to include

pandemic/avian flu, STDs, vector-borne diseases

• Synergizes activities of PVNTMED Consultants

Regional Support - CHPPM-PAC

• Located at Camp Zama, Japan

• About 2 hour flight to Incheon (Seoul)

• Can provide:– Pest management reviews/guidance– Vector diagnostics for malaria, Japanese

encephalitis

In Review• The 18th MEDCOM Entomology Consultant position

moves to Hawaii (FY09)• 38th Med Det inactivates (FY09 or event driven)• 5th to Cp Humphreys; 154th to Cp Carroll (TBD for both)• Keep 2 HN Entos at 5th and 1 HN Ento at 106th Vet Det, all

move to Cp Humphreys (TBD); Ensure laboratory space!• IMC-Korea Natural Resource Coord (Ento) moves to Cp

Humphreys (TBD)• Regional Infectious Disease Coord – dependent upon

GEIS funding, moves to Cp Humphreys (TBD)• Personnel: 2 Army Entos, 3 HN, 1 GS, 1 Contractor• Sites: 1 Army Ento at Cp Carroll; all others at Cp

Humphreys• Support: CHPPM-PAC in Japan (Cp Zama),

Regional Ento in Hawaii (vice 18th MEDCOM)

Concerns in Review

• No Field Grade entomologist in Korea

• IMC-Korea with less emphasis on pest management

• Keeping 2 HN Entos at 5th Med Det and 1 HN at 106th Vet Det is good

• Med Dets may have time for entomology surveillance due to decreased number of posts/bases/camps

Potential Solutions

• Regional Entomologist in Hawaii must stay in close contact with KTO.– Provide same consultative service to KTO as before,

but from a distance– Plan multiple TDYs to KTO (esp May-Oct)

• Authorize civilian GS-12 entomology position on TDA (currently required not authorized)

• Establish entomology “super lab” at Cp Humphreys with HN KGS as mainstays

• Provide space at “super lab” for visiting Regional and CHPPM-PAC personnel

Potential Solutions

• CHPPM-PAC will have to increase support to and oversight of base pest management operations as IMC involvement potentially declines.

• Regional entomologist and CHPPM-PAC will need to coordinate and plan in-country surveillance to maintain and increase knowledge of vector situation in KTO.

• Adequate resources (esp TDY funding) will need to be available to Regional Entomologist and CHPPM-PAC to properly support the KTO

Questions?

Camp Humphreys Expansion

Backup slides

ExistingExistingHumphreysHumphreys1,210 acres1,210 acres

Camp Humphreys Humphreys

Yongsan Area

Future ExpansionFuture Expansion