The Army has recently updated its deployment health assessment policies through Headquarters, Department of the Army Execution Order 011-25. This new order expands upon the previous HQDA EXORD 270-17, which was issued in October 2017. According to HQDA EXORD 270-17, the Pre- Deployment Health Assessment (Form DD 2795) must be completed within 120 days prior to deployment.
The new guidance also addresses past-due and incomplete deployment-related health assessments, ensuring that Soldiers and Army Civilians complete their assessments in a timely fashion. The overall goal is to make certain that Army personnel are fit for deployment and receive necessary medical care when they return.
The Army started screening active-duty, reserve and National Guard Soldiers using deployment health assessment criteria in August 2006. The complete process for deployment health assessments is as follows:
• Pre-Deployment Health Assessment: must be completed within 120 days before deployment.
• Post-Deployment Health Assessment: must be completed as close to the return date as possible, but no earlier than 30 days before returning and no later than 30 days after returning.
• Post-Deployment Health Reassessment: occurs between 90 and 180 days after returning. During the three assessments, Soldiers and Civilians complete a training module, fill out an online questionnaire about their health and are examined by a health care provider.
During the three assessments, Soldiers and Army Civilians complete a training module, fill out an online questionnaire about their health and are examined by a health care provider.
According to a 2020 deployment health assessment report from the Armed Forces Health Surveillance branch, the number of submitted post-deployment health reassessment forms decreased steadily over eight years. In fact, from May 2019 to April 2020, the average number of post-deployment forms submitted monthly (7,435) was the lowest since July 2006. Moreover, the average monthly number of PDHA forms (12,300) in the same 12-month period was the lowest since September 2017. Also, between June 2017 and April 2020, there were significant changes in the number of pre-deployment health assessment forms submitted each month.
The Deployment Health Assessment Program empowers Soldiers and Army Civilians to proactively safeguard their health and readiness for duty. By identifying emerging health conditions related to deployments early on, DHAP serves as an important access point for care and treatment. Through effective use of this program, commanders can ensure that Soldiers complete their deployment health assessments on schedule, that referrals for necessary care are expedited, and that each service member's resilience, along with the overall medical and operational readiness of the Total Army, is enhanced.
For more information, read HQDA EXORD 011-25 on the DPRR website.
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