Public health provides PDF line medical clearance insight

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Brasher
  • 18th Aerospace Medicine Squadron
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  The personnel deployment function line is a fast and efficient way for base agencies to outprocess a large number of people for deployment.

The PDF line process begins with unit deployment managers providing public health with the names of those tasked to deploy.

Once the names of the individuals tasked to deploy are known, the medical clearance process begins, which can start 120 days from the required delivery date, prior to processing through the PDF line. An Airman's medical readiness will not be tracked earlier than 120 days prior to deployment.

"PDF lines are effective at getting mass deployment members out in an orderly fashion," said Airman 1st Class Tracy Nelson, 18th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Public Health technician. "Since all members are in a central location, it is easier to provide them their medical intelligence brief."

Public health also tracks the members for immunizations, dental classifications, physical profiles, medical readiness lab tests, preventive health assessments, deployment health assessments and mental health requirements when they receive the names from the UDMs.

UDMs ensure all medical requirements are addressed prior to processing at the PDF line, which is managed by the installation deployment readiness cell. UDMs can also view the medical status of their members deploying to assist public health in the medical clearance.

Medical personnel conduct a final medical review at the PDF line in case there are any last-minute changes to the deployment or additional members are tasked.

Bringing together all agencies involved ensures a well-executed PDF line.