LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) -- The Post-Deployment Health reassessment is part of the force health protection program. It extends care for the deployment-related health concerns of Airmen.
The PDHRA provides education, screening, assessment and access to care for a wide variety of questions and concerns about personnel health after return from deployment.
Lt. Col. Sam Hall is the public health officer for Air Combat Command. He described the initial return from a deployment as a honeymoon. Things are going well and the Airman is glad to be home.
However, memories of a deployment are not as evident upon the initial return. The PDHRA allows personnel time to settle back and see how they are feeling.
"A lot of times, you go three to six months later and then you actually start to see they are having problems adjusting to home and it really is just a chance to relook and see how they're doing after they get back into a normal routine," Colonel Hall said.
Members need to look at how they are adjusting to being back home or if they interact with the people at work or home differently. Additionally, check for any physical problems that might be related to the deployment.
Identifying health concerns early allows Airmen to be treated before they become chronic problems.
"We want to address those as soon as we can, so it is important to do that reassessment when you're asked to do it," Colonel Hall said.
While the initial focus of the program is Airmen who fall within the three- to six-month time period, it will be made available to all Airmen who have returned from deployment since Sept. 11, 2001.
Airmen who have returned from deployment and are beyond the six-month period will be contacted by their unit or commander with details regarding their participation in the PDHRA.
The Department of Defense Form 2900, to partake in the program, can be found on the Air Force Portal under features. Members must wait until they have been back for three to six months. Early applications will not be accepted.
USAF. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez)