A Message from the Surgeon General

You have heard me talk many times about our "visibility."  As USPHS Commissioned Officers, we accomplish our mission objectives and promote, protect and advance the health of the Nation.  We are very capable stewards of public health and our achievements, while serving in the public trust, are both many and outstanding.  But, we often do these great things in anonymity

It is time for us to raise public awareness.  We can do so by wearing the uniform each and every day.  We can do so by taking pride in the Corps and sharing our story, in our conversations, speeches and presentations, with those we come in contact with, both personally and professionally 

Another means of doing so is to create a "catch phrase" a "motto" or a "slogan" that exemplifies the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.  You've heard examples for other Services (some evolving slogans are just being released now)

Army - "Be all that you can be" and now "An Army of One"
Marines - Semper Fidelis  and "The few, the proud, the Marines"
Coast Guard -  Semper Paratus and "The Shield of Freedom"
Air Force -  "Aim High" and now "Cross into the Blue"
Navy - "Accelerate your life"

Our Corps needs a similar motto or slogan.  At the recent Commissioned Officers Association meeting, I requested all members of the Commissioned Corps (some 6,000 of you on active duty, plus those reservists and those retired) to develop a phrase that represents us.  Many of you have already begun to send in your suggestions, and I know that more of you will as a result of this announcement.

Please send your suggestions to either:

RADM Bob Williams, Chief of Staff

Or

CAPT (ret) Jerry Farrell, Executive Director CO

We will hold this opportunity for suggestions open for at least two months.  A working group will be selected to determine the submission or several submissions to be forwarded to the Acting Assistant Secretary for Health

Thank you for contributing your thoughts and time.  Thank you for your service to this great Nation

Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S.

VADM, USPHS

United States Surgeon General