USPHS NATIONAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AWARD

One of the three overarching missions of the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service is the rapid and effective response to public health needs—and no better example of the need for that type of response can be found than during natural or manmade disasters or the appearance of fast-moving disease threats.

To enhance its medical-relief efforts during all types of disasters and emerging public-health emergencies, the Public Health Service created the National Emergency Preparedness Award (NEPA) in 1988, encouraging the members of its Commissioned Corps to actively prepare for rapid responses to a variety of health-related crises and rewarding them for active participation in emergency relief efforts.

Commissioned Corps members could qualify for the NEA by serving at least four continuous years in an emergency-preparedness activity overseen either by the Public Health Service or another Federal Agency or Department. At the time of its creation, there were three units approved for credit toward the NEPA: The Natural Disaster Medical System facilities in Rockville and Bethesda, Maryland and the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance.

The obverse of the NEPA medal features the Seal of the Public Health Service, comprised of a diagonally oriented anchor superimposed by a caduceus, encircled by six arrow-tipped lightning bolts signifying rapid response.