R 091113Z OCT 12
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 562/12
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC L LF(UC)/F002//
SUBJ/OPERATION SUPPLEMENT SAFETY (OPSS)//
POC/C. GIRARD/CIV/UNIT:MCICOM G4 (FSS)/NAME:WASHINGTON, DC /TEL:703-604-4511//
POC/P. DEUSTER/CIV/UNIT:USU/NAME:BETHESDA, MD/TEL:301-295-3020//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  SITUATION: DIETARY SUPPLEMENT USE IS PREVALENT IN THE MARINE CORPS AND CONSUMPTION OCCURS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS: TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE, TO LOSE WEIGHT, TO GAIN MUSCLE MASS AND/OR TO IMPROVE HEALTH. UNFORTUNATELY, USE OF SOME SUPPLEMENTS HAS RESULTED IN ADVERSE EVENTS WHICH COMPROMISED PERFORMANCE AND HEALTH RATHER THAN IMPROVE IT.  AS A RESULT OF ADVERSE EVENTS ACROSS DOD, THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR HEALTH AFFAIRS, ASD(HA), DIRECTED A DIETARY SUPPLEMENT EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, RESULTING IN OPERATION SUPPLEMENT SAFETY (OPSS).
2.  MISSION: AFFECT BEHAVIORAL CHANGE OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENT USE THROUGH AN EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN. THIS KNOWLEDGE WILL HELP MARINES DECIDE WHETHER TO TAKE SUPPLEMENTS AND IF THEY DECIDE TO DO SO, WHICH ONES REPRESENT THE WISEST AND SAFEST CHOICES. THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THE CAMPAIGN IS TO PROVIDE TOOLS WHICH ASSIST MARINES TO BE SMART SUPPLEMENT USERS.
A.  KEY CAMPAIGN MESSAGES:
- DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS ARE NOT REGULATED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
- NOT ALL DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS ARE SAFE OR EFFECTIVE
- DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS CAN CONTAIN INGREDIENTS NOT LISTED ON THEIR SUPPLEMENT FACTS PANEL, INCLUDING DRUGS
- THE U.S GOVERNMENT DOES NOT REVIEW DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS FOR SAFETY BEFORE THEY ENTER THE MARKET
- MANUAFACTURES, NOT THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA), ARE LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE SAFETY OF THEIR PRODUCTS
- THE SAFEST SUPPLEMENTS ARE THOSE WITH INDEPENDENT OR THIRD PARTY CERTIFICATION DUE TO THEIR EVALUATION FOR QUALITY AND SAFETY
B.  UNWITTING CONSUMPTION OF SUPPLEMENTS WITH UNDECLARED, CONTAMINATED AND/OR ILLEGAL INGREDIENTS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS HEALTH CONSEQUENCES AND POSSIBLE POSITIVE DRUG TESTS.
C.  SUPPLEMENTS MOST LIKELY TO BE TAINTED ARE UNFORTUNATELY THE MOST POPULAR ONES USED BY MARINES, SPECIFICALLY THOSE FOR BODY BUILDING, PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT AND WEIGHT LOSS.
3.  EXECUTION: MARINES WHO CURRENTLY USE OR ARE CONSIDERING USING DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, INCLUDING THOSE OUTLINED IN PARAGRAPH C, ARE ENCOURAGED TO VISIT THE OPERATION SUPPLEMENT SAFETY (OPSS) WEBSITE. THE LINK IS LOCATED ON THE HUMAN PERFORMANCE RESOURCE CENTER (HPRC) WEBSITE (HPRC-ONLINE.ORG). THE OPSS LINK ON THE SITE INCLUDES TOOLS WHICH MARINES CAN USE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR SUPPLEMENTS ARE SAFE, EFFECTIVE AND OF HIGH QUALITY.
A.  MARINES ARE ENCOURAGED TO REVIEW SAFETY OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS PRIOR TO USE, UTILIZING THE OPSS WEBSITE INFORMATION.
B.  OPSS MARKETING MATERIALS, INCLUDING PENS, STICKERS, POSTERS, TRAY MATS, TABLE TENTS AND HANDOUTS ARE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE FROM THE ARMY PUBLIC HEALTH COMMAND WEBSITE HTTPS:SLASH SLASH USAPHCAPPS.AMEDD.ARMY.MIL/HIOSHOPPINGCART/. MATERIALS CAN BE REQUESTED USING THE WEBSITE'S ELECTRONIC SHOPPING CART.
C.  APPS, WIDGETS AND SOCIAL MEDIA WITH OPSS INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM HPRC LATER THIS CALENDAR YEAR.
D.  INSTALLATION ACTIVITIES PLANNED DURING OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 2012 INCLUDE DEFENSE COMMISSARY AGENCY INFORMATION BOOTHS, BASE THEATER PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS, INCLUDING MESSAGES FROM WARRIORS WHO ARE ALSO OLYMPIC ATHLETES, AND AUDIO AND VIDEO MESSAGES ON THE ARMED FORCES NETWORK AND THE PENTAGON CHANNEL.
E.  MARINES ARE ENCOURAGED TO REVIEW THE INFORMATION ON THE OPSS LINK WHICH INCLUDES INFORMATION SHEETS, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, TOOLS FOR REPORTING ADVERSE EVENTS, TRAINING MATERIALS AND A CAMPAIGN PRESS KIT.
F.  INSTALLATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ORDER OPSS MERCHANDISE MATERIALS AND TO CONDUCT OUTREACH PROGRAMS SUCH AS KICK OFF AND TOWN HALL MEETINGS. LOCAL DIETITIANS CAN ASSIST WITH SUCH EFFORTS.
4.  ADMINISTRATION: OPERATION SUPPLEMENT SAFETY IS THE DOD EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN COORDINATED BY THE DOD DIETARY SUPPLEMENT SUBCOMMITTEE, THE U.S. ARMY PUBLIC HEALTH COMMAND AND THE HUMAN PERFORMANCE RESOURCE CENTER.  INSTALLATIONS CAN SOLICIT ASSISTANCE FROM LOCAL BASE DIETITIANS AND SEMPER FIT PERSONNEL.
5.  COMMAND AND CONTROL: THE HUMAN PERFORMANCE RESOURCE CENTER HAS THE MISSION OF ENSURING HUMAN PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION FOR MILITARY MEMBERS. EDUCATION AND THE RESULTING KNOWLEDGE ARE THE BEST WEAPONS TO ENSURE DIETARY SUPPLEMENT USE DOES NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR MARINES OR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.
6.  POINTS OF CONTACT:  MR. C. GIRARD, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, FOOD SERVICE AND SUBSISTANCE BRANCH, HQMC-MCICOM, AND DR. P. DEUSTER, CHAIR DOD DIETARY SUPPLEMENT SUBCOMMITTEE, UNIFORMED SERVICES UNIVERSITY.
7.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MAJGEN JAMES A. KESSLER ASSISTANT DEPUTY COMMANDANT INSTALLATIONS AND LOGISTICS (FACILITIES) /COMMANDER MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS COMMAND.//