Functions

In carrying out its broad mission and objectives, the function of the MOLC shall include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Provide general professional advice and recommendations on behalf of minority officers:
• Review and comment on issues referred to the MOLC by the Surgeon General, Chairperson, Agency Heads, and/or Program Heads.
• Deliberate issues, develop findings, and present recommendations to the Surgeon General and/or Chairperson.
• Provide advice on the professional aspects of the MOLC, i.e. new technologies, regulations, curricula, roles, etc.
• Provide advice on ethical and professional standard issues.
2. Act as a primary resource for career development of ethnic minority officers:
• Advise on CC and CS practices concerning career development.
• Advise on operating practices concerning the appropriate/optimum use of personnel designed to best meet PHS needs and the needs of the individual.
• Advise on issues related to PHS promotion practices and, for commissioned officers, assimilation into the Regular Corps for the MOLC.
• Identify both continuing and long-term intramural/extramural education needs of the MOLC, and identify and recommend training and/or experience opportunities designed to meet these needs.
• Review applications for long-term training, assess appropriateness of requested training in terms of the ethnic minority officers needs and provide recommendations for the approval/disapproval of such requests.
 
3. Provide advise and assistance on staffing issues:
   • Assess and project need for the MOLC throughout the PHS.
   • Provide advice on the goals, objectives, and procedures designed to meet PHS staffing needs.
   • Provide guidance for recruitment to the short-term student affiliation programs (COSTEP, summer students, etc.).
   • Develop, and/or review and critique, ethnic minority specific PHS recruitment materials, procedures, and programs.
   • Help establish networks of current, as well as former, PHS professionals, who can assist and facilitate recruitment activities.
   • Provide guidance to approved PHS recruiters concerning the recruitment of qualified candidates of ethnic minority officers.
   • Assist in the development of orientation materials for newly-hired ethnic minority officers and provide advice/recommendations concerning orientation programs.
    
4. Communicate and encourage the appropriate use of the awards/recognition systems:
• Identify, establish, and help administer special professional, MOLC specific awards.
• Maintain cognizance of the existing CS and CC award programs and opportunities.
 
5. Serve as a communication link and information resource for the MOLC:
• Communicate to the CC/CS MOLC staff important information concerning professional, ethical, and technical issues.
• Encourage individual membership in, and involvement with professional organizations and societies in order to promote communication with non­federal colleagues.
• Ensure the distribution of minutes and/or other MOLC-developed materials to the extent possible and appropriate to CC and CS staff. Ensure the availability of MOLC minutes to other PACs and the Office of the Surgeon General through the MOLC website.