USINDOPACOM Instruction 6490.03 (With Digital Signature).pdf

UNITED STATES INDO-PACIFIC COMMAND INSTRUCTION

6490.03

FOOD AND WATER RISK ASSESSMENTS WITHIN THE UNITED

STATES INDO-PACIFIC COMMAND

Originating Component: J07 (Command Surgeon)

Effective: October 1, 2025

Releasability: Cleared for public release. Available on the USINDOPACOM

Instructions Secret Internet Protocol Router Network Portal page at:

http://psp.hq.pacom.smil.mil/sites/bridge/j02/j021/PACOM%20Instruction s/Forms/Cool%20View.aspx.

Approved by: Joel L. Carey, Major General, USAF, Chief of Staff, USINDOPACOM

Purpose: In accordance with DoD Instruction (DoDI) 6490.03, this issuance establishes policy and assigns responsibilities to coordinate and provide effective oversight for Food and Water Risk Assessment (FWRA) within the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) Area of Responsibility

(AOR).

USINDOPACOMINST 6490.03, OCT 1, 2025

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1: GENERAL ISSUANCE INFORMATION

1.1. Applicability

1.2. Policy

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1. USINDOPACOM J07

2.2. USARPAC-ACSMED Directorate

2.3. INDOPACOM FWRA Manager

2.4. Service Component Commanders

2.5. FWRA Coordinators

2.6. Public Health Command-Pacific (PHC-P)

SECTION 3: PROCEDURES

3.1. General

3.2. Requesting a FWRA

3.3. Funding

3.4. Conducting the FWRA

3.5. Reporting FWRA Results

GLOSSARY

G.1. Acronyms G.2. Definitions

REFERENCES

FIGURES

Figure 1. Assessment Instruction Memo (AIM) Figure 2. Cover Memorandum Figure 3. After Action Report

SECTION 1: GENERAL ISSUANCE INFORMATION 3

SECTION 1: GENERAL ISSUANCE INFORMATION

1.1. APPLICABILITY.

This issuance applies to Headquarters, USINDOPACOM, Service Component Commands, Sub-Unified Commands, and Direct Reporting Units, collectively referred to within as components. Components will ensure that all forces assigned or attached to or under the Combatant Command or the operational control of a component or subordinate command of the component comply with this instruction when those commands are conducting, supporting, or participating in exercises or events where food or water is contracted for consumption by U.S.

Service members within the USINDOPACOM AOR.

1.2. POLICY.

a. All Food and Water Risk Assessments (FWRAs) conducted in USINDOPACOM will follow the guidance in MIL-STD 3041A and MIL-HDBK-3041A.

b. FWRAs conducted in the USINDOPACOM AOR will be captured in the Veterinary Services Information Management System (VSIMS) FWRA database program of record, regardless of which component conducted them. Documentation of FWRAs allows for a systematic review of the risks associated with consuming locally procured food and water in each country or region, and allows for better planning to support future exercises, operations, and other activities with regards to operational public health and troop feeding option.

c. The following personnel are authorized to attend the 40-hour FWRA course and conduct FWRAs: Army Veterinary Corps Officers (64 series), Food Safety Warrant Officers (640A), Army Environmental Science and Engineering Officers (72D), Air Force Biomedical Specialist Public Health Officers (43HX), and Navy Environmental Health Officers (NOBC 1860).

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES 4

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1. USINDOPACOM J07. The J07 delegates strategic oversight of the FWRA program for the USINDOPACOM components to the USARPAC Assistant Chief of Staff- Medical (ACSMED) Directorate.

2.2. USARPAC-ACSMED DIRECTORATE. The USARPAC-ACSMED Directorate will appoint a USINDOPACOM FWRA Manager, typically the Command Veterinarian.

2.3. INDOPACOM FWRA MANAGER. The USINDOPACOM FWRA Manager will:

a. Liaison with FWRA program and database managers at the Defense Health Agency

(DHA).

b. Maintain a FWRA email distro list (currently usarmy.shafter.usarpac.list.acsmed-fwra@army.mil) for ease of communication.

c. Grant access for certified assessors into the USINDOPACOM FWRA database in VSIMS.

d. Ensure all assessors complete FWRA checklist, cover memorandum, and after-action report IAW MIL-STD 3041A and this policy.

e. Maintain a roster of certified personnel within USINDOPACOM based on the DHA FWRA program manager’s VSIMS application.

f. Assist component FWRA Coordinators with sourcing when a unit from any Service does not have trained assessors available.

g. Input submitted Assessment Instruction Memo (AIM) (Figure 1) into VSIMS and create FWRA checklist for completion by the tasked assessor.

h. Serve as the Combatant Command (CCMD) level review authority, approving and accepting all final USINDOPACOM FWRA reports.

2.4. SERVICE COMPONENT COMMANDERS. The Component Commanders will appoint a component FWRA Coordinator to manage component FWRAs and to liaise with the USINDOPACOM FWRA Manager.

2.5. FWRA COORDINATORS. Component FWRA Coordinators will:

a. Identify when an assessment is required to be conducted by their component and source trained personnel if available. If trained personnel are not available from the component, coordinate with the USINDOPACOM FWRA Manager to source trained personnel. See Section

3.2 for details on how to request a FWRA. See Section 3.3 for details on funding.

b. Ensure assigned assessors coordinate with the mission planners and contracting officers assigned for each exercise and/or FWRA.

mailto:usarmy.shafter.usarpac.list.acsmed-fwra@army.mil mailto:usarmy.shafter.usarpac.list.acsmed-fwra@army.mil

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES 5

c. Liaise with the USINDOPACOM FWRA Manager as needed to efficiently execute FWRA program.

2.6. PUBLIC HEALTH COMMAND-PACIFIC (PHC-P). PHC-P will:

a. Coordinate the FWRA Mobile Training Team (MTT) Course through the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence (MEDCoE) on an as-needed basis and as funding allows.

b. Grant access for certified assessors into the VSIMS USINDOPACOM FWRA database.

c. Perform FWRAs when tasked IAW MOA between USARPAC and U.S. Army Medical Readiness Command, Pacific (MRC-P).

d. Serve as primary point of contact to input submitted AIM into VSIMS and create FWRA checklist for completion by the tasked assessor.

e. Serve as the technical review authority, performing initial review of all FWRA reports.

Return reports to assessors if corrections are required. For returned assessments, PHC-P personnel will mentor assessors to improve the quality of reports. If no corrections are identified, submit for CCMD-level review and approval.

f. Ensure assessors complete the FWRA checklist, cover memorandum, and after-action report IAW MIL-STD 3041A and this policy.

g. Liaison with FWRA program and database managers at DHA and USARPAC-ACSMED FWRA Coordinator.

SECTION 3: PROCEDURES 6

SECTION 3: PROCEDURES

3.1. GENERAL.

a. FWRAs are a pre-deployment health risk assessment performed on hotels, restaurants, caterers, host nation military dining facilities, and other food facilities being evaluated as a source of contracted food for U.S. Forces. Per USINDOPACOM FHP Guidance, FWRAs will be conducted for all USINDOPACOM and component deployments where Service members will consume contracted, locally procured food (including water and ice). The mission commander will receive the initial risk, mitigation strategies, and residual risk for the assessed findings at each facility. This helps the exercise commander better evaluate the risks associated with potential dining options. The mission commander must assume the risk associated with consuming locally procured food, water, and/or ice if they choose to contract locally procured food instead of utilizing approved sources.

b. Conducting a FWRA is not a substitute for a Food Protection Audit. Facilities assessed during FWRAs are not added to the Worldwide Directory of Sanitarily Approved Food Establishments for Armed Forces Procurement and cannot be utilized as Approved Sources by procurement agencies.

c. FWRAs are valid for six months or the duration of the activity-whichever is shorter.

Assessors should review the database for previous assessments conducted on facilities in preparation for their own assessment. To further minimize risk, transition to feeding troops from DoD Approved Sources should be considered for longer operations.

d. Complete utilization of DoD Approved Sources for feeding U.S. Forces precludes the need for a FWRA. Use of U.S. military mobile or field kitchens with product from approved vendors of the DLA Prime Vendor Program also precludes the need for a FWRA. Different types of occupational and environmental health site assessments (OEHSA) are appropriate in these circumstances.

e. Shipboard operations that are not anticipated to involve operations ashore are exempt from FWRA requirements.

3.2. REQUESTING A FWRA.

a. As soon as exercise locations and troop feeding plans are identified for a particular operation/exercise/event, the unit must determine if a FWRA may be required.

b. If FWRAs are required, the unit will determine if a qualified, trained assessor is available from their own unit.

(1) If none are available, the unit will request support from their Service Component Surgeon.

(2) If support is not available from the Service Component, the Service Component Surgeon or designee will request joint support through the USINDOPACOM FWRA Manager

SECTION 3: PROCEDURES 7

(usarmy.shafter.usarpac.list/acsmed-fwra@army.mil). Requestors should be prepared to aid the assessor for base access, interpreter support, transportation, and local coordination with the facility, etc.

(a) If the unit requires external support from USARPAC for FWRA execution, the Service Component Surgeon or designee will request support via the FWRA distribution email list at least eight weeks prior to required execution.

(b) When assistance is requested, the following information should be provided:

1. Name of unit requesting,

2. Event to be supported,

3. Location of facilities to be assessed, and

4. Desired date for assessment.

c. For questions on FWRA requirements or request procedures, contact your component surgeon office or reach out to USARPAC FWRA Coordinator via the FWRA email distro list.

3.3. FUNDING.

a. Funding for the FWRA is the responsibility of the unit responsible for funding the exercise, deployment, or event.

b. If the FWRA will occur in conjunction with another mission, such as a food protection audit, the responsible unit will fund only that part of the mission specific to the FWRA.

3.4. CONDUCTING THE FWRA.

a. To the maximum extent possible, newly trained assessors should accompany an experienced assessor on at least two FWRAs. When possible, the new assessor will observe one FWRA and conduct the second FWRA under supervision.

b. The assessor’s chain of command approves travel for FWRAs using Travel Tracker and Individual Antiterrorism Plan (TT/IATP) in addition to the Aircraft and Personnel Automated Clearance System (APACS). The assessor contacts the requesting unit for additional support upon tasking for the FWRA.

c. Not less than fifteen days prior to conducting the FWRA, assessors will verify they have access to the VSIMS FWRA database (https://isph.health.mil). If a VSIMS account is required, the assessor may contact the VSIMS support through the “Contact Us” link from the VSIMS App Portal or email usarmy.jbsa.medcom.mbx.medcom-vsims@health.mil. In addition, the assessor will verify their inclusion in the FWRA Assessors USINDOPACOM group on VSIMS.

To request being added to the group, VSIMS account holders will send an email to the ACSMED FWRA distro.

mailto:usarmy.shafter.usarpac.list/acsmed-fwra@army.mil https://isph.health.mil/

SECTION 3: PROCEDURES 8

d. Not less than five working days prior to conducting the FWRA, the assessor will send a completed AIM worksheet for each facility to be assessed to the USARPAC FWRA email.

e. Prior to conducting the FWRA, the assessor must review the MIL-HDBK-3041A.

f. Assessors should review the database for previous assessments conducted on facilities they will assess.

g. The FWRA Checklist will be used to assess each facility. An example of the FWRA checklist can be found in MIL-HDBK-3041A. To the extent possible, the food facility should be in operation during the FWRA. The assessor should include as much of the following in their assessment as possible: food delivery, food preparation and cooking, serving line operation, foods to exclude, and clean-up. For items with an initial risk level of high or extremely high, the product to be excluded if risk not mitigated must be listed.

h. Step III Remarks of the FWRA checklist must include information listed below.

(1) Administrative

(a) Name of event or exercise that the FWRA supports.

(b) Hours of operation for food service, capacity limits, number of food employees, health physical frequencies, and background checks

(c) Third party audits/inspection: name of audit/ inspection group, frequency, date, and results of last inspection.

(d) Water and ice testing: Areas assessor tested and results.

(e) Food suppliers: List of location for food supplies. Is it a reputable source?

(f) Food safety plan: Is there one in place? If yes, briefly describe.

(2) Moderate Risk Items: List the Significant Initial Risk (SIR), describe the SIR, and describe the mitigation strategy.

i. Public drinking water in many USINDOPACOM locations is considered non-potable due to a lack of residual disinfectant and inability to assess the host nation water infrastructure.

Assessors should take this into account during the FWRA.

j. During the FWRA, the assessor should discuss areas posing food safety risk with the facility manager. Where possible, the assessor should seek buy-in from the facility on mitigation strategies. The assessor should also notify the facility manager of any food items that will be recommended for exclusion from U.S. Forces feeding plan.

3.5. REPORTING FWRA RESULTS.

a. Copies of FWRA reports and assessment outcomes are NOT provided to the assessed facilities.

SECTION 3: PROCEDURES 9

b. If U.S. Forces are present at the location, the assessor should brief the Operational Commander, or other responsible individual, and the Contracting Officer and/or Contracting Officer Representative before departing. If these individuals are not available at the location, they should be briefed at the first opportunity. The briefing should clearly convey the initial health risk level, mitigation recommendations, and the residual foodborne illness health risk assessment information.

c. Use of the FWRA database is mandatory, except for Special Operations Command, Pacific or classified missions. Assessors are given access to the database during the FWRA training course and added to the USINDOPACOM assessor list upon request. If the database is not accessible during the FWRA trip, FWRA reports will be entered no later than five business days after returning to home station.

d. The assessor will prepare a cover memorandum using the template provided in Figure 2.

The template provides examples of the type of information that must be provided to the Operational Commander and other responsible parties but is not all-inclusive and should be modified as needed. Content may be added, but the cover memorandum must include all information in the template. If more than one facility was assessed in each location, each should be rank ordered according to risk. Even if one facility is assessed, the assessor will prepare a cover memorandum with the required information.

e. In addition to the cover memorandum, the assessor will produce an After-Action Report (AAR) as shown in Figure 3. Both the cover memorandum and AAR will be uploaded into VSIMS and associated with the appropriate checklists.

f. Acceptance of any risk identified during the FWRA is strictly a Command function. The POC receiving the final report must ensure that the relevant Commander receives the report and cover memorandum.

g. As part of the “deployment health activities" as described in DoD Instruction 6490.03, Commanders (or their designated representatives) should confirm that the risk mitigation strategies identified in the FWRA have been implemented by the food facility. This may be accomplished by ensuring that preventive medicine, public health, or veterinary services personnel are present during the event execution to oversee food preparation operations and service.

SECTION 3: PROCEDURES 10

Figure 1. Assessment Instruction Memo (AIM)

SECTION 3: PROCEDURES 11

SECTION 3: PROCEDURES 12

Figure 2. Cover Memorandum

SECTION 3: PROCEDURES 13

SECTION 3: PROCEDURES 14

Figure 3. After Action Report

GLOSSARY 15

GLOSSARY

G.1. ACRONYMS.

ACRONYM MEANING

AAR After-Action Report

ACSMED

AIM

AOR

Assistant Chief of Staff-Medical Assessment Instruction Memo Area of Responsibility

CCMD Combatant Command

DHA

DIRLAUTH

DoD

Defense Health Agency direct liaison authority Department of Defense

FWRA Food and Water Risk Assessment

GPS

OEHSA

PHC-P VSD

POC

SME

TDY/TAD

USARPAC

USINDOPACOM

VSIMS

Global positioning system

Occupational and environmental health site assessment

Public Health Command – Pacific Veterinary Service Directorate Point of contact

Subject Matter Expert

Temporary duty travel/Temporary additional duty

United States Army Pacific United States Indo-Pacific Command

Veterinary Service Information Management System

GLOSSARY 16

G.2. DEFINITIONS.

Unless otherwise noted, these terms and their definitions are for the purpose of this issuance.

TERM DEFINITION

assessor A qualified and trained individual who conducts a FWRA, writes the report and associated documents, and routes final copies appropriately. Personnel authorized to perform FWRAs are VCOs (64 Area of Concentration, 640 A (FSO), and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine formally trained as a VCO), Army Environmental Science and Engineering Officers (ESEO – 72D), Navy Medical Department Officers with Navy officer billet code (NOBC) 1860, and Air Force Biomedical Specialist Public Health Officers (43HX). No enlisted personnel are authorized to conduct FWRAs.

CCMD reviewer The individual who provides the final review and acceptance of FWRA reports. The USARPAC-ACSMED FWRA Coordinator will perform this function within USINDOPACOM.

Deployment health activity

Health-related activities and measures that are undertaken to assess and minimize health risks associated with deployment. Activities encompass the regular collection, analysis, interpretation, recording, archiving, and distribution of health-related data used for monitoring the health of individuals or a deployed population, and for intervening in a timely manner to prevent, treat, or control the occurrence of disease or injury. Activities are described in the DHA deployment health procedural instruction and may include, but are not limited to, health risk assessment, health risk mitigation including feral animal risk mitigation, risk communications, medical countermeasures, health surveillance including OEH surveillance and, when appropriate, medical surveillance (e.g., applicable occupational medical surveillance or deployment-related health assessments), force health protection, safety and occupational health, personal protective equipment, sanitation and hygiene, integrated pest management, food protection, and food and water risk assessments.

Food protection audit

An in-depth examination of an establishment's policy and procedures to determine effectiveness and compliance as it applies to the protection of food. Food protection audits examine and evaluate the adequacy of a commercial establishment's food safety, food defense, and other applicable control systems. Audits are performed by U.S.

Army VCOs to determine initial or continued listing as a DoD Approved Source in the Worldwide Directory of Sanitarily Approved Food Establishments for Armed Forces Procurement.

FWRA

An assessment conducted under specific circumstances by veterinary or public health personnel to assess food operations to identify and

GLOSSARY 17

mitigate risk from intentional and unintentional contamination.

Circumstances under which an assessment is conducted include short term deployments, for deployed forces during initial entry deployment, and exercises and other short-term operations conducted outside the United States or its territories.

FWRA program A program conducted under specific circumstances by veterinary or public health personnel to assess food operations to identify and mitigate risk from intentional and unintentional contamination.

Circumstances under which an assessment is conducted include short-term deployments, initial entry of deployment, and exercises and other short-term operations conducted outside the United States or its territories.

Technical reviewer

A subject matter expert in food protection who provides the initial review of FWRA reports. For USINDOPACOM FWRAs, the primary technical reviewer will be the Public Health Command- Pacific FSO (640A) or their designated representative.

REFERENCES 18

REFERENCES

Department of the Air Force Instruction 48-116, “Food Safety Program,” March 10, 2023

Army Regulation 40-657/NAVSUPINST 4355.4H/MCO P10110.31H, “Veterinary/Medical Food Safety, Quality Assurance, and Laboratory Service," January 21, 2005

DoD Directive 6200.04, “Force Health Protection (FHP),” October 9, 2004

DoD Directive 6400.04E, “DoD Veterinary Public and Animal Health Services,” June 27, 2013, as amended in Change 2, August 29, 2017

DoD Directive 6490.02E. “Comprehensive Health Surveillance,” February 8, 2012, as amended in Change 2, August 28, 2017

DoD Instruction 6490.03, “Deployment Health,” June 19, 2019

DoD Veterinary Service Activity Policy Memorandum B-004, Implementation of Military Standard 3041 (MIL-STD-3041), “Requirements for FWRAs and Military Handbook”

(MIL-HDBK-3041), "Guidelines for Conducting Food and Water Risk Assessments,"

September 12, 2014

Joint Publication 4-02, “Joint Health Services,” August 29, 2023

MIL-HDBK-3041A, “Guidelines for Conducting Food and Water Risk Assessments (FWRA),” June 1, 2022

MIL-STD-3041A, “Requirements for Food and Water Risk Assessment (FWRA),” June 1, 2022.

USINDOPACOM Message 160433Z Oct 2024, “FY 2025 Force Health Protection Guidance for

USINDOPACOM AOR”

References