Authority and Regulatory Framework
- Secretary of National Defense empowered to issue necessary regulations
- Chief of Dental Corps tasked with defining procedures and directing dental functions
- All matters related to dentistry must be referred to the Dental Corps
Responsibilities and Powers of the Dental Corps
- Establish professional standards and policies for dental service
- Issue instructions and conduct inspections or surveys to maintain standards
- Initiate and direct all actions related to dental service including facilities, equipment, supplies, research, and personnel management
- Handle personnel actions such as appointment, training, classification, assignment, transfer, promotion, and decoration
- Submit budget estimates specifically for the Dental Service
- Medical Service budgets to include separate allocation for Dental Service
Leadership and Administration
- Chief of Dental Corps must be a Dental Corps officer of not less than Lieutenant Colonel with at least 15 years continuous service
- Chief to administer all matters relating to the Dental Service
- Chief to hold rank, pay, and allowances not lower than Colonel while serving
- Dental surgeons at AFP headquarters/installations are directly responsible to commanding officers for dental service administration
Composition and Rank Structure
- Minimum of two Dental Corps officers per 1,000 AFP personnel authorized
- In wartime or emergencies, Dental Corps officers to be commissioned and graded similarly to Medical Corps
- Officers of Dental Corps to receive rank, pay, and allowances corresponding to equivalent Medical Corps grades
Repeal and Non-Reduction Clause
- All conflicting laws or provisions are repealed
- Act does not reduce any person's current grade or rank
Effectivity
- Act becomes effective upon approval on June 10, 1950