DEFENSE ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY SYSTEM (DEERS)

The DEERS office is located in The Village Center, Building 1551, on the corner of 4th Street and Griffin Road.  Regular business hours are
7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, with closure during national holidays.  Primary services provided are DEERS enrollment, issuance
of family member ID Cards and Common Access Cards to military and DoD civilian personnel.  DEERS also installs PKI certificates on the CAC.  Family members, Officers, SNCOs, and DoD Employees are able to call (760) 830-1911/1922 and schedule an appointment.  E5 and below will be serviced on a walk-in basis.  More information can be obtained by calling (760) 830-5365. 

MEDICAL CARE

Ever since the Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital opened for business, in its current location in 1993, medical care has evolved to levels not even dreamed of 15 years ago.

To keep pace with those medical advances the hospital and its staff has also evolved to provide the best and latest medical practices available. The hospital’s staff represents the best in Navy Medicine, with a mission to “deliver quality medical, psychological healthcare and services in a safe environment and be ready to deploy.”

To oversee the medical care provided to patients, the hospital has been fully accredited by the Joint Commission. Accreditation is a professional recognition of hospitals that strive to provide high-quality care.

In recent years the hospital has remodeled its birthing suites to a home-like atmosphere where the entire family can participate in welcoming the newest member to their family if they so wish.  To enhance that care to new babies and families the hospital worked diligently toward becoming a “Baby-Friendly Hospital” and achieved that honor in 2005 when Baby-Friendly USA selected this Command as one of 48 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers in the United States.

To keep up with changes in health care and a growing population the hospital has expanded its Laboratory, Pharmacy and Physical Therapy Spaces to better serve patients.

Deploying Marines and Sailors know that their families are well cared for here when they are far from home. But they also need to know that caring for active duty members is a primary mission of this hospital.

With that in mind, a recent Department of Defense initiative to establish a Deployment Health Center to provide health screenings relating to deploying, deployment and post-deployment was mandated to care for deploying members. The Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital was one of the first to staff and open its Center. The types of screenings available here are:

Also, a full spectrum of psychological, emotional and physiologic screening services associated with deployments are available to our active duty Marines and Sailors.

The Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital is a small community type hospital which offers inpatient care, Labor, Delivery, Recovery and Postpartum services in “Desert Beginnings,” Adult Medical Care Clinic (BAS for Head Quarters Battalion and the Marine Corps Communications School).  Primary outpatient care is provided in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Obstetrics/Gynecology.  Also, Mental Health Services, General Surgery, Orthopedics and Optometry are provided.  Ancillary services are supported by Pharmacy, Laboratory and Radiology Departments.  Rehabilitation treatment is available in a newly remodeled Physical Therapy Department.  Emergency Medicine is served by an Emergency Medicine Department which is open for emergency medical care 24 hours a day.

Normal working hours for all clinics in the hospital is from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The hospital is not a walk-in clinic.  The clinics are run on an appointment basis, and they try to stay on schedule.  If you wake up feeling ill, in most cases you can call the appointment line at 830-2752 and obtain a same-day appointment.  The first appointments offered in the mornings will begin at 8 a.m., except on Thursdays, when the first appointments begin at 9 a.m.  The last morning appointments will be at 11:40 a.m. and will resume in the afternoon at 1 p.m. with the last available appointment of the day offered at 4 p.m.  Normal appointments are 20 minutes in length.  To obtain an outpatient appointment, or to cancel an appointment at the hospital call 830-2752 during normal working hours.

For after-hours non-emergent medical information you can call the hospital’s Quarterdeck at 830-2190 and a duty physician will return your call.  Of course for medical emergencies the number to call is 911.

Important numbers to note:

The hospital mailing address:

COMMANDING OFFICER
ATTN SECTION/CODE/TITLE
NAVAL HOSPITAL
BOX 788250
TWENTYNINE PALMS CA 92278-8250

DENTAL SERVICES

The 23rd Dental Company provides routine and emergency care for all military personnel assigned to Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. The clinic is located in Bldg. 1591 on Griffin Road near 7th Street. Clinic hours are Mondays through Fridays, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Emergencies are seen at any time. There is 24-hour clinic coverage seven days a week.

SERVICES PROVIDED (FOR ACTIVE DUTY):

• Annual examinations
• Cleanings
• Fillings
• Prosthetics (Fixed and Removable false teeth)
• Endodontics (Root Canal)
• Periodontics (Gum therapy)
• Oral Surgery (Extractions as required)
• Dietary Counseling (as related to oral health)
• Sealants (protective coating for teeth)

SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS:

Service members who are E-5 and above may make an appointment by calling (760) 830-7053/7054. E-4s and below must make initial appointments in person at the dental clinic or through their unit dental liaison. Although emergency care is available for all military beneficiaries, family members and retirees are strongly encouraged to enroll in their respective dental insurance programs. Third party insurance programs afford an opportunity to receive comprehensive dental care from civilian dentists in the communities serving the Combat Center.

COMMAND RELIGIOUS PROGRAM

The Religious Ministries Directorate offers three Protestant Sunday services. The 8 a.m. service is primarily Non-Denominational, The 9:30 a.m. Protestant Divine service is a combination of Liturgical and Evangelical worship, and the 6 p.m. Come as you are Chapel (CAYAC) service is combined of Gospel and Holiness traditions. Roman Catholic Mass is offered Mondays through Fridays, with three Masses on Sundays. Additionally, the directorate offers Jewish, Apostolic, Wiccan and Muslim worship opportunities. Complete Religious Education, single Marine, marriage enrichment and choir programs are also available in both the Protestant and Catholic faith traditions. Chaplains conduct and assist with Special Ordinances, Sacraments and Rituals, such as baptism, baby dedications, weddings and confirmations. Several Boy and Girl Scout programs are offered and endorsed in both chapel communities. Directorate offices and classrooms are located in the southeast wing of the
Village Center, Building 1551. For further information call (760) 830-6304 during duty hours. The Duty Chaplain may be contacted after hours or
on holidays at (760) 830-2190.

THE VILLAGE CENTER

Building 1551 is the Village Center.  This building houses a unique grouping of reliable service-oriented resources, designed to be one-stop-shopping for information and help.  There you will find Information and Referral, Relocation Assistance, Marine Corps Family Team Building, Personal Financial Management Program, Exceptional Family Member Program, Chaplains Religious Enrichment Development Operation, Military Personnel/DEERS/ID Card Office, Human Resources (Civilian Personnel) Office, American Red Cross, and Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. The Village Center also boasts a computer hub network that connects the military community with on-site help from a host of proactive and preventative programs.  For further information please call Information and Referral at (760) 830-6344 or toll free 1-877-727-5300.

Organizations located in The Village Center:

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

The Public Affairs Office is located in Bldg. 1417. Public Affairs acts as an internal information outlet providing a twice-weekly news radio broadcast on three local radio stations, a daily news briefs slide show on Command Cable channel six, and daily Speedcall updates, as well as publishing the Observation Post, the Combat Center’s weekly newspaper.  Highlights from each week’s newspaper are placed on the PAO Web page at http://www.op29online.com.  Free classified advertising is available in the OP for active duty and retired military personnel and their family members, as well as Combat Center civil service workers. The deadline for submitting ads is noon Friday, the week prior to publication. The Public Affairs Officer is the Combat Center’s sole release authority for information about the command, its activities or personnel. Personnel contacted by media should refer them to the Public Affairs Office at (760) 830-6213.

The Public Affairs Office also coordinates outside requests for equipment, the color guard and tours. Tours are conducted on the first and third Wednesday of each month between September and May.  For more information contact the Public Affairs Office at (760) 830-3735.

COMMISSARY

The Commissary sells food and household products at cost. It has a well-stocked Service Deli and Bakery. All departments including fresh meat, fresh fish and produce are completely self-service.  For the convenience of their patrons they also have two automated teller machines, one for Federal Credit Union members through the Fort Sill National Bank.

Located in Bldg. 1025, the hours of operation are: Sundays noon to 6 p.m. and Tuesdays through Saturdays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Commissary is closed Mondays and holidays. When a holiday falls on Monday, the Commissary is closed only on the holiday. Children under 11 years of age are welcome in the store with adult supervision. All children must be kept under strict supervision at all times.  To make shopping convenient and easy, the commissary accepts food stamps, WIC and most coupons.  Special ordering is also available.  Special orders will require two day advance notice. Produce takes special orders for fruit/vegetable trays and fruit baskets. Please call 830-7572 ext. 3005 to place your orders in Grocery and ext. 3013 for Produce.

As always, the Commissary welcomes suggestions and comments to serve patrons’ shopping needs better. A suggestion box is at the Commissary entrance. Customer Service is (760) 830-7572 ext. 3009/3010/3003.

CREDIT UNION

For over 50 years Pacific Marine Credit Union has provided financial services to military personnel and their families.  PMCU offers free
checking and savings accounts, free internet home banking, including free bill pay and e-statements, free VISA check card and free access to more than 20,000 ATM’s worldwide.  PMCU also has branches on MCB Camp Pendleton, MCRD San Diego, Barstow, Oceanside, Vista, and San Marcos.  The credit union is located in Bldg. 1515 and is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For additional information please
call (800) 736-4500 or visit their Website at www.pmcu.com

BANKING

Named “Navy Bank of the Year” by the Department of the Navy, the Armed Services Bank is a branch of the Fort Sill National Bank.  With more than 52 years of service to the military community, FSNB has deposit accounts and loan products tailored specifically for military members and their families.  An absolutely free checking account, loans for junior enlisted, and $1,000 relocation loans at five percent (APR) for newly assigned personnel are just a few of the products developed by the FSNB - The Armed Services Bank.

A free ATM card with automatic teller machines located at the main bank, commissary, main exchange, Naval hospital and Camp Wilson assure you free access to funds 24 hours a day.  In addition, international access to your funds is available through the AFFN and CIRRUS systems.

Along with money orders and traveler’s checks, FSNB offers MasterCard and VISA credit cards and a VISA “Check-Card”.  To help you in case of a mistake in your checkbook, Overdraft Protection is also available.

FSNB, located in Bldg. 1515 on Brown Street, is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., excluding federal holidays. Call (760) 368-3077 or from base phones at (760) 830-3944.

POST OFFICE

A United States Post Office is located in Bldg. 1435. Hours of operations are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The ZIP Code for units aboard the Combat Center is 92278; housing residents’ zip code is 92277.

VETERINARY SERVICES

Veterinary Services aboard MCAGCC offers both sick call and vaccination appointments for the pets of active duty and retired service members. Vet Services is located behind the Commissary in building 1028.  Please call (760) 830-6896 for an appointment or more information.

The Twentynine Palms Installation Guide is published by Benchmark Publications Incorporated, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Marine Corps, under exclusive written contract with the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts and supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Marine Corps or Benchmark Publications Incorporated of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regarded to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor other purchaser, user or patron.

If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. The Twentynine Palms Guide is an unofficial publication authorized by AR 360-1. Editorial content is prepared, edited and provided by the Public Affairs Office of MCAGCC, Twentynine Palms.