Manning strategy for the Army National Guard Army Medical Department (AMEDD) personnel in support of contingency operations and preplanned missions states that medical corps officers (Doctors), Dental Corps Officers, and Nurse Anesthetists are 90 day obligated AMEDD Officers while Physician Assistants, Veterinary Corps, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Psychologists, and Social Workers are considered 180 day obligated AMEDD Officers. In many states, PAs and other professional health care providers practice independently so a six-month deployment would be detrimental to a health care provider's practice similar to the practice of a doctor or a dentist.