IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 27 May 2010 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20090014960 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests correction of his records to reflect he was originally commissioned in the rank of captain (CPT) instead of the rank of first lieutenant (1LT). 2. The applicant states that upon being accessioned as a U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) chaplain in June 2003, his previous ministry experience (PME) was not considered when his grade determination was made. He continues by stating that in 2003 he had completed 10 years of PME after completing the educational requirements to become a chaplain. Therefore, he should have been credited with 4 years of constructive credit instead of 3 years and he should have been commissioned as a CPT instead of a 1LT. 3. The applicant provides: * a memorandum from the Department of the Army, Office of the Chief of Chaplains * a Computation Sheet and Record of Award of Entry Grade Credit (Army Reserve - Chaplain Corps) * an excerpt from Army Regulation 135-100 (Appointment of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the Army) * a DA Form 2088 (Certificate of Ecclesiastical Endorsement) * a copy of his original appointment memorandum as a 1LT showing 3 years constructive credit, dated 19 June 2003 * a copy of the corrected copy, dated 13 February 2006, of his original appointment memorandum showing 4 years constructive credit CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant was originally appointed as a USAR chaplain in the rank of 1LT on 20 June 2003 and he was credited with 3 years of service in an active status. 2. On 13 February 2006, a corrected copy of his original appointment was published by U.S. Army Human Resources Command, St. Louis, MO which credited the applicant with 4 years of service in an active status. 3. The memorandum and Computation Sheet and Record of Award of Entry Grade Credit provided to the applicant by the Office of the Chief of Chaplains provides, in pertinent part, that the applicant should have been initially commissioned in the rank of CPT. 4. Army Regulation 135-100 provides in table 3-1, in pertinent part, that a person who begins commissioned service after obtaining the additional education, training, or experience required for appointment or assignment as a commissioned officer in a professional field will be awarded 3 years of constructive credit upon initial appointment and 1 additional year for 7 or more years of extensive practical experience in a ministry as documented on the DD Form 2088. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant’s contention that he should have been commissioned in the rank of CPT instead of 1LT has been noted and appears to have merit. 2. The evidence of record shows that the applicant was subsequently granted 4 years of constructive credit for his initial appointment. However, no action was taken to change his initial entry grade to CPT. 3. Accordingly, his records should be corrected to show that he was initially appointed to the rank of CPT on 20 June 2003 and that he be paid all back pay and allowances from that date. 4. In the event that the applicant is eligible for promotion consideration based on this change, his records should be placed before all selection boards to which he is entitled to consideration provided he is otherwise eligible. BOARD VOTE: ____X___ __X_____ __X_____ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. showing he was initially appointed to the rank of CPT on 20 June 2003, b. paying him all back pay and allowances from that date, and c. The Board also recommends that in the event that the applicant is eligible for promotion consideration based on this change, his records should be placed before all promotion selection boards to which he is entitled to consideration providing he is otherwise eligible. ________X____________ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20090014960 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20090014960 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1