IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 23 APRIL 2009 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20090001978 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, in effect, that he receive Non-Physician Board Certified Pay (NPBCP) for the period 13 June 2005 through 20 January 2008. 2. The applicant states he learned in August 2008 that he was eligible for NPBCP in the amount of $166.66 per month commencing with the date he was called to active duty as a member of the Active Guard Reserve (AGR) Program. He states his NPBCP was approved and started in January 2008 but that the AMEDD (Army Medical Department) Special Pay Branch informed him they were unable to approve retroactive entitlements further back than one year and directed that he apply to this Board. 3. The applicant provides e-mail traffic from the AMEDD Special Pay Branch directing him to petition this Board for relief and documents confirming his eligibility for NPBCP. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Records available to the Board indicate the applicant was awarded his Master of Physician Assistant Studies Degree by the University of Nebraska Medical Center in May 2005. He was initially certified by the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants on 9 June 2005. 2. On 13 June 2005 the applicant, who was a member of the Montana Army National Guard (MTARNG), was ordered to full-time National Guard duty in an AGR status as a CST (Civil Support Team) Physician Assistant under Title 32, U.S. Code. 3. In September 2008 the 83rd CST of the MTARNG submitted a request for special pay for the applicant based on his entry on active duty in June 2005. That office was subsequently informed by the AMEDD Special Pay Division that they could initiate pay commencing on 21 January 2008 as they were permitted to authorize only up to one year of back pay entitlements. 4. Section 050702, Chapter 5, Volume 7A of the DoD Financial Management Regulation states that the Secretary of the Military Department (or designee) concerned may authorize the payment of special pay to an officer who is a health care provider (other than a psychologist), who has a post baccalaureate degree, and is certified by a professional board in the officer’s specialty. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The evidence of record shows that the applicant is a Physician Assistant who held a post baccalaureate degree and was certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants prior to his entry on active duty on 13 June 2005. As such he is eligible for NPBCP commencing on the date he entered active duty through 20 January 2008, the day prior to the date AMEDD was able to approve his request for the special pay. 2. Based on the foregoing and in the interest of justice, the applicant is entitled to NPBCP for the period from 13 June 2005 through 20 January 2008. Therefore, his records should be corrected to show entitlement to this pay. 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 the applicant is certified and authorized NPBCP for the period 13 June 2005 through 20 January 2008, that he requested such pay in a timely manner, and that his request(s) was approved; b. authorizing NPBCP in arrears for the period from 13 June 2005 through 20 January 2008; and c. that the Defense Finance and Accounting Service pay the applicant the NPBCP in arrears for the same period. _________XXX_____________ 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) AR20090001978 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20090001978 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1