IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  18 April 2013

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20130001164 


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, retroactive payment of an indefinite Health Professions Officer Board Certification Pay (HPOBCP) contract at $6,000/year retroactive to 26 April 2012.  

2.  The applicant states he was certified as a Physician Assistant by the National Commission on Certification of Physician’s Assistants (NCCPA) on 26 April 2012. However, due to deployment to Afghanistan he was unable to successfully submit his Board Certification Pay/Incentive Pay request in time.    

3.  The applicant provides his NCCPA Board Certification Number in support of his request.  

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  After prior enlisted and commissioned service, on 3 August 2008, the applicant was appointed a captain in the Medical Specialist branch as a Physician Assistant (PA).  

2.  In connection with the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was obtained from the Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG), Chief, Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Special Pay Branch.  This official confirms the applicant is under an indefinite HPOBCP at $6,000/year; payable at $500/month which was effective 1 October 2012.  In addition, there is a processed 1-year HPO Incentive Pay (HPOIP) contract at $5,000/year; payable at $416.66/month which was effective 1 October 2012.  
3.  The OTSG official further indicates the applicant is eligible to receive an indefinite HPOBCP contract at $6,000/year; payable $500/month effective 
26 April 2012.  This would authorize the applicant's prorated payment for the period 26 April 2012 to 30 September 2012, approximately $2,583; however, the exact amount should be determined by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). 

4.  On 5 March 2013, the applicant was provided a copy of the OTSG advisory opinion in order to have the opportunity to respond.  To date, he has failed to reply.  

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’ s request for retroactive payment of an indefinite HPOBCP contract at $6,000/year retroactive to 26 April 2012 based on his PA board certification has been carefully considered and found to have merit.    

2.  OTSG, the agency responsible for administering AMEDD Special Pay Programs to include HPOBCP, confirms the applicant was eligible to execute an indefinite HPOBCP contract at $6,000/year payable at $500/month effective 
26 April 2012.  His failure to execute this contract was the result of the applicant’s deployment, which was due to no fault of his own.   

3.  In view of the facts of the case, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s record to show he entered into an indefinite HPOBCP agreement at $6,000/year payable at $500/month, effective 26 April 2012.  DFAS should provide him all retroactive pay due between 26 April 2012 and 30 September 2012.

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 showing the applicant entered into an indefinite HPOBCP agreement at $6,000/year payable at $500/month, effective 26 April 2012.  DFAS should provide the applicant all retroactive HPOBCP pay due between 26 April 2012 and 30 September 2012.



      _______ _   __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)                                         AR20130001164



3


ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


1

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20130001164



2


ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


1