RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2005-01332
            INDEX CODE:  135.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO


MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  22 OCTOBER 2006
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded an additional 12 months of service credit for a Master’s
Degree in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS), which would  change  his
date of rank (DOR) to the grade of captain from 15 May 2001 to 15  May
2000.
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Upon his reentry to active duty on 10 July  2004,  he  was  not  given
constructive service credit for his MPAS.

He was awarded  two  years  of  credit  for  his  previous  Biomedical
Sciences Corps (BSC) experience as a physician assistant,  which  made
his current DOR 15 May 2001.  His appeal to have the  advanced  degree
credit awarded was denied.

He completed his Bachelor of Science (BS) degree  in  1995,  his  MPAS
degree in 1997 and did not start his Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)  degree
until 1999.

The Air  Force  currently  has  an  Interservice  Physician  Assistant
Program (IPAP) that does award its graduating students  who  have  the
same degree (MPAS) with 12  months  of  service  credit  towards  DOR.
Those students are also on  active  duty  and  awarded  credit,  which
contradicts the information he was provided.   He  believes  he  is  a
special case, in which, he should be awarded one year of  constructive
service credit (CSC).  He meets all of the requirements  according  to
the regulation, had a break in  service  (transition  to  the  Medical
Service Corps (MSC) from the Biomedical Sciences Corps (BSC)), and his
degree does contribute tremendously to his daily  Air  Force  mission.
His case is a very unusual, but his advanced degree is being  utilized
and is no different from  the  other  degrees  that  are  being  given
credit.

In support of his request, the applicant submits a personal  statement
and additional documents associated  with  the  issues  cited  in  his
contentions.  The applicant’s complete submission,  with  attachments,
is at Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Information extracted from the available  records  and  the  Personnel
Data System (PDS) indicates that, on 13 July 1995, the  applicant  was
appointed a second lieutenant, Reserve of the  Air  Force,  Biomedical
Sciences Corps (BSC) and was voluntarily ordered  to  extended  active
duty in that grade of 14 July 1995.  He was credited with 9  years,  9
months and 4 days of prior  active  duty  enlisted  service.   He  was
subsequently integrated into the Regular Air Force and promoted to the
grade of first lieutenant, effective and with a date  of  rank  of  13
July 1999.  He was  honorably  discharged  from  all  appointments  by
reason of completion of required  service  on  13  July  1999,  having
served 4 years on active duty.

On 16 May 2003, the applicant was appointed a captain, Reserve of  the
Air Force, Medical Corps (MC) and on 10 July 2004, he was  voluntarily
ordered to extended active duty in that grade for a  period  of  three
years.  Based on the award of constructive service credit in excess of
the 4 years required for entry on active duty in the grade of captain,
his current grade date of rank (CGDOR) was established as 15 May 2001.
 His current duty title is flight surgeon, Robins AFB,  GA,  effective
10 September 2004.
_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPAMF2 recommends the application be  denied.   DPAMF2  states
that in January 2003,  the  Air  Force  implemented  the  Interservice
Physician Assistant Program (IPAP).  This program is for Army and  Air
Force enlisted members going through a two-year program  to  earn  one
year of constructive service credit (CSC).  The first year is to  earn
a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree and the second year  is  to  earn  a
Master’s (MS) degree.  The applicant earned his degree in 1997.

DPAMF2 states the applicant did have  a  break  in  service,  but  his
Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)  was  not  factored  upon
reentry since he  earned  this  degree  while  on  active  duty  as  a
Biomedical Sciences Corps (BSC) Medical Officer.  Upon  reentry,  time
spent as a BSC was already factored  towards  CSC.   DPAMF2  indicates
that, in accordance with the governing  Air  Force  instruction,  when
education or training overlaps other  creditable  service,  count  the
constructive service first, then reduce the other  creditable  service
for any overlapping period.  Award full  constructive  credit  through
the date the officer completed professional requirements.   To  ensure
the applicant received fair and equitable treatment, on 25 April 2005,
they requested a Physician Education Branch review of  the  additional
degree for award of CSC and the determination was that additional  CSC
should not be awarded.

DPAMF2  references  the  Note  from  Table  2.7   of   the   governing
instruction.  They also state that, anyone earning a MPAS  today  from
any source other than IPAP, would not receive 12 months of CSC  unless
it adds adjunctive skills to  the  primary  specialty  and  contribute
directly to performance in the specialty  in  which  being  appointed.
Had the applicant earned his MPAS through IPAP, he would  have  earned
12 months of CSC.  The HQ AFPC/DPAMF2 evaluation, with attachments, is
at Exhibit C.
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR STAFF EVALUATION:

The applicant reviewed the advisory opinion and indicates he feels  he
falls under Rule 26 “All Other Specialties on  Case  by  Case  Basis,”
Table 2.7, of AFI  36-2005.   The  MPAS  degree  does  add  adjunctive
skills, much more than several other Master Degrees which are  awarded
credit.  The IPAP program did not exist when he  was  on  active  duty
and, had it been in place, he would have had the credit.  His break in
service should be considered and this MPAS degree should be one of the
special cases mentioned in the governing  Instruction.   He,  nor  his
supervisor, were contacted to find out the adjunctive skills and costs
he has saved the Air Force by functioning at  a  much  advanced  level
than  a  physician  with  one  year  of  internship   training.    His
constructive credit was “l/2 time” of four years for the time  he  was
BSC officer, therefore, the fact he earned an MPAS degree  and  had  a
break in service, should not count as an “overlapping” service credit.
 If he had been awarded four years service credit, then he  could  see
the point that you cannot get “additional  overlapping  credit.”   The
spirit of AFI 36-2005 and Rule 26 in Table 2.7 should  be  applied  in
his case.  A complete copy of this response, with  attachment,  is  at
Exhibit E.
_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing  law
or regulations.

2.  The application was timely filed.

3.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented  to  demonstrate
the  existence  of  error  or  injustice.   We  took  notice  of   the
applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case.  In
this respect, we note the  applicant’s  Masters  Physician  Assistance
Studies (MPAS) was  earned  while  on  active  duty  as  a  Biomedical
Sciences Corps (BSC) Medical Officer.  Hence, the time spent as a  BSC
was already factored into his constructive service credit (CSC) at the
time of his reentry on active duty.  In addition, upon further  review
by the Chief of the Physician Education Branch (HQ AFPC/DPAME), it was
determined that no additional CSC should  be  awarded.   Although  the
applicant disagrees with this decision, we find no reason to  question
DPAME’s  decision  in  determining  disapproval  of   additional   CSC
entitlement.  In view of the foregoing, we agree with the opinion  and
recommendation of the Air Force office of primary  responsibility  and
adopt the rationale expressed as the basis for our decision  that  the
applicant has failed to sustain his burden that he has suffered either
an error or an injustice.  In the absence of  persuasive  evidence  to
the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought
in this application.
_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The  applicant  be  notified  that  the  evidence  presented  did  not
demonstrate the existence of material error  or  injustice;  that  the
application was denied without a personal  appearance;  and  that  the
application will only be reconsidered upon  the  submission  of  newly
discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application.
_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered Docket  Number  BC-2005-
01332 in Executive Session on 12 July 2005, under  the  provisions  of
AFI 36-2603:

                  Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Chair
                  Mr. Frederick R. Beaman III, Member
                  Ms. Dorothy P. Loeb, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 15 Apr 05, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPAMF2, dated 10 May 05, w/atchs.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 13 May 05.
   Exhibit E.  Letter from Applicant, undated, w/atch.




                                   THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
                                   Chair