| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Edmund P. Mercanti | Analyst |
| Mr. Stanley Kelley | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Raymond J. Wagner | Member | |
| Ms. Mae M. Bullock | Member |
2. The applicant requests that he be given constructive service credit for his Masters of Medical Science degree.
3. The applicant states that his Masters of Medical Science degree enhances his skills and training as a physician. He adds that the constructive service credit will allow for him to be considered for promotion to major at an earlier date.
4. In support of his request, he submits college records which show that he was awarded a Masters of Medical Science on 29 May 1998.
5. The applicant’s military records show that he was commissioned as a captain, Medical Corps, on 1 June 2002. He was given 4 years of constructive service credit at that time. He entered on active duty on 14 June 2002. On the date he submitted his application, he was serving on active duty as a captain.
6. In the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was obtained from the Office of The Surgeon General (OTSG). The OTSG stated that the applicant was not given credit for his Masters of Medical Science degree. The OTSG recommended approval of the applicant’s request, although it does not give a reason for its recommendation. Since a reason for the recommendation was not provided, the staff of the Board determined it was necessary to contact the OTSG. The OTSG stated that they review different degrees to determine whether they meet the criteria for additional service credit. A record of those degrees which are approved are then maintained by that office. A Masters in Medical Science degree was first given constructive service credit in 1996 by their office. Since that date, they routinely award constructive service credit for that degree.
7. Army Regulation 135-101, Table 3-4, lists the specialties which are authorized additional constructive service credit for advanced degrees. A Masters of Medical Science degree is not listed as a specialty which is authorized additional constructive service credit. This table does specify that specialties not listed in the table may be granted constructive service credit for advanced degrees when approved by the Secretary of the Army on a case-by-case basis. The applicant was furnished a copy of the advisory opinion and was given the opportunity to provide additional documentation or argument. He did not respond.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. Although a Masters of Medical Science degree is not listed as a degree for which constructive service is given, the OTSG has stated in its advisory opinion that their office would have given the applicant credit for this degree if it had been submitted prior to his commission.
2. Since the OTSG has determined that a Masters of Medical Science degree provides the “value added” necessary to warrant award of additional constructive service credit, the applicant should have his records corrected to be given that constructive service credit.
3. In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing the individual concerned was awarded two additional years of constructive service credit at the time of his commission, giving him a total of 6 years of constructive service credit.
BOARD VOTE:
___sk___ ___mmb_ ____rjw__ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
_________Stanley Kelley__________
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2003085682 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20031106 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | YYYYMMDD |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR . . . . . |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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