RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 20 April 2004
DOCKET NUMBER: AR2003091684
I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record
of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in
the case of the above-named individual.
| |Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | |Director |
| |Mr. Edmund P. Mercanti | |Analyst |
The following members, a quorum, were present:
| |Mr. Thomas D. Howard, Jr. | |Chairperson |
| |Ms. Jennifer L. Prater | |Member |
| |Mr. Lawrence Foster | |Member |
The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.
The Board considered the following evidence:
Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records.
Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including advisory opinion,
if any).
THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:
1. The applicant requests that he be granted 2 years of constructive
service credit for his Masters degree.
2. The applicant states that he was not given constructive service credit
when he was commissioned, and the governing regulation states that 2 years
of constructive service credit will be granted Army Medical Department
(AMEDD) officers with Masters degrees at the time of commissioning.
3. The applicant provides: his oath of office; documents showing that he
was granted a degree of Master of Public Health on 25 May 2002; and, other
excerpts from his military records.
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. The applicant was commissioned as a second lieutenant, Medical Service
Corps (MSC), on 28 May 2002.
2. He was ordered to active duty on 4 June 2002 to fulfill a 4-year active
duty service obligation. He was not awarded any constructive service
credit.
3. On the date the applicant submitted his request, he was serving on
active duty as a second lieutenant.
4. 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 is not authorized constructive service credit for his Masters
degree because it is not his qualifying degree for commissioning, and it
does not add adjunctive skills that contribute directly to his primary
specialty. The OTSG recommends, in effect, that the applicant’s request be
denied. The applicant was provided a copy of this advisory opinion and
given an opportunity to submit a rebuttal. He did not respond.
5. Army Regulation 135-101 (Appointment of Reserve Commissioned Officers
for Assignment to Army Medical Department Branches) prescribes policy,
procedures and eligibility criteria for appointment in the Reserve
Components of the Army in the six branches of the AMEDD. Table 3-1 of this
regulation, paragraph 4, states that “Credit [may be granted] for
additional advanced degrees. Degree must add adjunctive skills to primary
specialty and must contribute directly to performance in anticipated duty
position. Credit is awarded based on full-time equivalent education up to
24 months for a master’s degree or up to 36 months for a doctorate.”
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. The OTSG determined that the applicant’s Masters degree did not warrant
constructive service credit because the degree was not his qualifying
degree for commissioning, and it did not add adjunctive skills that
contribute directly to his primary specialty.
2. The applicant has not submitted any argument or documentation which
would refute the OTSG’s assessment.
3. Since constructive service credit is based on the advanced degree
adding adjunctive skills that contribute directly to his primary specialty,
there is no basis for granting the applicant’s request.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:
The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable
error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall
merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the
records of the individual concerned.
_________Thomas D. Howard, Jr.________
CHAIRPERSON
INDEX
|CASE ID |AR2003091684 |
|SUFFIX | |
|RECON |YYYYMMDD |
|DATE BOARDED |20040420 |
|TYPE OF DISCHARGE |(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
|DATE OF DISCHARGE |YYYYMMDD |
|DISCHARGE AUTHORITY |AR . . . . . |
|DISCHARGE REASON | |
|BOARD DECISION |DENY |
|REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
|ISSUES 1. | |
|2. | |
|3. | |
|4. | |
|5. | |
|6. | |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003091270C070212
The applicant provides: his appointment as an Reserve Commissioned Officer; his Air Force and Army DD Forms 214; the orders recalling him to active duty; excerpts from his military records; and documents showing that he was granted two Master degrees, one in Electrical Engineering in 1989, and one in Education in 1981. On the date he submitted his request, he was serving on active duty as a major. The USAREC stated that the applicant is not authorized constructive service credit for his...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050004541C070206
These orders also provide additional instructions which show the applicant was granted 4 years constructive credit for active duty grade determination. The evidence of record confirms that the Army granted the applicant a total of 4 years of constructive credit based on her appointment in the rank of captain, with an ADOR of 13 June 2002, upon entry on active duty. In response to the second OTSG advisory opinion, the applicant asserted, in effect, that while the skill she has acquired in...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070001304C071029
The applicant requests, in effect, award of constructive service credit for an advanced master's degree. This opinion indicates that a review of the documents submitted by the applicant was completed and it was determined that the applicant completed his MBA degree simultaneously with his DO degree and based on the Department of Defense (DOD) policy, constructive service credit can be granted for only one of these degrees. Notwithstanding the applicant's belief that his MBA degree greatly...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060005666
of Physiology prior to his medical degree, the OTSG recommended that he be granted two years of constructive credit for his M.S. The evidence of record shows the applicant was appointed as a Medical Corps captain in the USAR on 18 May 2002. OTSG recommended that the applicant be awarded an additional two years constructive credit based on his Master of Science Degree.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130005248
The applicant states: * she graduated from the University of Miami, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in December 2002 * she was a full-time student at Barry University from Spring 2003 through Fall 2004 * in 2004, she completed all the requirements for her master's degree * on 26 July 2006, her master's degree was conferred by Barry University * on 11 August 2006, she signed her oath of office and accepted the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) application * in May 2009, she...
ARMY | DRB | CY2005 | 20050003057
Contrary to the OTSG advisory opinion, there does not appear to be a requirement that the applicant be on active duty in order to receive constructive service credit for his advanced degree. The governing DODI and Army Regulation authorize constructive service credit for advanced degrees earned prior to obtaining the medical degree required for appointment in the current medical specialty. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050004554C070206
The applicant states that, in accordance with Army Regulation 135-101, section 3-4, he should have received 6 years of constructive credit for active duty grade determination instead of 4 years for his Master of Science Degree in Pathology. The opinion did not recommend that the applicant be granted additional constructive credit. The evidence of record shows the applicant was awarded a Master of Science Degree in Pathology in 1998 and a Doctor of Medicine Degree in 2002 prior to his...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090011180
The applicant requests correction of his records to show an additional two years of constructive service credit for his Master's degree in Kinesiology. The applicant provides an extract from DODI 6000.13; an e-mail from J---- J---- (Army Graduate Medical Education [GME] Program Manager); six Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) Records of Proceedings; a Master of Science diploma and thesis abstract from Simon Fraser University; second lieutenant orders and associated DA...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090012657
The applicant requests constructive credit for his Masters Degree in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS). The applicant provides, in support of his application, copies of his DA Form 71 (Oath of Office - Military Personnel), dated 16 May 2009; his MPAS Degree, dated 10 May 2003; his Bachelor of Science Degree, dated 17 August 2001; transcripts from the Nebraska Medical Center; two sets of orders for active duty; his DA Form 5074-4R (Record of Award of Entry Grade Credit [Medical and Dental...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100000047
The applicant requests constructive service credit for completion of his master's degree in physiology. The applicant states he received a master's degree in physiology prior to entering the U.S. Army and his record does not reflect credit for completing this degree. OTSG states that paragraph 6.1.1.3 of DOD Directive 6000.13 (Medical Manpower and Personnel) provides that constructive credit may be awarded only if such advanced education or advanced degree is required as a prerequisite for...