RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:	    


	BOARD DATE:	  2 October 2007
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20070005082 


	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.  


Ms. Catherine C. Mitrano

Director

Mr. Michael L. Engle

Analyst


The following members, a quorum, were present:


Ms. Ann M. Campbell

Chairperson

Ms. LaVerne M. Douglas

Member

Mr. Jeffrey C. Redmann

Member

	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 constructive credit and adjustment of her date of rank based on her completion, in August 1999, of a Master of Science degree in Health Policy, Planning, and Financing from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. 

2.  The applicant states that she completed this advanced degree prior to attending medical school. 

3.  The applicant provides copies of her transcript from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  At the time of her application, the applicant was serving on active duty in the rank of captain as a medical corps officer with a primary specialty of internal medicine.

2.  On 1 August 1999, the applicant was awarded a Master of Science degree in Health Policy, Planning, and Financing from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London.  

3.  On 7 June 2003, the applicant was appointed as a Reserve commissioned officer of the United States Army, in the rank of captain, pay grade O3.  Her branch was the Medical Corps and her component was the United States Army Reserve. 

4.  Orders A-05-391961, United States Total Army Personnel Command, dated 
2 May 2003, ordered the applicant to active duty and assigned her to the Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington.

5.  In the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was obtained from the Chief, Graduate Medical Education Division, Office of the Surgeon General, Falls Church, Virginia.  The opinion stated, in part, that in order to grant constructive credit for an additional advanced degree, that degree must add adjunctive skills to the primary specialty and must contribute directly to performance in the anticipated position in the Military Service concerned.  This degree in health policy, planning, and financing did not add adjunctive skills that allowed for a decrease in the required length of time for her to complete training in Internal Medicine/Infectious Disease, nor did it allow the applicant to appear before the specialty board any sooner than her peers.  Therefore, the advisory opinion provided that no constructive credit should be granted for this advanced degree.

6.  On 20 August 2007, the applicant wrote a rebuttal statement to the advisory opinion.  In her response, the applicant contended that the advisory opinion misinterpreted the term “adjunctive skills” to mean skills which relate so directly that it actually reduces the resulting active duty training time required for that particular specialty.  Her interpretation is one that is additive or connected in a subordinate or auxiliary capacity.  She further contended that the health policy and health services training that she received are valuable for any physician in the United States Army.  Coursework in outcomes measurement and health care delivery would be particularly relevant to physicians leading a service or department.  She also states that the skills and knowledge she gained in the course of her studies in health, policy, planning, and financing have already yielded dividends over the relatively short course of her Army career and she anticipates that they will contribute significantly and directly to her performance as an internist and an infectious disease physician in the Medical Corps.  

7.  On 21 August 2007, a letter of support was received by the staff of the Board from the Chief, Infectious Disease Service and Infectious Disease Consultant to the Surgeon General, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.  This letter states, in part, that this master degree in health policy, planning, and financing will make the applicant more suited to pursue command and other leadership positions in the Army Medical Department and in the United States Army.  

8.  Department of Defense Instruction (DODI) Number 6000.13, Medical Manpower and Personnel, dated 30 June 1997, implements policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures to carry out medical manpower and personnel programs.

9.  DODI Number 6000.13, paragraph 6.1.2: Constructive Service Credit. This credit provides a person who begins commissioned service after obtaining the additional education, training, or experience required for appointment, designation, or assignment as an officer in a health profession, with a grade and date of rank comparable to that attained by officers who begin commissioned service after getting a baccalaureate degree and serve for the period of time it would take to obtain the additional education. 

10.  This DODI further provides at paragraph 6.1.2.2.3 that the additional degree must add adjunctive skills to the primary specialty and must contribute directly to performance in the anticipated position in the Military Service concerned.
11.  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, with or without concurrent active duty, in the six branches of the Army Medical Department (AMEDD).  It provides at paragraph 4 of Table 3-1 (Constructive Service Credit) that credit for additional advanced degrees in Table 3-4 must add adjunctive skills to primary specialty and must contribute directly to performance in anticipated duty position.  Table 3-4 lists advanced degrees earned in specialties that may qualify for additional constructive credit.  This table does not list any advanced degrees in public health, policy, planning, or financing.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence clearly shows that the applicant earned a masters degree prior to her commissioning and entry on active duty with the Army as a Medical Corps officer.  

2.  The requirements as written in both the DODI 6000.13 and Army Regulation 135-101 clearly state that not only must the additional degree add to the skills of the individual’s primary specialty, they must contribute to the performance in the anticipated duty position.  Therefore, the argument that the applicant’s additional degree will make her more suited to pursue command and other leadership positions is contrary to the purpose of awarding constructive credit. 

3.  Furthermore, Table 3-4, Army Regulation 135-101, provides a specific list of advanced degrees that may be acceptable for constructive service credit.  The applicant’s advanced degree is not listed.  

4.  In view of the above, the applicant’s request should not be granted.  

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__LMD__  __JCR  __  __AMC__  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.





__     Ann M. Campbell________
          CHAIRPERSON




INDEX

CASE ID
AR20070005082
SUFFIX

RECON
 
DATE BOARDED
20071002 
TYPE OF DISCHARGE
(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)
DATE OF DISCHARGE
 
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY
 . . . .  
DISCHARGE REASON

BOARD DECISION
DENY
REVIEW AUTHORITY

ISSUES         1.
102
2.

3.

4.

5.

6.