RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:	  


	BOARD DATE:	  13 December 2007
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20070008794 


	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. Mohammed R. Elhaj

Analyst


The following members, a quorum, were present:


Mr. Jeffrey C. Redmann

Chairperson

Mr. John G. Heck

Member

Mr. Qawiy A. Sabree

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 correction of her records to show she was awarded 7 years, 11 months, and 18 days constructive service credit instead of 5 years, 10 months, and 3 days.

2.  The applicant states that she has completed a Medical Doctor (MD) degree that carries four years of constructive service credit.  She then completed an internship in General Surgery which equals one year of constructive credit.  She concludes that on her appointment date, she had been in residency training for two years, 11 months, and 18 days. 

3.  The applicant provided a copy of her MD diploma, a copy of her internship certificate, and a letter from her residency program director, dated 28 August 2006, in support of her application.  

4.  On 20 November 2007, the applicant further submitted a copy of her Fellowship Certificate at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, for the period 1 July 2001 through 30 June 2002 and her Assistant Resident Certificate at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, for the period 1 July 2002 through 30 June 2003, in support of her application. 

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant's records show that she completed a MD degree on 27 May 2000 at the School of Medicine, Mercer University, Macon, Georgia.  She also completed a one-year internship/residency training as a "Resident in General Surgery" during the period 24 June 2000 through 25 June 2001 at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.  

2.  The applicant’s military records show that she applied for appointment as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) on 26 April 2004.  

3.  On 18 June 2004, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, St. Louis, Missouri, informed the applicant, by memorandum, that she was appointed as a USAR captain (CPT) in the Medical Corps.  The memorandum further informed the applicant that she was credited with 5 years, 10 months, and 3 days of constructive service credit.  She executed an Oath of Office on 18 June 2004.

4.  The applicant provided a statement, dated 28 August 2006, stating that she had completed two years, 11 months, and 18 days of residency.  This document is not on an official letterhead nor does it contain contact information for the author. 

5.  An advisory opinion was obtained in the processing of this case.  On 1 October 2007, the Chief, Medical Corps Program Manager, Health Services Directorate, U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky, stated that the applicant's constructive credit awarded in June 2004 was accurate based on Army Regulation 135-101 (Appointment of Reserve Commissioned Officers for Assignment to Army Medical Department Branches).  The DA Form 5074-R (Record of Award of Entry Grade Credit-Medical and Dental Officers) provided by the applicant at the time showed that the applicant did not complete residency training during the period 1 July 2001 through 30 June 2003 and that the applicant did not provide any proof of completion.

6.  A copy of the advisory opinion was forwarded to the applicant.  However, the applicant did not initially respond.  After contacting the applicant on 16 November 2007,  she responded on 20 November 2007, non-concurring with the advisory opinion.  In her rebuttal statement, the applicant stated that her recruiter at the time was new and she was the first physician he worked with and that they both missed sending the proper documentation to the proper office.  She also provided copies of certificates of completion for her fellowship at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, during the period 1 July 2001 through 30 June 2002 and certificate for her residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, during the period 1 July 2002 through 30 June 2003.  

7.  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 Army Medical Department (AMEDD).  Table 3-1 of this regulation, paragraph 6, states that additional credit may be granted in unusual cases based on special education or professional experience in the specialty in which assigned when experience is accrued after qualifying degree and licensure, if applicable.  

8.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 600-4 (Army Medical Department Officer Development and Career Management) outlines commissioned officer development and career management programs for Army Medical Department personnel.  It states, in pertinent part, that the term "AMEDD Corps" is used synonymously with "branch" and is a Service of the Army.  An AMEDD Corps is a grouping of officers who have or are developing specific skills unique to their particular branch.  These skills, when integrated into the whole, become the provider portion of the Army health care delivery system.  Each AMEDD Corps is composed of one or more broad health professional disciplines.  Each broad discipline is composed of several specialties, or AOCs, that describe restricted areas of functional expertise necessary to support the discipline as a whole when viewed in its total context.  

9.  All professionally qualified AMEDD commissioned officers are awarded an AOC upon appointment.  This initial specialty designation is one in which commissioned officers normally receive early development or utilization, depending on the skills possessed at the time military service is begun.  In some cases AMEDD commissioned officers will enter the Service with highly sophisticated training in one or more of the health professions (for example, Cardiology, Oral Surgery, or Optometry), while others will have obtained the basic educational prerequisites for further professional development through experience, advanced training, and graduate professional education. 

10.  Most officers enter the AMEDD through Army entry–level training for their specific AOC.  This professional training can vary from each AOC and lengths vary for each respective AOC and AMEDD Corps.  Selected officers who complete specialized training must then pass their individual professional certification/registration and/or obtain and maintain state licensure in order to qualify for their designated specialty.  

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant was awarded constructive credit based on the information she provided on her DA Form 5074-R at the time.  She has not provided any proof that she completed residency training for two years, 11 months, and 18 days.  In order to correct the applicant's records to show she was awarded additional constructive service credit for residency training, the applicant would have to submit documentation showing she completed the residency prior to the date of her commission.  Therefore, her original constructive credit of five years, 10 months, and three days was accurate.

2.  The certificate of Resident in General Surgery, Santa Barbara, Cottage Hospital, during the period 24 June 2000 through 25 June 2001 is an "Internship", not a residency.  The applicant was awarded constructive service credit for this period.




3.  The applicant's fellowship certificate at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, for the period 1 July 2001 through 30 June 2002 and her assistant residency certificate at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, for the period 1 July 2002 through 30 June 2003, are not creditable toward certification or licensure in the applicant's AOC.  They do not show she completed her residency or that it was accomplished prior to her appointment as an officer and therefore would not warrant additional constructive service credit.

4.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant is not entitled to relief.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__jcr___  __jgh___  __qas___  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.



							Jeffrey C. Redmann
______________________
          CHAIRPERSON


INDEX

CASE ID
AR20070008794
SUFFIX

RECON

DATE BOARDED
20071213
TYPE OF DISCHARGE

DATE OF DISCHARGE

DISCHARGE AUTHORITY

DISCHARGE REASON

BOARD DECISION
(DENY)
REVIEW AUTHORITY

ISSUES         1.
102.0800
2.

3.

4.

5.

6.