IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 12 August 2008
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20080006700
THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE:
1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any).
2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any).
THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:
1. The applicant requests, in effect, correction of his military records to show that he received 2 years of constructive service credit and time in grade for completion of his Master of Public Health degree. He further requests to receive retroactive pay based on this correction.
2. The applicant states that at the time of his entry on active duty only his medical degree was initially acknowledged. It took him about a year to have his military records corrected to show his additional advanced degree. He believes that his additional advanced degree adds adjunctive skills to his specialty and assists in his role in the United States Army.
3. The applicant provides copies of his orders to active duty, dated 28 March 2006; appointment memorandum dated 21 February 2002; Oaths of Office dated 21 February 2002 and 7 May 2006; Department of the Army Service Agreement, Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (AFHPSP), dated
21 February 2002; transcript and diploma from the University of Illinois for the Master of Public Health, dated 7 May 2006; and his Officer record Brief (ORB) dated 1 May 2008.
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. At the time of his application, the applicant was serving on active duty in the rank of captain as a Medical Corps officer with a primary specialty of 60J (Obstetrics/Gynecology (OB/GYN)).
2. In 2006, the University of Illinois at Chicago awarded the applicant, at the same time, a Doctorate in Medicine and a Master in Public Health degree. His studies for these degrees were performed in two different locations in the Chicago area during the same period of time.
3. Orders A-03-607591, United States Army Human Resources Command, St. Louis, Missouri, dated 28 March 2006, ordered the applicant to active duty as a captain, Medical Corps, with a report date and date of rank of 14 June 2006.
4. 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. It states, in part, that no additional credit may be given for more than one advanced degree in a single field or closely related field. According to official records the applicants degree of Master in Public Health was awarded simultaneously with his medical degree. It recommended that the applicant not receive constructive credit for his additional advanced degree.
5. On 14 July 2008, the applicant wrote a statement in rebuttal to the advisory opinion. It states, in part, that he chose to finish both his Medical Doctor degree and his Public Health Degree at the same time even though he could have graduated at any time with his master degree. He further contends that constructive credit is typically recommended for those earning a Public Health Degree separate from their medical degree. He argues that he should be granted constructive credit.
6. 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.
7. DODI Number 6000.13, paragraph 6.1.2.2.2 provides constructive credit for masters and doctorate degrees in a health profession other than medicine and dentistry, whether it is the primary degree or an additional advanced degree, shall be awarded based on actual full-time equivalent education of up to two years for a masters degree and up to four years for a doctorate. Credit may not include time spent in attainment of baccalaureate or other lower degrees. No additional credit may be given for more than one advanced degree in a single field, or closely related field. The total credit allowed for having both a masters and a doctorate degree may not exceed the maximum allowed for a doctorate.
8. 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.
9. 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. The additional degree must not have been earned concurrently with the primary credential.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
The requirements as written in both the DODI 6000.13 and Army Regulation
135-101 clearly state that the additional degree must not have been earned concurrently with the primary credential. The applicant was awarded both his doctorate and masters degree from the same university at the same time. Therefore, his request for constructive credit should be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
___X____ ___X____ ___X___ 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.
__________X_____________
CHAIRPERSON
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20070016793
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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20080006700
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