IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 23 October 2008
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20080008002
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 that he be granted constructive credit for a Masters Degree in Biomedical Sciences.
2. The applicant states that he is requesting constructive credit for academic work resulting in a Masters Degree in Science prior to joining the service as an active duty member. He contends that although his Officer Record Brief reflects his Masters Degree in Science, constructive credit towards pay and rank has never been adjudicated.
3. The applicant provides a diploma for a Masters Degree and his transcript.
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. The applicant was appointed a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve on 30 March 1998. In June 2002, he was awarded his medical degree (attended medical school from 1998-2002). He was appointed a captain, Medical Corps, effective 14 June 2002 and was ordered to active duty. He was promoted to major effective 14 June 2008.
2. The applicant provided a diploma which shows he obtained a degree of Master of Science (1994-1999) on 12 August 1999.
3. In the processing of this case, a staff advisory opinion was obtained from the Chief, Graduate Medical Education Division, Office of The Surgeon General. The opinion recommended disapproval of the applicantÂ’s request and indicated that the governing directives in granting constructive credit were Paragraph 6.1.2.2.3 of Department of Defense Instruction (DODI) 6000.13 (Medical Manpower and Personnel), dated 30 June 1997, and Table 3-1 (Constructive Service Credit) of Army Regulation 135-101 (Appointment of Reserve Commissioned Officers for Assignment to Army Medical Department Branches). In accordance with these directives, 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 and the additional degree must not have been earned concurrently with primary credential.
4. The opinion pointed out that the applicantÂ’s specialty is Family Medicine and that his advanced degree in Biomedical Sciences does not tangibly add any value to his primary specialty of Family Medicine. In addition, his advanced degree was earned concurrently with his medical degree.
5. A copy of the advisory opinion was forwarded to the applicant for comment and possible rebuttal. The applicant did not respond within the given timeframe.
6. DODI 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. Paragraph 6.1 states that the entry grade credit to be awarded shall equal the sum of constructive service credit and prior commissioned service (as outlined in the DODI) credit except in cases where the total exceeds the maximum credit allowed. A period of time shall be counted only once when computing entry grade credit.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
The governing regulation states a period of time shall be counted only once when computing entry grade credit. The applicant was presumably awarded 4 years of constructive credit for his attendance at medical school from 1998-2002. He completed his Masters Degree in 1999, while in medical school. Since the applicant completed his Masters Degree in conjunction with completing his medical degree, he may not be granted duplicate credit for that period of time.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
___XX_____ ___XX_____ ___XX_____ 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.
_______ _XXXX _______ ___
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) AR20080008002
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