IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	        14 APRIL 2009

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20080014686 


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 he be granted constructive service credit (CSC) for his Master of Science (MS) degree in Pharmacology, with a corresponding correction to his date of rank as a captain.

2.  The applicant states he was supposed to receive 4 years of CSC for his Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree, and 2 years of CSC for his MS degree.  He only received CSC for his DO degree and this has had an adverse effect on his promotion eligibility.

3.  The applicant provides:

	a.  transcripts for his MS degree;

	b.  Orders A-04-709496, U.S. Army Human Resources Command (HRC), St. Louis, MO, dated 10 April 2007, showing receipt of 4 years of CSC; and

	c.  a copy of his Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (AFHPSP) contract.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in May 2000.  In September 2000, he entered the graduate program at Loyola University, Chicago, IL.  He graduated from Loyola University with a Master of Science degree in Pharmacology in August 2002.
2.  Following graduate school, the applicant entered medical school as an AFHPSP participant and was appointed as an unassigned U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) second lieutenant on 17 December 2002.  Upon graduating with a DO degree, he was given 4 years of CSC and appointed as a captain, Medical Corps (MC), with a date of rank of 6 June 2007.  He entered active duty on 10 June 2007.

3.  In the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was obtained from the Chief, Graduate Medical Education Division, Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG), Falls Church, VA.  The opinion cites Department of Defense (DOD) Instruction 6000.13 stating, "…credit for master’s 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 master’s degree…"  The opinion states since the applicant obtained his MS degree in Pharmacology prior to entering the AFHPSP, he should be given 2 years of credit for that degree.  The applicant was provided a copy of the advisory opinion for his concurrence or rebuttal.  On 4 February 2008, he concurred.

4.  Pharmacology is the study of drugs.  It involves examining the interactions of chemical substances with living systems, with a view to understanding the properties of drugs and their actions from the molecular level through to the whole body.  Pharmacology provides the scientific basis and principles for a variety of special applications, such as the study of drug actions in the health sciences, the use of drugs as therapeutic agents in medicine or as tools in scientific research, and the development and regulation of pharmaceuticals.

5.  The DOD, through a system of Directives (DODD) and Instructions (DODI), establishes policy and assigns responsibilities for matters related to health services operations and readiness, including, but not limited to, medical manpower, medical personnel, medical compensation, military medical training, medical logistics, patient movement and the Armed Services Blood Program.  DODI 6000.13 implements policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures to carry out medical manpower and personnel programs and ensure that the Services have sufficient military medical personnel to meet all mission requirements.  It provides that, when accessing a prospective health professions officer, entry grade and rank within grade shall be determined by the number of years of entry grade credit awarded on original appointment, designation, or assignment as a health professions officer.  The entry grade credit to be awarded shall equal the sum of constructive service credit and prior commissioned service credit.  The DODI specifically states:

	a.  In section 6.1.2, that the purpose for this credit is to provide health professionals 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.

	b.  In section 6.1.2.2, that 4 years of constructive service credit shall be granted for completion of a first professional degrees, which include a medical (MD) degree.  Year-for-year credit shall be granted for the successful completion of internship, residency, fellowship or equivalent graduate medical, dental, or other formal professional training (i.e., clinical psychology internship or dietetic internship, etc.) required by the Military Service concerned.  Day-for-day credit shall be awarded for approved programs of less than 1 year in duration.

	c.  Also in section 6.1.2.2 (specifically, section 6.1.2.2.2), credit master’s 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 2 years for a master’s degree and up to 4 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 master’s and a doctorate degree may not exceed the maximum allowed for a doctorate.  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.

6.  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 states that commissioned officers of any Reserve Component of the Army who have served satisfactorily in the specialty for which they are applying may be appointed and/or called to active duty in the grade currently held if serving in the specialty for which applying or in the highest grade for which they can fully qualify by education and experience, gained after becoming professionally qualified, whichever selection would result in a higher grade or greater promotion service on the date of appointment.

7.  Grade and date of rank upon original appointment and assignment to an AMEDD branch will be determined by the number of years of entry-grade credit awarded.  Except as limited by maximum credit limits, entry-grade credit granted will be the sum of constructive service credit and credit for prior active commissioned service.  Entry-grade credit awarded to AMEDD officers upon appointment or assignment will be recorded on one of the following forms:  DA Form 5074-R (Record of Award of Entry Grade Credit (Medical and Dental Officers)) for MC or Dental Corps officers or DA Form 5074-1-11 (Record of Award of Entry Grade Credit (Health Services Officers)) for Army Nurse Corps, Medical Service Corps, Army Medical Specialist Corps, or Veterinary Corps officers.  Computation will be completed at the U.S. AMEDD Personnel Support Agency; it will be approved by the procurement program manager.

8.  Table 3-1 of Army Regulation 135-101 describes constructive service credit.  It states, in pertinent part that a DO degree qualifies for 4 years of CSC.  It also states credit for additional advanced degrees which add adjunctive skills to the officer’s primary specialty and contribute directly to duty performance may be awarded.  In such cases, up to 24 months may be awarded for a master’s degree provided the degree was not earned concurrently with the primary credential (i.e., an MD or DO degree).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant requests 2 years of CSC for his MS degree in Pharmacology.  He further requests his date of rank as a captain be adjusted accordingly.

2.  The applicant attended undergraduate and graduate school, receiving his MS degree in August 2002.  In December 2002, he entered the 4-year AFHPSP as an unassigned USAR second lieutenant.  Following receipt of his DO degree, he was awarded 4 years of CSC and appointed as a captain, MC, and given a date of rank of 6 June 2007.

3.  The applicant’s Pharmacology degree adds adjunctive skills to his MC specialty as a primary care physician and the degree was not earned concurrently with his DO degree.

4.  The OTSG advisory opinion recommends granting the applicant’s requests for the reasons cited in paragraph 3, above.


BOARD VOTE:

___X_____  ____X____  ____X____  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by:

	a.  completing a DA Form 5074-R showing in Section A 4 years of credit for his basic qualifying degree and in Section D 2 years of credit for his MS degree in Pharmacology awarded by Loyola University Chicago during the period 2000-2002; and

	b.  recalculating his 6 June 2007 date of rank as a captain to account for the 2 additional years of CSC.



      _________XXX________________
       	     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)                                         AR20080014686



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20080014686



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