IN THE CASE OF:	 

		BOARD DATE:	         7 April 2009

		DOCKET NUMBER:   AR20080016596 


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 additional constructive credit for a Masters Degree in Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

2.  The applicant states, in effect, that a Masters Degree in Public Health and Tropical Medicine requires education in public health, preventive medicine, travel medicine, microbiology, and tropical infectious diseases.  He contends the degree is a full Masters Degree of Public Health and a full Masters Degree in Tropical Medicine, that the degree required 18 months of lecture hours and six months of overseas clinical experience, and that he spent months in Palau; rural Turkey; and in Hat Yai, Thailand observing tropical medicine in action.  He claims that this education was completely separate from his medical degree education and was completed during his summer and vacation months from medical school.  

3.  The applicant provides a DA Form 5074-R (Record of Award of Entry Grade Credit (Medical and Dental Officers)), a diploma from Tulane University, and an official transcript in support of his application.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant was appointed a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) on 26 June 2003.  In May 2007, he was awarded his medical degree (attended medical school from 2003-2007).  He was appointed as a captain in the Medical Corps, effective 6 June 2007.

2.  The applicant provided a diploma which shows he obtained a degree of Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine on 19 May 2007.  

3.  A DA Form 5074-R, dated 22 July 2008, shows that the applicant received 
4 years of entry grade constructive credit.  

4.  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 applicant’s request and indicated that the governing directives in granting constructive credit were paragraph 6.1.2.2.2 of Department of Defense Instruction (DODI) 6000.13 (Medical Manpower and Personnel) and Army Regulation 135-101 (Appointment of Reserve Commissioned Officers for Assignment to Army Medical Department Branches).  In accordance with these directives, no additional credit may be given for more than one advanced degree in a single field or closely-related field and the additional degree must not have been earned concurrently with primary credential.  The opinion pointed out that the applicant’s Masters Degree was conferred simultaneously with his medical degree.  

5.  A copy of the advisory opinion was forwarded to the applicant for comment and possible rebuttal.  On 14 February 2009, the applicant responded.  In summary, he stated that in response to paragraph 6.1.2.2.2 of DODI 6000.13, many previous medical personnel have received constructive credit for medical masters' degrees and that this is in direct opposition to Army Regulation 135-101 which mentions Public Health as a specialty for which a medical officer will receive constructive credit.  He indicates that it is common practice for preventive medicine specialists to receive constructive credit if they previously have obtained a Masters Degree in Public Health.  He argues that Public Health and Tropical Medicine are not single or closely-related fields to general pediatrics.  He states the knowledge and experience is not generally found around his peers. 

6.  In response to Army Regulation 135-101, the applicant argues that his Masters Degree was obtained separate and with the exact same workload of those who obtained a Masters Degree before or after their medical degree.  He points out the courses he took were separate from his medical school courses, that he spent his summers taking these courses as well as added hours, and that he spent four weeks in Palau and six weeks in Thailand as part of his Masters Degree.  He claims the intent of this article was to award time spent in obtaining the degree, that he spent as much time focusing on the Masters Degree as those who were obtaining a Masters Degree in Public Health and Tropical Medicine only, and that he believes that the Army benefits more from his efficiency as it can utilize more years from him with this knowledge and the skills he earned.
7.  The applicant's final argument is that constructive credit should be awarded for the experience and knowledge that this degree signifies and the value it adds to the Army's mission.  He contends that he has experience and knowledge in working with developing countries and tropical diseases, that he actually treated many of these diseases, that he worked with foreign physicians in a resource- poor setting, that this is important for humanitarian missions as well as patients at Tripler [Army Medical Center, Hawaii] who have rare diseases, that he has experience that assists with research, especially in public health measures, and that these experiences are rarely found amongst his colleagues and have allowed him to educate them.

8.  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, in pertinent part, that a period of time shall be counted only once when computing entry grade credit.

9.  Paragraph 6.1.2.2.2 of DODI Number 6000.13 states, in pertinent part, that no additional credit may be given for more than one advanced degree in a single field or closely related field.

10.  Table 3-1 (Constructive Service Credit) of Army Regulation 135-101, dated 15 February 1984, states, in pertinent part, that an additional degree must not have been earned concurrently with primary credential.        

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant's contentions were carefully considered.  However, the governing regulation states a period of time shall be counted only once when computing entry grade credit.  The applicant was awarded 4 years of constructive credit for his attendance at medical school from 2003-2007.  He completed his Masters Degree in 2007, while in medical school.  

2.  The applicant's diligence in completing his Masters Degree during his summer and vacation months from medical school is admirable.  Regrettably, since he did complete his Masters Degree in conjunction with completing his medical degree, he is not entitled to be granted duplicate credit for that period of time.






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)                                         AR20080016596



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20080016596



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