IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 14 July 2009
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20090004990
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 constructive credit for her Master of Public Health Degree that she received from New York Medical College in 2006.
2. The applicant states she believes there is an error in her records because she has received no constructive credit based on her Master in Public Health Degree.
3. The applicant provides copies of her DA Form 61 (Application for Appointment), her USAREC Form 1131 (Department of the Army Service Agreement, F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (AFHPSP)), her transcripts from New York Medical College, her Master of Public Health Degree, her appointment letter of 31 March 2006, her DA Form 71 (Oath of Office - Military Personnel) of 24 May 2006, and orders adjusting her date of rank to the grade of captain in support of her application.
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. On 4 June 2002, the applicant received an appointment to second lieutenant, branch unassigned, in the U. S. Army Reserve (USAR). She was assigned an area of concentration (AOC) of 00E (Student Officer). On 4 June 2002, she was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the USAR.
2. On 23 June 2002, the applicant enrolled in the AFHPSP.
3. On 31 March 2006, the applicant received an appointment to captain in the USAR Medical Corps, effective upon her acceptance. Her AOC was 61F (Internist). She was credited with 4 years of constructive credit as of the date of her graduation.
4. On 31 March 2006, the applicant was ordered to active duty effective 14 June 2006 with an active duty requirement of 7 years.
5. On 24 May 2006, the applicant received a Masters of Public Health Degree. The date she received her Doctor of Medicine Degree is not available.
6. On 24 May 2006, the applicant took an oath of office as a captain in the USAR Medical Corps with an AOC of 61F.
7. In the processing of this case an advisory opinion was provided by the Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG). The applicant was provided a copy of this opinion and given 30 days to submit matters in rebuttal; however, she has not responded.
8. The OTSG stated the governing directive for granting constructive credit for medical personnel is Department of Defense Directive (DODD) 6000.13 (Medical Manpower and Personnel). OTSG stated that paragraph 6.1.2.2.2 of this directive provides that "no additional credit may be given for more than one advanced degree in a single field, or closely related field. The total credit allowed from having both a master's and a doctorate degree may not exceed the maximum allowed for a doctorate." OTSG also stated the applicant earned her master's degree simultaneously with her Doctor of Medicine Degree. OTSG recommended that no additional constructive service credit be awarded in this case.
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 in the six branches of the Army Medical Departments. According to Table 3-1 (Constructive Service Credit) of this regulation, a member receives 4 years of constructive credit for a Doctor of Medicine Degree. Paragraph 4 of Table 3-1 of this regulation states, "Credit for additional advanced degrees (see Table 3-4). Degree must add adjunctive skills to primary specialty and must contribute directly to performance in anticipated duty position. Credit is awarded based on full-time equivalent education up to 24 months for a masters degree or up to 36 months for a doctorate. Additional degree must not have been earned concurrently with primary credential."
10. Army Regulation 15-185 (Army Board for Correction of Military Records) prescribes the policies and procedures for correction of military records by the Secretary of the Army, acting through the ABCMR. The regulation provides that the ABCMR begins its consideration of each case with the presumption of administrative regularity. The applicant has the burden of proving an error or injustice by a preponderance of the evidence.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. The date the applicant was awarded her Doctor of Medicine Degree was not available. However, the OTSG stated she earned her Master of Public Health Degree and Doctor of Medicine Degree simultaneously.
2. DODD 6000.13 and Army Regulation 135-101 are clear in that a period of time will only be counted once when computing entry-grade credit. The applicant was awarded 4 years of constructive credit based on her Doctor of Medicine Degree. Therefore, there is no additional credit authorized for the Master of Public Health Degree earned concurrently.
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) AR20090004990
3
ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
1
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20090004990
2
ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
1
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060011023C071029
Paragraph 6.1. states 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. DODI 6000.13, paragraph 6.1.2.2.1. states that four years of constructive service credit shall be granted for completion of first professional degrees that include medical (M.D. DODI 6000.13, paragraph 6.1.2.2.2. states that credit for master's...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060015699C071029
Laverne R. Douglas | |Member | The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. He was granted his medical degree on 14 May 2006. DODI 6000.13, paragraph 6.1.2.2.1. states four years of constructive service credit shall be granted for completion of first professional degrees that include medical (M.D.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080010156
She states that she gained experience in the theories and practice of preventive medicine and as a result, this degree should be included on her permanent military record and be counted toward years of military service as constructive service credit. The OTSG, Chief, Graduate Medical Education Division, stated that the applicant's Master of Public Health Degree was conferred simultaneously with her Medical Degree and she recommended that no additional credit be granted to the applicant. ...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120005037
The applicant requests 2 years of additional constructive service credit (CSC) for obtaining a Masters Degree. The applicant provides: * two copies of her Master of Biological Science Degree * Drexel University Transcript (2 pages) * DA Form 61 (Application for Appointment) * active duty order * DODI Number 6000.13 (Medical Manpower and Personnel) * AR 135-101 (Appointment of Reserve Commissioned Officers for Assignment to Army Medical Department Branches) CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. It...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080014686
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. The opinion cites Department of Defense (DOD) Instruction 6000.13 stating, " 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...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080006700
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. It took him about a year to have his military records corrected to show his additional advanced degree. 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...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070001304C071029
The applicant requests, in effect, award of constructive service credit for an advanced master's degree. This opinion indicates that a review of the documents submitted by the applicant was completed and it was determined that the applicant completed his MBA degree simultaneously with his DO degree and based on the Department of Defense (DOD) policy, constructive service credit can be granted for only one of these degrees. Notwithstanding the applicant's belief that his MBA degree greatly...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130005248
The applicant states: * she graduated from the University of Miami, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in December 2002 * she was a full-time student at Barry University from Spring 2003 through Fall 2004 * in 2004, she completed all the requirements for her master's degree * on 26 July 2006, her master's degree was conferred by Barry University * on 11 August 2006, she signed her oath of office and accepted the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) application * in May 2009, she...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080002867
DODI 6000.13, paragraph 6.1.2.2.2 states, in pertinent part, that credit for masters and doctorate degrees in a health profession other than medicine or dentistry, whether it is the primary degree or an additional advanced degree, shall be awarded based on actual full-time equivalent education up to 2 years for a masters degree and up to 4 years for a doctorate. Army Regulation 135-101 provides the criteria for award of constructive service credit for Army Medical Corps commissioned...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070002211C071029
The applicant requests two years of additional constructive credit for obtaining her Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) in Health Care Leadership. DODI 6000.13, paragraph 6.1.2.2.1. states four years of constructive service credit shall be granted for completion of first professional degrees that include medical (M.D. Department of the Army Pamphlet 600-4 (Army Medical Department Officer Development and Career Management), paragraph 4-4 (Civilian education) states the...