BOARD DATE:	  15 June 2010

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20090011850 


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 she be afforded constructive credit for her Master of Science (MS) degree in chemistry in addition to her Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree.

2.  The applicant states she should be granted additional constructive credit for her MS in chemistry as it adds adjunctive skills to her primary specialty and contributes to performance of her duty position.

3.  The applicant provides copies of a DA Form 5074-R (Record of Award of Entry-Grade Credit (Medical and Dental Officers)) and a 25 June 2009 Officer Evaluation Report.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant completed a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry in 1999 and an MS degree in chemistry in 2000.

2.  She was appointed as a U.S. Army Reserve Medical Service Corps second lieutenant (2LT) on 13 June 2001.

3.  The applicant attended the medical doctor's education program at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), Bethesda, Maryland, commencing in 2001 and completed her MD degree in May 2005.

4.  On 27 January 2005, she was accepted for the continuous Graduate Medical Education Residency Program in obstetrics and gynecology.  The dates of the program were 1 July 2005 through 30 June 2009.

5.  The applicant's record shows a date of rank and a pay entry base date as a CPT, Medical Corps (MC), in the Regular Army of 21 May 2005.  However, the record does not contain any orders or other documents related to the applicant's appointment in the Regular Army as an MC captain.

6.  The USUHS on-line catalog provides the following information:

	a.  The F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine located at the National Naval Medical Center is a year-round, 4-year curriculum;

	b.  while enrolled in the school of medicine, students serve on active duty as Reserve commissioned officers in grade O-1;

	c.  the 4 years spent in medical school do not count toward determining pay upon graduation.  All students are commissioned into the MC on graduation day in grade O-3;

	d.  for promotion credit, a maximum of one-half year is creditable for each year of prior commissioned service in determining MC promotion eligibility at graduation by the regulations of the service concerned.

7.  In the development of this case an advisory opinion was obtained from the Department of the Army Office of the Surgeon General Program Manager, Graduate Medical Education Division.  The Program Manager states the applicant is requesting constructive credit for an MS degree in chemistry under DOD Directive 6000.13.  The Program Manager noted that, in accordance with paragraph 6.1.2.2.2, 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.  Since she received credit for her MD degree, she cannot receive credit for both a masters and a doctorate degree.  Additionally paragraph 6.1.2.2.3 and Army Regulation 135-101 (Appointment of Reserve Commissioned Officers for Assignment to Army Medical Department Branches), table 3-1, state that to receive additional credit, any 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.   The applicant's advanced degree in chemistry does not tangibly add any value to her primary specialty.  This degree did not allow her to advance in training or obtain specialty board certification ahead of her peers.  Therefore, the recommendation is not to grant additional credit.

8.  A copy of the advisory opinion was forwarded to the applicant.  In her rebuttal, the applicant again states that she obtained her MS prior to completing her MD and that she had not received credit for the MS at the time of initial commissioning in 2001.  She states that she thought the credit would be applied to her date of rank for major.

9.  DOD Directive 6000.13 (Medical Manpower and Personnel) implements policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures to carry out medical manpower and personnel programs.  In pertinent part it states at:

	a.  paragraph 6.1 (Entry-Grade Credit), a prospective health professions officer's 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 any prior commissioned service credit (other than as a commissioned warrant officer);

	b.  paragraph 6.1.2.2.1, 4 years of constructive-service credit shall be granted for completion of first professional degrees that include medical (MD);

	c.  paragraph 6.1.2.2.2, 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 2 years for a master's degree and up to 4 years for a doctorate.  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;

	d.  paragraph 6.1.2.2.3, 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;

10.  Army Regulation 135-101 provides the policy and sets forth the procedures for the Reserve appointment of Army Medical Department officers with or without a concurrent call to active duty.  General provisions for entry-grade determination specify that entry-grade credit will (except as limited by maximum credit limits) be the sum of constructive credit plus credit for prior service.  In accordance with table 3-1, entry-grade credit is awarded on a year-for-year basis for qualifying education and advanced degrees which enhance skills.  Constructive-service credit will be awarded for periods of professional training and experience accrued after receipt of basic qualifying degree in accordance with appropriate tables.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant states that she should be granted additional constructive credit for her MS in chemistry as it adds adjunctive skills to her primary specialty and contributes to performance of her duty position.

2.  The applicant had no military service prior to her acceptance into the USUHS school of medicine doctorate program.  Her MS in chemistry is not shown to have provided adjunctive skills to her primary specialty or contribute directly to performance in her anticipated position in the military in obstetrics and gynecology.

3.  The total credit allowed for having both a master's and a doctorate degree may not exceed the maximum allowed for a doctorate, which the applicant received with her appointment as an O-3 in the MC.

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)                                         AR20090011850



3


ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


1

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20090011850



2


ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


1