BOARD DATE: 13 July 2010
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20100011941
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 service credit (CSC) for her 2-year master's degree in public health.
2. The applicant states she attended a 2-year master's program in public health from 1997 to 1999. She was accepted into the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) in 2001. She received her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree in 2004. She began her 4-year residency program in diagnostic radiology in July 2005 which she successfully completed in June 2009. She was then ordered to active duty as a captain with a report date of 31 July 2009.
3. The applicant cites U.S. Code, DOD Instruction, and Army Regulation
135-101 (Appointment of Reserve Commissioned Officers for Assignment to Army Medical Department Branches) and opines how these directives support her request for additional CSC.
4. The applicant provides excerpts from the directives she cited; excerpts from her military records; and documents verifying her attendance and graduation from her master's degree in public health, her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree, and her 4-year residency program in diagnostic radiology.
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. The applicant's records show she was awarded a Master of Public Health degree on 29 April 1999.
2. She was awarded her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree in May 2004.
3. She was commissioned as a captain, Medical Corps, on 22 May 2004.
4. She completed her traditional rotating internship on 27 June 2005.
5. She completed her internship in diagnostic radiology on 30 June 2009.
6. She was ordered to active duty as a captain with a report date of 31 July 2009.
7. In the processing of this case an advisory opinion was provided by the Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG). OTSG stated the governing regulation for CSC states credit is awarded based on full-time equivalent education up to 2 years for a master's degree. Since the applicant earned her master's degree prior to entering the HPSP, the advisory official recommended granting the applicant's request.
8. The applicant was provided a copy of the advisory opinion and responded by stating she had no further comments.
9. DOD Instruction 6000.13, paragraph 6.1.2.2.2, states 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 up to 2 years for a master's degree and up to 4 years for a doctorate. Paragraph 6.1.2.2.3 states 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 Reserve appointment of Army Medical Department officers with or without a concurrent call to active duty. Chapter 3 pertains to entry-grade credit for Reserve appointment grade determination. Subparagraph 3-1b states CSC will be granted for periods of professional training and experience accrued after receipt of the basic qualifying degree.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. Army Regulation 135-101, paragraph 3-1b, states that CSC will be granted for periods of professional training and experience accrued after receipt of the basic qualifying degree. In this case, the applicant earned her master's degree prior to being awarded her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree, which was her basic qualifying degree.
2. In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.
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.
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