IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  22 October 2013

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20130000916 


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, in effect, that her records be corrected to show her accession rank and grade as a captain (CPT) with a granting  of constructive credit based on her educational level.

2.  The applicant states she was commissioned in the rank of first lieutenant (1LT) based on having a Master of Public Health (MPH).  At the time she initiated the paperwork to join the Army she was in the middle of obtaining her doctoral degree (PhD).  In December 2011, prior to commissioning, she was awarded her PhD in Veterinary Medical Sciences.  She was initially accessed as an Environmental Science Officer, in Area of Concentration (AOC) 72D.  She entered active duty in early March 2012 and, while at the basic officer leadership course, she reclassified from a 72D to a 72B (Medical Entomologist).  The relevant degree for this AOC is the PhD and not the MPH.  It was pointed out to her that her PhD studies and experience made her more qualified as an Army medical entomologist (72B) and this was why she pursued and was granted a reclassification.

3.  The applicant provides a copy of her college transcript.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant completed her MPH on 13 May 2010 and completed her PhD dissertation on 16 December 2011.  Her record indicates her PhD transcript was created as an iPERMS document on 1 February 2013.

2.  U.S. Army Human Resources Command (AHRC) Orders A-01-201830, dated 30 January 2012, ordered the applicant to active duty as a 1LT in the Medical Service Corps (MSC) with a reporting date of 8 March 2012.  Her AOC is shown as 72D.  She completed her Oath of Office on 5 March 2012.

3.  AHRC Orders A-01-201830A03, dated 6 June 2012, amended her active duty orders changing her AOC from 72D to 72B.

4.  On 30 July 2013, the Chief, MSC Branch, Health Service Directorate, Army Recruiting Command provided an advisory opinion.  The Chief outlined the applicant's request, noting that her request for an AOC change required only approval by the AOC 72D and 72B consultants.  Had the applicant been boarded as a 72B with her PhD she would have been accessed as a captain (CPT) and her DOR would have been the date she signed her Oath of Office.  It was recommended that the applicant's rank be corrected to CPT and her DOR be granted effective the date she was granted her AOC change.  A new DA Form 5074-1-R should be created to grant her the appropriate constructive service credit for her PhD relevant to the granting of the AOC 72B.

5.  A copy of the advisory opinion was forwarded to the applicant for comment.  At this time there is no response to the advisory opinion from the applicant.

6.  Army Regulation 135-101 (Appointment of Reserve Commissioned Officers for Assignment to Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Branches), paragraph 3-1 (Entry grade credit for Reserve appointment grade determination), states grade and date of rank upon original appointment 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 will be the sum of constructive service credit and credit for prior active commissioned service.

7.  DODI 6000.13 (Medical Manpower and Personnel) implements policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures to carry out medical manpower and personnel programs.  

	a.  Section 6.1 (Entry Grade Credit) states 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 prior commissioned service credit.  A period of time shall be counted only once when computing entry grade credit, and qualifying periods of less than one full year shall be proportionately credited to the nearest day, except where noted otherwise.

	b.  Section 6.1.2 (Constructive Service Credit) states constructive service credit provides a person 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 a 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.

	c.  Section 6.1.2.2.2 provides that credit for master 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 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 and a doctorate degree may not exceed the maximum allowed for a doctorate. 

	d.  Section 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.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant applied for a commission prior to completing her PhD.  She was originally accessed as an Environmental Science Officer (72D), based on her receipt of an MPH, and granted constructive credit with an entry onto active duty in the rank of 1LT.  

2.  However, prior to receiving her commission she had completed her PhD which would have qualified her for accession in AOC 72B as a CPT. 

3.  On 6 June 2012, AMEDD granted her request to change her AOC to 72B based on the nature and level of her preservice education.  

4.  The applicant qualifies for additional constructive credit based on her preservice award of a PhD.  This qualification predates her acceptance of her commission and warrants a correction of her constructive credit.  

5.  With the correction of her constructive credit and the AMEDD conversion of her AOC, it is appropriate to correct her accession rank to CPT effective the date of her Oath of Office, 5 March 2012, with entitlement to pay and allowances based on the change of rank.
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.  directing AHRC to create a new constructive credit form (DA Form 
5074-1-R) showing the applicant was granted constructive credit based on receipt of a PhD;
   
   b.  correcting her records to show she was commissioned an MSC CPT in AOC 72B with a date of rank and effective date of 5 March 2012; and
   
   c.  directing the Defense Accounting and Finance Services to audit her pay records and afford her all retroactive pay and allowances commensurate with the rank of CPT effective the date she signed her Oath of Office, 5 March 2012.



      ____________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)                                         AR20130000916



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20130000916



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