IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  25 June 2014

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20130017897 


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 award of additional constructive service credit (CSC).

2.  He states the Army policy is to commission licensed, doctoral-level psychologists at the rank of captain (CPT)/O3 and he believes that he met those qualifications.  He offers that his DA Form 5074-1-R (Record of Award of Entry Grade Credit (Health Services Officers)) is incorrect in accordance with Defense Instruction (DODI) 6000.13 sections 6.1.2.2.2, 6.1.2.2.3, 6.1.2.2.4, and 6.1.2.2.6. Specifically he states that in accordance with the DODI he should have received credit in:

   a.  Item 13 (Credit Awarded) of Section B (Credit for Advanced Education Beyond Basic Qualification Degree) up to 2 years for his additional master's degree in Community Psychology because it added specific skills relevant to helping Soldiers increase performance within the context of their environment, the Army structure, deployment, and cross culturally.  He states that his Community Psychology master's degree is separate from his master’s and Doctorate of Psychology degrees in clinical psychology.
   
   b.  Item 17 (Credit Awarded) of Section C (Credit for Post Baccalaureate Education) is missing the credit for his years of pre-doctoral internship.  Credit should be awarded on a year-for-year basis for his American Psychological Association (APA) accredited internship conducted from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2010.
   
   
   c.  Items 18 to 21 (Basis for Award), (Inclusive Dates), and (Credit Awarded), respectively, of Section D (Credit for Professional Experience) for additional credit awarded in unusual cases.  Such credit is granted in the amount of "one year for each year of special education or experience."
   
3.  He provides:

* Self-authored statement
* DA Form 5074-R 
* Widener University transcript
* Widener University Certification in Neuropsychology
* University of Alaska Fairbanks, Master of Arts Community Psychology
* Board Certified certificate
* Antarctica Service Medal

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  In May 1997, the applicant received a Master of Arts degree in Community Psychology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. 

2.  On 9 February 2012, he executed his oath and he was appointed as a first lieutenant (1LT)/O2 in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR).

3.  His DA Form 5074-R shows he was awarded 4 years of CSC for a Doctor of Clinical Psychology degree conferred on 30 June 2010 at Widener University from 8 September 2008 to 30 June 2010.  This form shows he was awarded 
1 year of CSC for fellowship in Neuropsychology from 30 July 2010 to 
24 January 2012.  Additionally, he was granted 1 month and 9 days for professional experience (license) from 7 November 2011 to 24 January 2012.  He was awarded a total of 5 years, 1 month, and 9 days of CSC and entered the service in the grade 1LT with a date of rank of 30 June 2008.

4.  There is no information contained in section C indicating his advanced education.

5.  On 21 March 214, the Chief, Medical Service Corps (MSC) Branch, Health Services Directorate, recommended disapproval of the applicant's request for additional CSC.

	a.  The MSC Branch Chief said to be fully qualified as a 73B (Clinical Psychologist) an officer must complete a Doctorate of Philosophy or Doctorate of Psychology in psychology, which included completing a 1-year APA accredited clinical or counseling psychology pre-doctorial internship.  This enabled the applicant to be awarded 4 years of CSC.  The internship the applicant completed was part of his degree requirement and he is not eligible to obtain double credit.

   b.  She said the pin-on-point to CPT for active duty Army Medical Department (AMEDD) officers in Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 was 3 years and 6 months, meaning their date of rank was adjusted back 6 months from the date the active duty oath was taken upon accession, resulting in them being an active duty CPT with 
6 months time in grade.  The pin-on-point to CPT for AMEDD officers in the USAR is 7 to 11 years.

   c.  The applicant applied to become a 73B for the USAR in FY 2012 with a qualifying Doctorate in Clinical Psychology which was awarded in June 2010.  He was given 4 years of CSC.  He also completed 1-year of post-doctoral fellowship in Neuropsychology for which he was given 1-year of CSC.  Additionally, he was awarded half credit for the time it took him to obtain licensure, in the amount of 
1 month and 9 days of CSC.  He is not authorized an additional 2 years of CSC for his Master of Arts degree in Community Psychology which he completed in May 1997 (it is a lower level degree than the doctoral degree and is in a closely related field of psychology).  The total credit allowed for having both a master's and a doctorate degree may not exceed the maximum allowed for a doctorate, which is 4 years.  In all, the applicant was awarded a total of 5 years, 1 month, and 9 days of CSC.
   
   d.  The MSC Branch Chief further stated that the applicant did not have 7 to 11 years of CSC to be awarded the grade of CPT in the USAR; therefore, he was accessed as a 1LT.  The pin-on-point to 1LT in the USAR is 1 year and
6 months.  His date of rank was adjusted back 3 years, 7 months, and 9 days to account for credit in excess of the 18 months required for 1LT.  She concluded that his CSC was calculated correctly.

	6.  A copy of the advisory opinion was provided to the applicant for comment or rebuttal.  On 28 April 2014, he responded that although the advisory opinion he received suggested DODI 6000.13 precludes assigning credit for both his internship and his academic coursework on the basis that the internship was a graduation requirement of the program, he argues that no accredited doctorial programs in psychology can confer the degree before the candidate completes the internship.  The difference between his doctorial program and most others is that the internship is integrated and affiliated meaning that all students in the program receive an APA accredited internship within the planned five-year duration.  The doctoral program and the internship are accredited separately by the APA as two separate entities.  

7.  DODI 6000.13 is the governing directive for granting entry-grade/constructive credit.

	a.  Section 6.1 states that 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 CSC and prior commissioned service credit (other than as a commissioned warrant officer).  A period of time shall be counted only once when computing entry-grade credit and qualifying periods of less than 1 full year shall be proportionately credited to the nearest day, except where noted otherwise.

	b.  Section 6.1.1.2.2.2 states that 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.  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's and a doctorate degree may not exceed the maximum allowed for a doctorate.

   c.  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.

   d.  Section 6.1.2.2.4 states year-for-year credit shall be granted for the successful completion of internship, residency, fellowship or equivalent graduate medical, dental, or other formal professional training (i.e., clinical psychology internship or dietetic internship, etc. required by the Military Service concerned. Training must be approved by the appropriate accrediting agency, and may not exceed that required for certification in the specialty.  Day-for-day credit shall be awarded for approved programs of less than one year in duration.

   e.  Section 6.1.2.2.6 states additional credit in unusual cases, based on special education or experience, can be granted by the Secretary of a Military Department, or designee.  As determined by Service needs, the additional credit applies to individuals with unique qualifications that are beyond normal requirements for appointment as commissioned officers.  The amount of credit shall be one year for each year of special education or experience.  Maximum credit under subparagraph 6.1.2.2.5 above, must be earned before earning any experience credit under this paragraph.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows the applicant was awarded a Master of Arts degree in Community Psychology in May 1997 and a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology degree in June 2010.  Both were degrees in Psychology, 
closely-related.

2.  His DA Form 5074-R verifies that he was awarded 4 years of CSC for his doctorate degree.  As specified in DODI 6000.13, section 6.1.1.2.2.2, the total credit allowed for having both a master's and a doctorate degree may not exceed the maximum allowed for a doctorate, 4 years.  

3.  Additionally, this DA Form 5074-R verifies he was awarded 1 year of CSC for his fellowship in Neuropsychology and 1 month and 9 days of CSC for the time it took him to obtain licensure.

4.  There is no evidence and he has failed to provide sufficient evidence to overturn the Health Services Directorate determination.  In view of the foregoing, there is an insufficient basis to grant the requested relief.

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)                                         AR20130017897





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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20130017897



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