IN THE CASE OF:  

		BOARD DATE:  4 August 2015

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20140020127 


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 based on her education and consideration for promotion to major (MAJ).

2.  The applicant states:

	a.  Her DA Form 5074-1-R (Record of Award of Entry Grade Credit (Health Service Officers)) shows her basic entry qualifying degree is a Master of Science (MS) in Medical Entomology (August 2008) from Michigan State University (MSU), which allowed her to enter the service as a first lieutenant (1LT).  However, she was not given proper credit for her first Master’s Degree, in which she completed 4 semesters (Spring 2000-Spring 2002) at the University of Rhode Island (URI) as an entomology major before being conferred an MS degree in Animal Health and Disease.  Her thesis research at URI focused on tick-transmitted Lyme disease prevalence in humans and animals, which is a medical entomology project.

	b.  Her basic entry qualifying degree should be her MS in Animal Health and Disease/Entomology from URI in 2002 and her second MS in Entomology from MSU in 2008 should have been annotated in the advanced education beyond basic qualification degree on the DA Form 5074-1-R.  Both her graduate degrees and the research she conducted for them were medical entomology related, totaling 5 1/2 years in post-baccalaureate education.

	c.  Additionally, she was not given the appropriate credit for professional experience on her DA Form 5074-1-R.  Her medical entomology professional experience includes the following:

		(1)  Clarke Mosquito Control, Roselle, IL, Product Development Intern, September 2008-March 2009;

		(2)  BASF Corporation, Fighting Island, MI, Mosquito Consultant, June 2006-August 2008;

		(3)  Clarke Mosquito Control, Roselle, IL, Research and Development Intern, June 2004-July 2005; 

		(4)  Department of Environmental Management, Wakefield, RI, Mosquito Technician Intern, May-August 2001; and 

		(5)  University of Rhode Island Tick Research Lab, Kingston, RI, Researcher, August 2000-July 2002.

	d.  Additionally, her last four Officer Evaluation Reports (OERs) have all stated to promote her ahead of peers or below the zone to MAJ.  She was selected to command a medical detachment in December 2014, a position that is normally reserved for MAJ's, and she is ready for the responsibility.  

	e.  She provided her curriculum vitae along with her entire post-baccalaureate transcript to her recruiter for appropriate calculation, but it appears they were never used.

3.  The applicant provides –

* DA Form 5074-1-R, dated 28 November 2008
* URI Official Transcript
* MSU Official Academic Transcript
* OERs for 25 June 2010 through 4 June 2014
* Officer Record Brief
* curriculum vitae
* Medical Service Corps Entomology Officer pamphlet

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant was appointed as a Reserve 1LT in the in the Medical Service Corps (MSC) on 5 December 2008.
2.  Order Number 154-002, U. S. Army Human Resources Command shows her 1LT active date of rank (ADOR) was 20 August 2008.

3.  She was promoted to captain with a DOR and effective date of 22 June 2010.

4.  A DA Form 5074-1-R shows she was granted 2 years of constructive service credit for her MS degree from MSU and 29 days for credit for professional experience from 1 September 2008-28 October 2008.  

5.  In the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was obtained from the MSC Program Manager, Health Services Directorate, Headquarters, U. S. Army Recruiting Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky, on 11 June 2015.  The opining official indicated a review of the applicant's record revealed her constructive credit is correct as 2 years and 29 days and no adjustment of her entry grade credit is necessary.  She also notes: 

	a. According to Department of Defense Instructions (DoDI) 6000.13 (Medical Manpower and Personnel), Section 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 applicant received 2 years of constructive credit for the completion of her MS degree from MSU.  She cannot receive additional credit for the MS degree from the URI as this degree is in a closely related field.  Additionally, after consultation with the 72B (Entomology) Consultant to the Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG), the applicant's qualifying degree as a 72B is the MS in entomology from MSU conferred on 14 August 2008.  Although she completed some entomology courses at the URI, the degree conferred in 2002 was an MS in Fisheries, Animal and Vet, not entomology.  

	b. According to DoDI 6000.13, Section 6.1.2.2.5, "credit of one-half year for each year of experience, up to a maximum of three years of constructive credit, may be granted for experience in a health profession, if such experience is directly used by the Military Service concerned.  Creditable experience cannot predate the receipt of licensure, registration, or certification.  Accordingly, volunteer, or student status cannot be credited."  The qualifying degree as a 72B was not conferred until August 2008, therefore, the applicant can only receive constructive credit for professional experience related to the 72B field after this date.  She was awarded half-day credit for her experience as a Product Development Intern for Clarke Mosquito Control between 1 September 2008 and 28 October 2008.  The 29 days of previous professional experience constructive service credit was accurately noted on the DA Form 5074-1-R, dated 28 November 2008.

6.  On 16 June 2015, a copy of the advisory opinion was forwarded to the applicant for information and to allow her the opportunity to submit comments or a rebuttal.  A response was not received.

7.  DODI Number 6000.13 implements policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures to carry out medical manpower and personnel programs.  Paragraph 6.1.2:  Constructive Service Credit.  This 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 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. 

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant contends that she should receive an additional constructive service credit based on a second MS degree and experience.

2.  The applicant was granted 2 years and 29 days of constructive service credit for an MS degree and some experience.  She was not granted any credit for her MS from URI because it is in a closely related field, and her professional experience predates her MS degree from MSU.

3.  The advisory official recommended denial of the applicant's request. 

4.  In view of the above, the applicant’s request should not be granted.  

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)                                         AR20090001057



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20140020127



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