IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	    27 October 2015

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20150013453 


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, reconsideration of her previous request to correct her record to show she was granted 3 years of constructive service credit for her podiatry surgical residence (PSR) program and that her date of rank (DOR) was adjusted accordingly.

2.  The applicant states, in effect, that her DOR as a captain (CPT) is in error.  She was awarded 4 years of constructive service credit instead of being awarded 7 years (4 years for Podiatry School and 3 years for her PSR program).  She  states she graduated from Boston University on 13 May 2006, as a graduate of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and she received an education delay to attend podiatry school from 2006 to 2010.  In 2010, she received an additional education delay to attend her PRS at a civilian institution which lasted until 2013. She graduated from her PSR on 30 June 2013, and she was commissioned as a Regular Army Medical Service Corps CPT on 15 July 2013.  Her DOR was established as 15 July 2013; however, it was subsequently changed to              11 January 2013, after she addressed the issue with the Army Human Resources Command (HRC).
 
3.  The applicant provides:

* a self-authored statement
* DA Form 5074-1-R (Record of Award of Entry Grade Credit (Health Services Officers))
* Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) Record of Proceedings, Docket Number AR 2015000431, dated 12 March 2015
* Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency Diploma
* Boston University Transcripts
* Orders Number 059-001
 
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the ABCMR in Docket Number AR20150000431 on 12 March 2015.

2.  The applicant provides a self-authored statement.  The arguments contained in the statement were not previously considered by the ABCMR; therefore, it is considered new evidence and as such warrants consideration by the Board.

3.  On 13 May 2006, the applicant was appointed as a United States Army Reserve second lieutenant upon her graduation from Boston University and the ROTC.  She was granted a 4-year education delay from entering active duty in order to obtain a Doctorate in Podiatric Medicine (DPM).

4.  She completed medical school in 2010 and she received an additional 3-year education delay to attend a PSR program in a civilian hospital which she completed on 30 June 2013.

5.  The applicant was commissioned as a CPT in the Medical Service Corps on 15 July 2013.

6.  The applicant completed the Army Medical Department Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) and was subsequently transferred to Fort Hood, TX, for assignment as a podiatrist.     

7.  During the processing of this case, on 8 September 2015, an advisory opinion was obtained from the Chief, Medical Service Corps Accessions, HRC who opined:

   a.  Per Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 600.13, paragraph 6.1.2.2.4., 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.

   b.  Additionally, in accordance with Department of the Army Pamphlet 611-21 (Military Occupational Classification and Structure) and Department of the Army Pamphlet 600-4 (Army Medical Department Officer Development and Career Management), the qualifications for the 67G (Podiatry) area of concentration (AOC) are a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree, a license to practice podiatry, and a minimum 2-year PSR accredited by the Residency Review Committee for the American Podiatric Medical Association and acceptable to the Surgeon General.  Professional qualifications for unrestricted practice must also be met.  The Army's PSR program is currently 36 months in duration.
   
   c.  The applicant's DA Form 5074-1-R was completed on 22 May 2013, including 4 years of constructive service credit for completion of a DPM degree.  The applicant completed a 36-month PSR on 30 June 2013, and accessed onto active duty as a Medical Service Corps officer on 15 July 2013.  The constructive service credit on the original DA Form 5074-1-R was calculated accurately based on the applicant's status on that date, but should have been corrected upon the applicant's completion of the PSR (and prior to accession onto active duty).
   
   d.  It is recommended the applicant's DA Form 5074-1-R be corrected to award 3 additional years (7 total) of constructive service credit.
   
   e.  Furthermore, upon correction of the constructive service credit, the credit in excess of that required for grade (item 32, DA Form 5074-1-R) will be corrected to reflect 3 years and 6 months, which will further be used to adjust the CPT DOR as required.
   
8.  On 9 September 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.  She did not respond.

9.  DoDI 6000.13, paragraph 6.1.2.2.2 states that credit for master's and doctorate degrees in a health profession other than medicine or 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.  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 for having both a master's and a doctorate degree may not exceed the maximum allowed for a doctorate.  The maximum credit for a doctorate degree is 4 years.

10.  Army Regulation 135-101 (Appointment of Reserve Commissioned Officers for Assignment to Army Medical Department Branches) provides the criteria for award of constructive service credit for Army Medical Corps commissioned officers ordered to active duty.  Paragraph 3-2 provides that individuals with
7 or more years of service, but less than 14, will be commissioned in the rank of CPT.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant's request for reconsideration of her previous request to correct her record to show she was granted 3 years of constructive service credit for her PSR program and that her DOR be adjusted accordingly has been carefully reexamined.

2.  The evidence shows the applicant's DA Form 5074-1-R was completed on   22 May 2013, to include 4 years of constructive service credit for completion of a DPM degree.  She completed a 36-month PSR on 30 June 2013, and accessed onto active duty as a Medical Service Corps officer on 15 July 2013.  The constructive service credit on her DA Form 5074-1-R was calculated correctly based on the applicant's status at the time; however, the document should have been corrected upon completion of her PSR and prior to her accession onto active duty by awarding 3 additional years for completion of her PSR for a total of 7 years of constructive service credit.

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 amendment of the ABCMR's decision in Docket Number AR20150000431, dated 12 March 2015.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by showing she received 3 additional years constructive service credit for completion of her PSR for a total of 7 years constructive service credit and adjusting her date of rank to CPT accordingly.                 



      ___________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)                                         AR20150013453



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20150013453



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