RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:				DOCKET NUMBER:  01-03301
							INDEX CODE:129.01
				COUNSEL:  NONE

					HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be granted service credit for earning a master’s degree in nursing.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

At the time he was recruited he was told by the recruiting officer and NCO that his master’s degree was included as credit toward his rank.  While he was being recruited, he was in his last two semesters of his master’s program.  His recruiter urged him to receive his commission as soon as possible in order for him to attain more time towards his rank.  His commissioning ceremony was on the same week of his graduation ceremony.  His recruiter left for the NCO academy upon his commissioning and his record was not updated with the graduation education credit prior to him coming on active duty.  During his inprocessing at Kessler AFB, he discovered the error in his record and was counseled to complete a DD Form 149 for correction of his military record. 

In support of his appeal, applicant’s submits his academic transcripts from the University of Southern Indiana. 

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.  

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Information extracted from the Personnel Data System (PDS) indicates that the applicant was appointed a first lieutenant, Reserve of the Air Force (Nurse Corps) on 6 May 2001 and was voluntarily ordered to extended active duty in that grade effective 3 September 2001, with a date of rank of 23 May 2001.  Prior to his entry on active duty, a Constructive Service Credit Computation was accomplished on 14 August 2001.  The applicant was granted 2 years, 1 month and 11 days of service credit for his professional experience and 1 month and 28 days for his prior military service.  He has a Total Active Federal Military Service Date (TAFMSD) of 4 April 2001.  

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPMAF2 recommends the application be denied.  DPMAF2 states that established procedures and guidance do not allow for commissioning prior to completion of degree requirements.  The applicant was commissioned on 6 May 2001; however, did not complete his master of science in nursing degree requirements until 8 June 2001. 

The DPMAF2 evaluation is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Applicant reiterates his position that he was misinformed by the recruiting office that his advanced degree would apply towards constructive credit for the rank of captain.  Based on the information he received from his recruiter he opted to be commissioned earlier than he had planned.  

Applicant provides two AETC Form’s 1431, Medical Service Grade and Pay Computation Worksheet (Estimated), to demonstrate the discrepancies between the initial form provided to him which he used to base his decision on obtaining his early commission and the latter which incorrectly calculates his professional experience and includes 2 years of constructive credit for his master’s degree which according to AFPC is not included in his current record for constructive credit.  Applicant also provides a memorandum endorsed by his chain-of-command for support of his case.  The applicant’s submission is at Exhibit E.

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THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.	The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations.

2.	The application was timely filed.

3.	Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice.  After a thorough review of the evidence presented, it appears that the applicant was miscounseled by his recruiter concerning the actual constructive service credit he would receive and the date he should accept his appointment.  The applicant states, and we believe, that he based his decision to be commissioned prior to the completion of his master’s degree so he could attain more time in grade.  We find it difficult to believe that, had he been properly counseled, he would have taken an action so contrary to his own best interests.  In our opinion, to allow the applicant no credit for his advanced degree would constitute an injustice.  Therefore, the applicant’s records should be corrected to show he was appointed an Air Force officer after he completed his degree requirements and that he should receive the proper service credit based on that change.  We do not believe the applicant should receive all of the credit calculated by the recruiter since a portion of this credit was based on double credit for the same period of time, which is prohibited by law.

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THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that he was appointed a first lieutenant, Reserve of the Air Force (Nurse Corps) on 8 June 2001, rather than 6 May 2001, and at the time he was voluntarily ordered to extended active duty on 3 September 2001, he was awarded a current grade date of rank as a first lieutenant of 23 May 2000.

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The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 1 May 2002, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

All members voted to correct the records, Docket Number 01-03301 as recommended.  The following documentary evidence was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 2 November 2001, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Letter, AFPC/DPMAF2, dated 18 January 2002, 
               w/atchs.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 January 2002.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, Applicant, dated 8 February 2002.

                                   

AFBCMR 01-03301

MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF

	Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records and under the authority of Section 1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A Stat 116), it is directed that:

	The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to                        , be corrected to show that he was appointed a first lieutenant, Reserve of the Air Force (Nurse Corps) on 8 June 2001, rather than 6 May 2001, and at the time he was voluntarily ordered to extended active duty on 3 September 2001, he was awarded a current grade date of rank as a first lieutenant of 23 May 2000.