MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           1June 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999021254

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mr. Robert J. McGowan		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. James C. Hise		Chairperson	
	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor Jr.		Member	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That his date of rank be adjusted.  In effect, he is requesting correction of his military records to show constructive service credit for a Master of Arts degree in Medical Sciences.

APPLICANT STATES:  That when he entered on active duty, he had received an MA degree in Medical Sciences and that this degree is directly related to his duties as an Army physician.  He states that he was told that he would receive 2 years’ constructive service credit for the degree.  In support of his application, he indicates that he has provided supporting documentation, but these items were not found (transcripts, MA from Boston University, Officer Record Brief, copy of letter).

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) is devoid of education and training data and service computation data.  Available information shows:

He is a captain serving on active duty as a medical doctor.  His date of rank is 15 June 1995.

Army Regulation 135-101 prescribes policy, procedures, and eligibility criteria for appointment in the Reserve Components of the Army, with or without concurrent active duty, in the six branches of the Army Medical Department (AMEDD).  It provides, in pertinent part, that an AMEDD officer’s grade and date of rank will be determined by the number of years of entry grade credit awarded.  Four years’ constructive service credit is awarded a physician for his or her basic qualifying medical degree.  The regulation also provides that a physician may be awarded further credit for an additional advanced degree if that degree contributes adjunctive skills to the primary specialty and it was not earned at the same time as the basic qualifying degree.  Tables 3-3 and 3-4 identify disciplines for which advanced degrees may qualify for additional constructive service credit.

In the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was obtained from the Office of The Surgeon General (OTSG).  The Director of Medical Education reviewed the Masters Degree in Medical Sciences awarded to the applicant and recommended that no constructive credit be awarded.  The opinion was provided to the applicant who rebutted same by pointing out that a Masters Degree in Medical Sciences is listed in Table 3-4, AR 135-101 as an accepted additional advanced degree.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, and advisory opinion(s), it is concluded:

1.  In order to justify correction of a military record, the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy this requirement.

2.  The applicant’s advanced degree is not listed in Table 3-4, AR 135-101; an advanced degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences is listed.

3.  The OTSG advisory opinion recommends that the applicant’s request be denied.

4.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__jch____  __rvo___  __mhm___  DENY APPLICATION

						Carl W. S. Chun
				      Director, Army Board for Correction
					         of Military Records

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999021254	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000601	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	DIRECTOR	
ISSUES         1.	102.0700	
2.	102.0800	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.