MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:            26 September 2000 
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000038112

	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	
	Ms. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		Chairperson	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Member	
	Mr. Thomas F. Baxter		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 she be awarded additional constructive credit for her Master of Science degree in Health Sciences Administration.  

APPLICANT STATES:  In effect, that she was supposed to be given additional constructive credit for her Master of Science degree in Health Sciences Administration when she joined the USAR in 1987.  She contends that her record does not reflect the constructive credit she was given and that she thought this matter was addressed when she was promoted to captain.  However, when she inquired about her promotion to major, she was told that she should have been promoted to major in 1994.  In support of her application, she submits a copy of her appointment letter as a Reserve Commissioned Officer dated 22 July 1987.   

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

The applicant’s education records show that she obtained a Master of Science degree in Health Science Administration on 9 May 1987 from St. Francis College in Joliet, Illinois.

Her military records show that she was commissioned a first lieutenant in the USAR, Army Nurse Corps on 17 October 1987.  She was awarded constructive credit of 0 years, 0 months and 0 days toward her next rank.

In the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was obtained from the Army Nurse Program Manager, U. S. Army Recruiting Command.  After a careful review of the applicant’s military records, that office advised that the constructive credit granted her on appointment to the Army Nurse Corps was correct.  The opinion points out that the applicant was granted constructive credit for full time professional work experience accrued after receipt of her basic qualifying degree which awards her three years.  This credit is awarded at ½ year for each year of experience up to a maximum of three years.  Three years of constructive credit would allow the applicant to attain the rank of first lieutenant.  The applicant’s appointment order, dated 22 July 1987, awards her an Area of Concentration of 66E as a first lieutenant with constructive credit of 0 years, 0 months and 0 days toward her next rank.  The opinion further states that no credit was awarded for completion of a Master of Science degree in Health Sciences Administration and that constructive credit for additional degrees obtained are limited to the completion of a Master of Science in Nursing or Doctorate in Nursing.  In conclusion, the Army Nurse Program Manager referenced Army Regulation 
135-101 (Appointment of Reserve Commissioned Officers for Assignment to Army Medical Branches), Chapter 3 (Grade Determination), Table 3-3, which governs constructive credit for appointment of health services officers.       

On 19 July 2000 the advisory opinion was furnished to the applicant for her review and possible rebuttal.  The applicant responded with a letter of rebuttal dated 26 July 2000.  In summary, she provided a list of her work history from 1978 until she joined the USAR in 1987.  She contends that she served in various roles over the years, from staff nurse to Director of Surgical Services and was basically employed full time.  She states that she does not understand why her years of experience did not result in more constructive credit.  She goes on to state that she worked as a nurse full time for a period of nine years, yet only received 3 years credit and that her recruiter informed her that she had enough credits to be promoted to captain in 6 months to a year after joining the USAR.     
Army Regulation 135-101 provides policy for the appointment of Reserve commissioned officers for assignment to Army medical branches.  Chapter
3 provides that grade and date of rank upon original appointment and assignment to an Army Medical Department branch will be determined by the number of years of entry grade credit awarded.  Table 3-1 provides that Army Nurse officers are granted one-half year of credit for each year of experience up to a maximum of three years of credit.  Paragraph 3-2 provides that if entry grade credit is 3 years or more but less than 7 years, then the entry grade of officers not ordered to active duty will be first lieutenant.  Table 3-3 (credit for qualifying degree or discipline) does not list Health Science Administration as a qualifying degree of discipline. 

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.  At the time of her appointment in the U.S. Army Reserve, Army Nurse Corps, the applicant was given 3 years of constructive credit for her full time professional work experience accrued after receipt of her basic qualifying degree which resulted in appointment as a first lieutenant.  

2.  Her contention that she should be credited with additional constructive credit for her Master of Science degree in Health Sciences Administration was noted by the Board.  However, in accordance with the governing regulation, there is no credit authorized for completion of a Master of Science degree in Health Sciences Administration.  Therefore, there is no basis to grant additional constructive credit in this case.

3.  The Board also noted the applicant’s contention that her nine years of nursing experience prior to joining the USAR should account for more than 3 years of constructive credit.  However, in accordance with Army Regulation 135-101, Army Nurse Corps officers are granted one-half year of credit for each year of experience up to a maximum of three years of credit.  Therefore, the applicant was properly credited with the maximum allowable constructive credit for Army Nurse Corps officers.

4.  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.

5.  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

AAO____  MHM____  TFB____  DENY APPLICATION

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

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000038112	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000926	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	129.0100	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.