PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:.

	BOARD DATE:  9 November 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2000041973

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

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mr. Paul A. Petty		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Jennifer L. Prater		Chairperson	
	Ms. Barbara J. Lutz		Member	
	Mr. Orville W. Troesch		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

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

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests, in effect, constructive credit for grade for a two year Master’s Degree in Applied Human Physiology.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that in accordance with Department of Defense Instruction 6000.13, subparagraphs 6.1.2 and 6.1.2.2.3, that he should be granted constructive credit for grade for his Master’s Degree in Applied Human Physiology as an adjunctive skill to his primary degree and specialty as a Pediatric Surgeon and Medical Doctor (MD) in Internal Medicine.  The applicant provides a copy of his Master’s Degree in Applied Human Physiology diploma and his transcripts for the degree from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  He further states that upon interviewing for admission at Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USUHS) on 9 December 1982, he was told that he could received credit for his master’s degree that he was in the processing of finishing at the time.  When he requested credit for the completed master’s degree during his first year at USUHS, he was denied.  He learned in 1999 that a colleague who had graduated from the same master’s program as he had and then attended USUHS as he had, was granted two years constructive credit for grade for the master’s degree.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was commissioned an Army Reserve 2nd Lieutenant on 21 April 1983 upon entry into the USUHS in Bethesda, Maryland, to obtain a medical degree.  On 16 May 1987, he completed his medical degree at USUHS, was commissioned an officer in the Regular Army Medical Corps and promoted to the rank of Captain with a date of rank 16 May 1987.  He was subsequently promoted to Major on 16 May 1993 and Lieutenant Colonel on 16 May 1999.  He is now assigned to Madigan Army Medical Center.

5.  On 9 June 1983, a Master’s Degree in Applied Human Physiology was conferred on the applicant by the Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  The transcript for the degree shows that it was a two year degree, school years 1981-82 and 1982-83 with a total of 70 credits.

6.  The Director of Medical Education, Office of the Surgeon General of the Army, has provided an opinion by letter dated 24 October 2000 that the applicant’s Master’s Degree in Applied Human Physiology is considered an adjunctive skill to his primary degree and specialty as an pediatric surgeon and should be granted two years constructive credit for grade.  The applicant concurred with this advisory opinion.

7.  The Department of Defense Instruction (DODI) 6000.13, dated 30 June 1997, subject: Medical Manpower and Personnel, states in pertinent part:

	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. Constructive service credit shall be determined according to the following guidelines:

6.1.2.2.  Constructive service credit shall be awarded as follows:

6.1.2.2.1.  Four years of constructive service credit shall be granted for completion of first professional degrees that include medical (M.D.), osteopathy (D.O.), dental (D.D.S. or D.M.D.), optometry (O.D.), podiatry (Pod.D. or D.P.), veterinary (D.V.M.), and pharmacy (Ph.D.). 

6.1.2.2.2.  Credit for master’s and doctorate degrees in a health profession other than medicine and dentistry, whether it is the primary degree or an additional advanced degree, shall be awarded based on actual full-time equivalent education of up to two years for a master’s degree and up to four 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 allowed for having both a master’s and a doctorate degree may not exceed the maximum allowed for a doctorate.

6.1.2.2.3. The additional degree must add adjunctive skills to the primary specialty and must contribute directly to performance in the anticipated position in the Military Service concerned.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant earned a Master’s Degree in Applied Human Physiology which the Director of Medical Education, Office of the Surgeon General of the Army, has determined to add adjunctive skills to his primary specialty, pediatric surgeon, and his performance in his positions in the Medical Corps.  The master’s degree was earned through two years additional study beyond his baccalaureate degree.  According to DODI 6000.13, subparagraph 6.1.2.2.2, the applicant should be awarded two years of constructive credit toward grade for his 

Master’s Degree in Applied Human Physiology.  Since he had the master’s degree at the time he was commissioned a Captain and since he had, prior to that time, attempted to obtain constructive credit for his master’s degree, the effective date for awarding the two years constructive credit should be 16 May 1987, the date of he was commissioned as a Captain.  The two years added constructive credit for grade will change the applicant’s date of rank for Captain from 16 May 1987 to 16 May 1985.  Consequently, the applicant will require consideration by a standby advisory board for earlier promotion to the ranks of Major and Lieutenant Colonel.

2.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected for the individual concerned by:

	a.  awarding him two years of constructive credit toward grade for his Master’s Degree in Applied Human Physiology;

b.  adjusting his date of rank for captain to 16 May 1985;

c.  adjusting his current pay and providing back pay as required,

d.  placing him before a standby advisory board for consideration for earlier promotion to Major and Lieutenant Colonel based on his adjusted date of rank for Captain.

BOARD VOTE:  

__jp___  __bl______  __ot___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____Jennifer L. Prater___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000041973	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20001109	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.102.08	Constructive Credit	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.