MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:  1 February 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2000049110

	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. Lee Cates		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Luther L. Santiful		Chairperson	
	Ms. Barbara J. Lutz		Member	
	Mr. James E. Anderholm		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 her records be corrected to show an additional year of constructive service credit (CSC) based on attaining a Master’s of Public Health (MPH) degree in 1978.

APPLICANT STATES: That “The additional year of training received during my MPH degree contributed considerably to the skills for my primary specialty.  The 2-yr MPH reduced my training time during my residency by a year. Other residents with prior MPH receive constructive credit yet must still must complete another Master’s degree during the residency program.”  The applicant provides a self-authored letter in support of her request.

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

The applicant is currently serving in the Regular Army in the rank of lieutenant colonel.

On 10 June 1978, the University of Minnesota granted the applicant a MPH degree.  Her transcript shows completion of 16 hours in the Fall Quarter 1977;  11 hours in the Winter Quarter 1978; and, 16 hours in the Spring Quarter 1978.

On 12 July 1982, the applicant was commissioned as a second lieutenant, Medical Service Corps.  She then attended the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences and was appointed as a captain, Medical Corps.

Upon commissioning, she was awarded 1 year of CSC based on her MPH.

On 10 May 2000, the Program Manager, FYGME (First-Year Graduate Medical Education) stated by e-Mail that the Director of Medical Education “reviewed and recommend that [applicant] gets 2 years credit for MPH in epidemiology.”  She was informed that the e-Mail was not acceptable as a comprehensive advisory opinion in this case. 

On 17 May 2000, the Program Manager, FYGME signed an advisory opinion from the Office of the Surgeon General that the applicant be awarded 2 years of CSC for her MPH.

On 13 July 2000, this Board advised the applicant she had received 1 year of credit for the MPH as recorded on her DA Form 5074-R (Record of Award of Entry Grade Credit (Medical and Dental Officers)), at the time of her commissioning.  This form shows she received 4 years constructive credit,          1 year, 8 months and 9 days prior service credit and 1 year entry grade credit for a total of 6 years, 8 months and 9 days credit.

Department of Defense Directive 1312.2 (Entry Grade Credit for Health Services Officers) and Army Regulation 135-101 (Appointment of Reserve Commissioned Officers for Assignment to Army Medical Department Branches) indicate, in pertinent part, that an additional advanced degree in Public Health may qualify for additional constructive credit.  It prescribes that credit for additional advanced degrees must add adjunctive skills to primary specialty and must contribute directly to performance in anticipated duty position.  Credit is awarded based on full-time equivalent education up to 24 months for a master’s degree.  One year for each year (or school year), limited by the level of degree attained may be awarded.

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

1.  The regulatory authority specifies constructive credit for attaining a MPH “may” not “will” be awarded.

2.  Her Record of Award of Entry Grade Credit correctly awards one additional year of CSC for attaining her MPH degree.

3.  She has not shown at this late date any error or injustice in the amount of CSC awarded.  She did not complete 2 years of masters education and was properly awarded 1 year of CSC by the Office of the Surgeon General at the time of her commissioning in 1982.

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

__ls___  ___bl___  ___ja___  DENY APPLICATION

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

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000049110	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20010201	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR .  .  .  .  .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(NC, GRANT , DENY, GRANT PLUS)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.113	Credit for MPH	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.