PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:    

	BOARD DATE:          6 November 2003                    
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2003085682

	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. Edmund P. Mercanti		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Stanley Kelley		Chairperson	
	Mr. Raymond J. Wagner		Member	
	Ms. Mae M. Bullock		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 that he be given constructive service credit for his Masters of Medical Science degree.

3.  The applicant states that his Masters of Medical Science degree enhances his skills and training as a physician.  He adds that the constructive service credit will allow for him to be considered for promotion to major at an earlier date.

4.  In support of his request, he submits college records which show that he was awarded a Masters of Medical Science on 29 May 1998.

5.  The applicant’s military records show that he was commissioned as a captain, Medical Corps, on 1 June 2002.  He was given 4 years of constructive service credit at that time.  He entered on active duty on 14 June 2002.  On the date he submitted his application, he was serving on active duty as a captain.

6.  In the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was obtained from the Office of The Surgeon General (OTSG).  The OTSG stated that the applicant was not given credit for his Masters of Medical Science degree.  The OTSG recommended approval of the applicant’s request, although it does not give a reason for its recommendation.  Since a reason for the recommendation was not provided, the staff of the Board determined it was necessary to contact the OTSG.  The OTSG stated that they review different degrees to determine whether they meet the criteria for additional service credit.  A record of those degrees which are approved are then maintained by that office.  A Masters in Medical Science degree was first given constructive service credit in 1996 by their office.  Since that date, they routinely award constructive service credit for that degree.

7.  Army Regulation 135-101, Table 3-4, lists the specialties which are authorized additional constructive service credit for advanced degrees.  A Masters of Medical Science degree is not listed as a specialty which is authorized additional constructive service credit.  This table does specify that specialties not listed in the table may be granted constructive service credit for advanced degrees when approved by the Secretary of the Army on a case-by-case basis.  The applicant was furnished a copy of the advisory opinion and was given the opportunity to provide additional documentation or argument.  He did not respond.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Although a Masters of Medical Science degree is not listed as a degree for which constructive service is given, the OTSG has stated in its advisory opinion that their office would have given the applicant credit for this degree if it had been submitted prior to his commission.

2.  Since the OTSG has determined that a Masters of Medical Science degree provides the “value added” necessary to warrant award of additional constructive service credit, the applicant should have his records corrected to be given that constructive service credit.

3.  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 by showing the individual concerned was awarded two additional years of constructive service credit at the time of his commission, giving him a total of 6 years of constructive service credit.

BOARD VOTE:  

___sk___  ___mmb_  ____rjw__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_________Stanley Kelley__________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003085682	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20031106	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.