PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           20 May 2003       
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2003085856

	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	
	Mrs. Nancy L. Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Chairperson	
	Ms. Deborah S. Jacobs		Member	
	Mr. Jose A. Martinez		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 additional constructive credit.

3.  The applicant states that he received his Masters of Science degree in Zoology in 1995 prior to attending medical school.  That Masters of Science degree is an interdisciplinary program that includes the specialties of Physiology, Basic Science, Immunology, and Microbiology.  In addition, he was responsible for organizing and instructing a Physiology laboratory course for 100 college students per year.  

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he completed his Masters of Science degree in 1995.  He completed his medical degree in 1999.  He was commissioned a captain in the U. S. Army Reserve in the Medical Corps and entered active duty on 3 June 1999.  He was awarded 4 years of constructive credit for his active duty grade determination.

5.  In the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was obtained from the      Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG).  OTSG recommended that the applicant be awarded an additional two years of constructive credit based upon his Masters of Science degree.

6.  A copy of the advisory opinion was provided to the applicant.  On 12 April 2003, he concurred with the advisory opinion.

7.  Army Regulation 135-101 (Appointment of Reserve Commissioned Officers for Assignment to Army Medical Department Branches), effective 15 March 1984, provides policy for the appointment of reserve commissioned officers for assignment to Army medical branches.  In pertinent part, it states that the 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.  Four years of constructive credit is awarded for the basic medical degree.  Additional credit may be awarded based on special education.  The determination will be made by OTSG or his designee.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board notes that the regulation allows for additional constructive credit based on special education as determined by OTSG.  In this case, OTSG recommended the applicant be awarded an additional 2 years of constructive credit based upon his Masters of Science degree in Zoology. 

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 by showing the applicant entered active duty as a captain with 6 years of constructive credit.

BOARD VOTE:  

_mhm        _dsj____  __jam___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Melvin H. Meyer_____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003085856	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20030520	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	Mr. Schneider	
ISSUES         1.	102.08	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.