RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 15 March 2007 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20060012129 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. Gerard W. Schwartz Acting Director Ms. Joyce A. Wright Analyst The following members, a quorum, were present: Ms. Margaret K. Patterson Chairperson Mr. Larry W. Racster Member Mr. Rodney E. Barber Member The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including advisory opinion, if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests, in effect, that he be awarded constructive service credit for his Master of Science in Microbiology (MSM), granted on 20 December 2002, from Brigham Young University, in Provo, Utah. 2. The applicant states, in effect, that he received his MSM before entering medical school on an Army HPSP (Health Professions Scholarship Program) scholarship. However, he was never given credit and apparently, his diploma was never received at the GME (Graduate Medical Education)/HPSP) office. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his official transcript and a copy of his degree in support of his request. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant’s military records show that he was appointed in the United States Army Reserve, as a captain (CPT/O-3), in the Army Medical Corp, with an effective date of 3 June 2006. 2. He was awarded an MSM degree from Brigham Young University on 20 December 2002. 3. The applicant was ordered to active duty on 12 June 2006, with an active duty commitment of 5 years, to fulfill his active Army requirement, with assignment to Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii. 4. In the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was requested of the Office of The Surgeon General (OTSG), Chief, Graduate Medical Education Division. 5. An opinion was provided on 20 December 2006. The OTSG stated that the applicant was requesting constructive credit for his MSM degree. DOD policy under DOD Directive (sic) 6000.13 is the governing directive in granting constructive service credit. In accordance with this directive, paragraph 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. The applicant completed a Master's degree in Microbiology prior to his medical degree. Therefore, it was recommended that the applicant be granted two years of constructive credit for his Master's degree in Microbiology. 6. The opinion was forwarded to the applicant for his acknowledgement on 20 December 2006 and he concurred with the opinion on 3 January 2007. 7. DOD Instruction 6000.13, in pertinent part, prescribes the policies and procedures for the award of prior commissioned service credit. Paragraph 6.1.2.2.2, specifies credit for master’s and doctorate degrees in health profession other than medicine and dentistry, whether it is the primary degree or an 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 doctorate degree may not exceed the maximum allowed for a doctorate. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. In view of the facts in this case, the applicant is entitled to correction of his record to show he was awarded 2 years of additional constructive service credit, for his MSM degree, at the time of his appointment in the United States Army Reserve effective 3 June 2006. 2. It is concluded that the applicant was not awarded proper constructive service credit at the time of his appointment in the USAR, and his records should be corrected as recommended below. BOARD VOTE: _LWR___ _MKP___ __REB__ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected to show he was appointed in the United States Army Reserve, Medical Corps, as a captain, effective 3 June 2006, with 2 years of additional constructive service credit. _____M. K. Patterson_______ CHAIRPERSON INDEX CASE ID AR20060012129 SUFFIX RECON YYYYMMDD DATE BOARDED 20070315 TYPE OF DISCHARGE (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) DATE OF DISCHARGE YYYYMMDD ACTIVE DUTY DISCHARGE AUTHORITY AR . . . . . DISCHARGE REASON BOARD DECISION GRANT REVIEW AUTHORITY ISSUES 1. 102 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.