RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 15 March 2007 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20060013298 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 she be awarded constructive service credit for her advanced degree, (Master of Public Health Degree [MPH]), that she obtained in 1998. 2. The applicant states, in effect, that this correction was made to her Officer Record Brief (ORB). She states that with an advanced degree, which has assisted in her practice in Internal Medicine and in Army Medicine, she has been able to be a more well-rounded physician. She has been able to apply what she has learned to teaching of students and resident physicians in the Army. 3. The applicant provides a copy of her diploma for her MPH degree and the American Board of Internal Medicine Certification in support of her request. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant was awarded an MPH degree, from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) on 14 August 1998. 2. The applicant’s military records show that she was appointed in the United States Army Reserve, as a captain (CPT/O-3), in the Army Medical Corps, with an effective date of 4 June 2002. 3. The applicant was ordered to active duty on 4 June 2002, with an active duty commitment of 5 years, to fulfill her active duty Army requirement, with assignment to Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii. 4. The applicant provides a copy of her diploma from the American Board of Internal Medicine which attests that she met the requirements of this Board and was certified for the period 2005 through 2015 as a diplomate in Internal Medicine. 5. The applicant provides a copy of her ORB which shows that she obtained her MPH degree in 1998. 6. In the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was requested of the Office of The Surgeon General (OTSG), Chief, Graduate Medical Education Division. 7. An opinion was provided on 20 December 2006. The OSTG stated that the applicant was requesting constructive service credit for her MPH 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 her MPH degree prior to her medical degree. Therefore, it was recommended that the applicant be granted two years of constructive credit for her MPH degree. 8. The opinion was forwarded to the applicant for her acknowledgement on 20 December 2006 and she concurred with the opinion on 29 December 2006. 9. 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 her record to show she was awarded 2 years of additional constructive service credit, for her MPH degree, at the time of her appointment in the United States Army Reserve, effective 4 June 2002. 2. It is concluded that the applicant was not awarded proper constructive service credit at the time of her appointment in the USAR, and her 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 she was appointed in the United States Army Reserve, Medical Corps, as a captain, effective 4 June 2002, with 2 years of additional constructive service credit. _____M. K. Patterson____ CHAIRPERSON INDEX CASE ID AR20060013298 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.