IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 14 July 2009 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20090004990 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests constructive credit for her Master of Public Health Degree that she received from New York Medical College in 2006. 2. The applicant states she believes there is an error in her records because she has received no constructive credit based on her Master in Public Health Degree. 3. The applicant provides copies of her DA Form 61 (Application for Appointment), her USAREC Form 1131 (Department of the Army Service Agreement, F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (AFHPSP)), her transcripts from New York Medical College, her Master of Public Health Degree, her appointment letter of 31 March 2006, her DA Form 71 (Oath of Office - Military Personnel) of 24 May 2006, and orders adjusting her date of rank to the grade of captain in support of her application. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. On 4 June 2002, the applicant received an appointment to second lieutenant, branch unassigned, in the U. S. Army Reserve (USAR). She was assigned an area of concentration (AOC) of 00E (Student Officer). On 4 June 2002, she was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the USAR. 2. On 23 June 2002, the applicant enrolled in the AFHPSP. 3. On 31 March 2006, the applicant received an appointment to captain in the USAR Medical Corps, effective upon her acceptance. Her AOC was 61F (Internist). She was credited with 4 years of constructive credit as of the date of her graduation. 4. On 31 March 2006, the applicant was ordered to active duty effective 14 June 2006 with an active duty requirement of 7 years. 5. On 24 May 2006, the applicant received a Masters of Public Health Degree. The date she received her Doctor of Medicine Degree is not available. 6. On 24 May 2006, the applicant took an oath of office as a captain in the USAR Medical Corps with an AOC of 61F. 7. In the processing of this case an advisory opinion was provided by the Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG). The applicant was provided a copy of this opinion and given 30 days to submit matters in rebuttal; however, she has not responded. 8. The OTSG stated the governing directive for granting constructive credit for medical personnel is Department of Defense Directive (DODD) 6000.13 (Medical Manpower and Personnel). OTSG stated that paragraph 6.1.2.2.2 of this directive provides that "no additional credit may be given for more than one advanced degree in a single field, or closely related field. The total credit allowed from having both a master's and a doctorate degree may not exceed the maximum allowed for a doctorate." OTSG also stated the applicant earned her master's degree simultaneously with her Doctor of Medicine Degree. OTSG recommended that no additional constructive service credit be awarded in this case. 9. Army Regulation 135-101 (Appointment of Reserve Commissioned Officers for Assignment to Army Medical Department Branches) prescribes policy, procedures, and eligibility criteria for appointment in the Reserve Components of the Army in the six branches of the Army Medical Departments. According to Table 3-1 (Constructive Service Credit) of this regulation, a member receives 4 years of constructive credit for a Doctor of Medicine Degree. Paragraph 4 of Table 3-1 of this regulation states, "Credit for additional advanced degrees (see Table 3-4). Degree 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 or up to 36 months for a doctorate. Additional degree must not have been earned concurrently with primary credential." 10. Army Regulation 15-185 (Army Board for Correction of Military Records) prescribes the policies and procedures for correction of military records by the Secretary of the Army, acting through the ABCMR. The regulation provides that the ABCMR begins its consideration of each case with the presumption of administrative regularity. The applicant has the burden of proving an error or injustice by a preponderance of the evidence. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The date the applicant was awarded her Doctor of Medicine Degree was not available. However, the OTSG stated she earned her Master of Public Health Degree and Doctor of Medicine Degree simultaneously. 2. DODD 6000.13 and Army Regulation 135-101 are clear in that a period of time will only be counted once when computing entry-grade credit. The applicant was awarded 4 years of constructive credit based on her Doctor of Medicine Degree. Therefore, there is no additional credit authorized for the Master of Public Health Degree earned concurrently. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ___X____ ____X___ __X____ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. _____________X____________ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20090004990 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20090004990 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1