BOARD DATE: 12 October 2010 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20100014686 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, in effect, he receive Board Certification Pay (BCP) for the period 26 July 2008 to 22 April 2009. 2. The applicant states: * He is a board certified family physician * He passed his boards in July 2008 which entitles him to BCP * He submitted a copy of his certification in the fall of 2008 (probably August when he arrived in Germany) * He has never been paid for this certification * Finance at his command stated in an email "We can start the board certification 1 year back effective 23 Apr 2009 – 31 Dec 2015. For the period 26 July 2008 – 22 Apr 2009, CPT [applicant's last name] may petition the Army Board of Corrections (ABCMR)" 3. The applicant provides: * Certification letter from the American Board of Family Medicine * Physician license CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant was appointed a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) on 28 June 2001. He was appointed a captain in the USAR, Medical Corps, on 20 May 2005. He was ordered to active duty on 15 June 2005. He is currently assigned to the U.S. Army Health Clinic at Vilseck, Germany as a family physician. 2. The applicant provided documentation which shows he is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine in Family Medicine. The period of certification is effective 26 July 2008 through 31 December 2015 and his current status is shown as "participating and current." 3. In the processing of this case an advisory opinion was obtained from the Program Manager, Medical Corps, Health Services Directorate, U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Fort Knox, KY. That office supports the applicant’s request for BCP with a start date of 26 July 2008. The advisory opinion points out that based on the document provided by the American Board of Family Medicine, the applicant received certification as of 26 July 2008 and his current board certification status is shown as "participating and current" with an expiration date of 31 December 2015. Therefore, the applicant is entitled to receive BCP effective 26 July 2008. 4. On 2 August 2010, the advisory opinion was furnished to the applicant for comment. The applicant did not respond within the given timeframe. 5. Title 37, United States Code, Sections 301d, 302, 302f, and 303a provide for multiyear retention bonuses and special pays for medical officers and health professionals of the armed forces. For Army Medical Corps Officers (Physicians), these special pays are: 1) Variable Special Pay (VSP) which is paid to all Medical Corps Officers monthly upon entry on active duty; 2) Board Certification Pay (BCP) which is paid monthly to all board certified Medical Corps Officers based upon their date of board certification and their creditable service used to establish the Health Professional Pay Entry Date (HPPED); 3) Medical Additional Special Pay (MASP) which is paid to all Medical Corps Officers upon completion of internship (not during initial residency) at the current rate of $15,000 (less taxes) for a one year active duty obligation that can be served concurrently with all other obligations; 4) Incentive Special Pay (ISP) which is paid based on a variable rate to selected Medical Corps Officers who hold the specialties eligible to receive this pay for a one year active duty obligation that may be served concurrently with all other obligations; and 5) Multiyear Special Pay (MSP) which is paid based on execution of a contract for 2, 3, or 4 years of active duty to selected Medical Corps Officers based on their specialty. This pay is authorized concurrently with Medical Additional Special Pay and Incentive Special Pay. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant contends the finance department at his command stated his BCP would be effective 23 April 2009 to 31 December 2015 but he should petition the ABCMR for BCP for the period 26 July 2008 to 22 April 2009. 2. Evidence of record shows the applicant received board certification by the American Board of Family Medicine on 26 July 2008. 3. Based on the foregoing and the advisory opinion recommendation, the applicant is eligible to receive BCP for the period 26 July 2008 to 22 April 2009. BOARD VOTE: ____x____ ___x_____ ___x___ 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 by: a. showing he applied for BCP in a timely manner and his request was approved in a timely manner to be effective 26 July 2008; and b. by paying him BCP in arrears for the period 26 July 2008 to 22 April 2009, at the appropriate pay rate level. _______ _ _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) AR20100014686 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20100014686 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1