IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 14 May 2014 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20130021438 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 retroactive payment of a Health Professions Officer Incentive Pay (HPOIP) contract at $5,000.00/year, effective 7 June 2013 through 29 September 2013. 2. The applicant states: * He was accessed as a first lieutenant in the Medical Specialist Corps as a Physician Assistant as of 7 June 2013 * He was eligible for professional pay in the amount of $5,000.00/year prorated over 12 months * Because his accession occurred prior to 1 October 2013, it makes it in the previous fiscal year * Army Medical Department and Army finance representatives informed him that he must request a redress through the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) 3. The applicant provides copies of his DA Form 71 (Oath of Office – Military Personnel) and U.S. Army Human Resources Command Orders A-03-303540, dated 7 March 2013. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. With prior enlisted service in the Regular Army (RA) and the Army National Guard, the applicant accepted an appointment as a first lieutenant in the RA, Medical Specialist Corps, on 7 June 2013. 2. During the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was obtained from the Office of the Surgeon General. The Chief, AMEDD Special Pay Branch states: a. The officer is requesting retroactive payment of HPOIP at $5,000.00/year for the period 7 June 2013 through 29 September 2013. He indicates he was eligible for the special pay upon entry on active duty as a Physician Assistant, but did not receive payment until 1 October 2013. b. In accordance with All Army Activities (ALARACT) Message 195/2010; Subject: ALARACT Army Special Pay Plan for Licensed Clinical Psychologist(s), Social Workers, Physician Assistant(s), and Veterinarians; paragraph 4, General Eligibility Criteria for the HPO special pays indicate the officer must be a commissioned HPO who is a graduate of the AMEDD Officer Basic Course (OBC) and fully qualified by award of area of concentration (AOC) in the specialty. Additionally, subparagraph 4.C.(5) indicates that the officer, as a Health Care Provider, must be currently credentialed and privileged, or actively seeking privileges at a medical treatment facility in the specialty for which the HPOIP is to be paid. c. The officer provides active duty orders which indicate he was attending OBC for 68 days during the period 15 July 2013 through 20 September 2013; therefore, the general eligibility criteria for completion of OBC was not met until at least 20 September 2013. The additional credentialed and privileged criteria would then need to be satisfied at his first duty station. d. A review of special pay and finance records indicates the officer's HPOIP contract at $5,000.00/year; payable at $416.66/month, commenced on 1 October 2013. The officer is also receiving Health Professions Officer Board Certification Pay (HPOBCP) at $6,000.00/year, payable at $500.00/month, also commencing on 1 October 2013. There are no other records of HPOIP/HPOBCP being requested or processed. 3. The Chief, AMEDD Special Pay Branch states that based on the above discussion, the officer was not eligible for the HPOIP for the period 7 June 2013 through 29 September 2013. 4. The applicant was provided a copy of the advisory opinion by letter dated 5 March 2014 for his information and/or possible rebuttal. No response was received. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant's contentions have been noted. His supporting evidence has been considered. 2. The agency responsible for administering AMEDD Special Pay Programs to include HPOIP states the applicant was not eligible to execute an HPOIP contract at $5,000.00/year; payable at $416.66/month, from period 7 June 2013 through 29 September 2013. 3. The applicant was attending OBC for 68 days during the period 15 July 2013 through 20 September 2013; therefore, the general eligibility criteria for completion of OBC was not met until at least 20 September 2013. The additional credentialed and privileged criteria would then need to have been satisfied at his first duty station. 4. In view of the foregoing, the applicant's request should be denied. 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) AR20130021438 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130021438 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1