BOARD DATE: 24 October 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160015453 BOARD VOTE: __x_______ __x_____ __x______ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration BOARD DATE: 24 October 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160015453 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is 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 that she executed an RNISP contract in the Amount of $15,000.00 per year for the period 4 August 2014 to 3 August 2017; b. showing that her RNISP contract was approved with an effective date of 4 August 2014; and c. paying her retroactive RNISP in accordance with her RNISP contract at the applicable rate. ___________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. BOARD DATE: 24 October 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160015453 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 3-year Registered Nurse Incentive Special Pay (RNISP) at $15,000.00 per year, effective upon her active duty entry date of 4 August 2014. 2. The applicant states she completed all of her education at a civilian school. The special pay liaison in her unit said she did not see a reason why the RNISP agreement was not part of her contract. At the time of her entry onto active duty she was eligible for the RNISP. 3. The applicant provides a copy of her State of Iowa Board of Nursing License. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. With prior enlisted service in the United States Army Reserve (USAR), the applicant accepted an appointment as a Reserve commissioned officer on 26 March 2009. 2. She successfully completed the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Basic Officer Leader Course on 3 September 2010. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Iowa on 27 July 2012. She received her Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner credentials through the American Nurses Credentialing Center with validation dates from 27 September 2012 to 26 September 2017. 3. On 4 August 2014, the applicant accepted a Regular Army commissioned officer appointment in the Army Nurse Corps. 4. During the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was obtained from the Office of The Surgeon General, Chief, AMEDD Special Pay Branch, dated 28 February 2017. a. All Army Activities (ALARACT) message (number) 365/2010 stated the basic eligibility for the RNISP. At the time the requirements for the RNISP were an individual must have been fully qualified in a nursing specialty, credentialed to the basic standards of the nursing specialty in accordance with Army Regulation 40-66 (Medical Record Administration and Health Care Documentation), without prejudicial restriction of clinical privileges; possession of a full, unrestricted license or waiver; and performing the duties of a (specified) specialty registered nurse for sufficient time during the contract period to allow for the full maintenance of professional skills in that specialty. b. A review of the applicant's special pay history, finance files, and the applicant's evidence indicates the applicant met the eligibility criteria. She holds specialty code 66R (Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner) and was board certified effective 27 September 2012 by the State of Iowa Board of Nursing. c. Specialty registered nurses who meet the basic eligibility, including licensure, training/degree, and board certification, were authorized the RNISP. She met the requirements and was eligible for the 3-year contractual obligation specialty RNISP at $15,000.00 per year. The effective dates were from 4 August 2014 through 3 August 2017. She is authorized a total of $45,000.00 retroactive RNISP prior to tax withholdings. Her exact pay should be determined by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. 5. The applicant was provided a copy of the advisory opinion for her information and/or possible rebuttal. No response was received. REFERENCES: 1. The Department of Defense Financial Management Regulation (DODFMR), volume 7A, chapter 21, states that in order to be eligible for the RNISP for nurses, a person must: a. be an officer of the Nurse Corps of the Army or Navy, or an officer of the Air Force designated as a nurse; b. be serving on active duty under a call or order to active duty for a period of not less than 1 year; c. be a fully-qualified registered nurse with an active, full, unrestricted license in a designated specialty including psychiatric/mental health nursing or any nurse practitioner; d. hold a nationally- recognized certification in one of the clinical nursing specialties listed above; e. have completed a specialty nursing course approved by the service surgeon general or graduate program in one of the clinical specialties listed above; and f. execute a written agreement to remain on active duty for a period of not less than 1 year. 2. The DODFMR states the Secretaries concerned may, upon acceptance of the written agreement, pay an eligible individual incentive pay in an annual amount not to exceed: * $5,000.00 per year for a 1-year contract * $10,000.00 per year for a 2-year contract * $15,000.00 per year for a 3-year contract DISCUSSION: At the time of her appointment as a Regular Army commissioned officer in the Army Nurse Corps, it appears based on the eligibility criteria and confirmed by the advisory opinion from the AMEDD special pay incentive office, the applicant was eligible for a 3-year RNISP agreement for $15,000.00 per year effective 4 August 2014. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160015453 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160015453 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2