IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 7 November 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170010083 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 IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 7 November 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170010083 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 showing the applicant is authorized Board Certification Pay for the period 9 October 2014 through 30 September 2016, utilizing a Health Professions Pay Entry Date or finance Medical Special Pay Date of 8 June 2011 for the correct pay 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. IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 7 November 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170010083 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 Board Certification Pay (BCP). 2. The applicant states he received his board certification in pediatrics from the American Board of Pediatrics on 9 October 2014. a. On 7 April 2015, an email was sent from the Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) credentials office to the Human Resources Division with a copy of his board certification for an update in the system and the allowance of board certification payments. To this date, he has not received payment. b. He believes the record is incorrect due to human error in inputting his board certification documentation and allowing for appropriate processing of his payment. 3. The applicant provides: * American Board of Pediatrics Diploma and Congratulatory Letter, dated 9 October 2014 and 20 November 2014, respectively * email correspondence, dated 7 April 2015 * request for Medical Corps Incentive Special Pay, dated 1 August 2016 CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant was appointed as a Reserve commissioned officer on 11 May 2007. He was ordered to active duty on 8 June 2011 in a voluntary indefinite status. He currently serves on active duty in the rank of major. He is assigned in area of concentration 60P (Pediatrician) at Fort Hood, TX. 2. The applicant provides an American Board of Pediatrics Diploma and Congratulatory Letter, dated 9 October 2014 and 20 November 2014, respectively, which shows he met the requirements for pediatrics certification. 3. The applicant's record is void of evidence that shows he requested BCP for a period commencing 9 October 2014. 4. An advisory opinion was obtained from the Chief, Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Special Pay Branch, Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG), dated 18 August 2017, wherein he stated. a. Requests for legacy BCP for physicians, which is considered under the entitlement category of Title 37, USC Code Section 302 (a)(5), are initiated by the officer through their command's supporting Human Resource, Personnel, or S1 office. If board certification renewals or maintenance of certification are issued, the officer must also submit renewal documentation to ensure BCP continues uninterrupted. Receipt of monthly BCP can be verified by the officer by reviewing their monthly LES entitlements column. Immediate action should be taken if payments are not visible or stop abruptly. b. A review of supporting documentation and available special pay and finance data indicates their office authorized retroactive payments for BCP commencing 1 October 2016. The verified missing period of BCP is 9 October 2014 through 30 September 2016. c. The applicant was eligible to receive BCP for the missing 24-month period 9 October 2016 through 30 September 2016. The exact amount of payment will be determined by DFAS utilizing a Health Professions Pay Entry Date (HPPED) or finance medical services (MS)-Pay-Date of 8 June 2011 for the correct pay rates. 5. A copy of the advisory opinion was forwarded to the applicant on 28 August 2017 for information and to allow him the opportunity to submit comments or a rebuttal. He did not respond. REFERENCES: Title 37, U.S. Code, sections 301d, 302, 302f, and 303a, provide for multi-year retention bonuses and special pay for medical officers and health professionals of the Armed Forces. For Army Medical Corps officers (physicians), this special pay includes 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 HPPED. DISCUSSION: 1. The applicant requests retroactive BCP for an unspecified period beginning 9 October 2014. He contends he did not receive his BCP due to human error. 2. The applicant became board-certified by American Board of Pediatrics on 9 October 2014. The governing law states BCP is paid monthly to all board-certified Medical Corps officers based upon their date of board certification. 3. The OTSG advisory opinion confirms the applicant met the requirements and was eligible to receive BCP payable for the period 9 October 2014 through 30 September 2016. The OTSG official further recommended he receive the BCP for the requested period. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160017370 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20170010083 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2