RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2019-04963

XXXXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING REQUESTED: NO

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

She receive twenty-four (24) months of constructive service credit (CSC) and her commissioning rank at the time of her appointment be changed from second lieutenant (O-1) to first lieutenant 
(O-2) with a 2 May 18 date of rank (DOR).  

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

She commissioned in the Air Force Reserve (AFR) Medical Services Corps (MSC) as a second lieutenant (O-1) on 2 May 18; however, because she has a Bachelor of Science in Business and Masters of Science in Dietetics and in accordance with AFI 36-2005, Officer Accessions, she should have received 24 months of CSC.  

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The applicant is a second lieutenant (O-1) in the Air Force Reserve (AFR) Medical Services Corps (MSC).  

On 7 May 18, Reserve Order PA-00508 shows that the applicant was appointed in primary Air Force Specialty Code 41A1, Health Services Administrator, in the grade of second lieutenant (O-1) with a DOR of 2 May 18.

For more information, see the excerpt of the applicant’s record at Exhibit B and the advisory at Exhibit C.

APPLICABLE AUTHORITY

In accordance with AFI 36-2005, Officer Accession (AFI in effect at time of appointment) dated 2 August 2017: 

Paragraph 10.1.1: “CSC or service credit entitlements cannot be applied retroactively (grandfathering) and a member cannot terminate his or her appointment and request reappointment in order to take advantage of changes to CSC or service credit rules.”

Table 10.5, Rule 43-44, Note 10:  Related degree as determined by ARPC/DPAR with consultation with AFRC/SG. The Air Force Officer Classification Directory (AFOCD) was used specifically for qualifying degrees in the MSC career field.

Table 10.6, Rule 5, Note: “The additional degree has to add adjunctive skills to the primary specialty and contribute directly to performance in the specialty in which being appointed. No additional credit may be granted for more than one advanced degree in a single field or closely related field.”

In accordance with the AFOCD, Section 3.2.1-3.2.2, specialty qualifications include the following for AFSC 41A1, Health Services Administrator:

3.2.1.:  A graduate degree in Health Administration, Healthcare Administration (or equivalent), Healthcare Management, Health Management and Policy, Health Services Administration (or equivalent), Hospital Administration (or equivalent), Accounting, Business Administration, Business Management, Economics, Finance, Marketing, Statistics, Information Systems Management, or other business-related equivalent. 

3.2.2:  An undergraduate in Health Administration, Healthcare Administration (or equivalent), Healthcare Management, Health Management and Policy, Health Services Administration (or
equivalent), Hospital Administration (or equivalent), Accounting, Business Administration, Business Management, Economics, Finance, Marketing, Statistics, Information Systems Management, Biomedical Engineering, Clinical Engineering and Health Management/Health.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION

ARPC/DPAR recommends denying the applicant’s request to change commissioning rank from second lieutenant (O-1) to first lieutenant (O-2).  Since the applicant was appointed in AFSC 41A1, Health Services Administrator, her Masters of Science in Dietetics did not qualify as an adjunctive skill to her primary specialty.  In addition, ARPC/DPAR found no administrative error and concludes the applicant received the commissioning rank entitled, based upon the policies set at that time. 

The complete advisory opinion is at Exhibit C.

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION

The Board sent a copy of the advisory opinion to the applicant on 25 Feb 20 for comment (Exhibit D), and the applicant replied on 12 Mar 20.  In her response, the applicant states that her Masters of Science Dietetics degree adds adjunctive skills to her primary specialty of Medical Service Corps AFSC 41A1, Health Services Administrator, by providing additional clinical knowledge, which contributes to her successful management of patient care and clinical systems.  The applicant goes onto list other reasons why her degree should qualify for 24 months of CSC and how the Air Force benefits from her additional knowledge and skillset.   The applicant’s complete response is at Exhibit E.

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION

1.  The application was timely filed.

2.  The applicant exhausted all available non-judicial relief before applying to the Board.

3.  After reviewing all Exhibits, the Board concludes the applicant is not the victim of an error or injustice.  The Board concurs with the rationale and recommendation of ARPC/DPAR and finds a preponderance of the evidence does not substantiate the applicant’s contentions.  Therefore, the Board recommends against correcting the applicant’s records.

RECOMMENDATION

The Board recommends informing the applicant the evidence did not demonstrate material error or injustice, and the Board will reconsider the application only upon receipt of relevant evidence not already presented.

CERTIFICATION

The following quorum of the Board, as defined in Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2603, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR), paragraph 1.5, considered Docket Number BC-2019-04963 in Executive Session on 13 Apr 20:

	, Panel Chair
	, Panel Member
	, Panel Member

All members voted against correcting the record.  The panel considered the following:

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 17 Jul 19.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, ARPC/DPAR, w/atchs, dated 23 Jan 20.
Exhibit D:	Notification of advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 25 Feb 20.
Exhibit E:	Applicant’s response, dated 12 Mar 20.

Taken together with all Exhibits, this document constitutes the true and complete Record of Proceedings, as required by AFI 36-2603, paragraph 4.11.9.