PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:     

	BOARD DATE:           11 April 2002                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001063520

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mr. Edmund P. Mercanti		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Margaret K. Patterson		Chairperson	
	Mr. Elzey J. Arledge, Jr.		Member	
	Mr. Richard T. Dunbar		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests that his Board Certification Pay (BCP) start date be changed from 25 October 2000 to 5 May 2000.

3.  The applicant states that his BCP was started on the wrong date.  He became Board certified in general dentistry on 5 May 2000.

4.  In support of his request he submits a copy of a certificate showing that he was board certified in general dentistry on 5 May 2000.

5.  The applicant’s military records show that he is currently serving on active duty as a major and performs duties as a dentist.

6.  In the processing of this case an advisory opinion was obtained from the Office of The Surgeon General (OTSG).  The OTSG stated that it appears that the applicant did not realize the appropriate procedures to start BCP based on the fact that he did not submit a request for the pay until 24 October 2000.  The OTSG adds that he was, in fact, eligible for BCP on 5 May 2000.  The OTSG recommends approval of the applicant’s request.  The applicant was provided a copy of this advisory opinion and given the opportunity to submit any comments he may have.  The applicant did not submit any additional comments or evidence.

7.  A member of the staff of the Board determined that additional information was required, and so contacted the applicant.  In response to the question why he didn’t submit his BCP application in a timely fashion, the applicant responded that he had received the packet when he was changing duty stations from Italy to Command and General Staff College (C&GSC).  Between the extra demands on his time inherent with an international move, and the demands placed on him upon his arrival to C&GSC, he was unable to complete the BCP packet and return it prior to its due date.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was eligible to BCP by virtue of his Board certification in general dentistry.

2.  While it is not and has never been the Board’s desire to excuse a soldier from taking required actions in a timely manner, the applicant has submitted a viable explanation for his delay in completing his BCP packet.  An overseas move is work intensive, as is C&GSC.

3.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by changing the BCP start date of the individual concerned from 25 October 2000 to 5 May 2000.

BOARD VOTE:  

________  ________  ____eja _  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

___rtd ___  ___mkp _  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__________Margaret K. Patterson_____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001063520	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020411	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT 	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.