IN THE CASE OF:	

		BOARD DATE:	  8 August 2013

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20130007761 


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, in effect, Board Certification Pay (BCP) for the period 8 November 2011 to 30 September 2012.

2.  The applicant states:

	a.  he is currently not authorized to receive back pay due for BCP.  He became certified for BCP in November 2011 after completing all requirements prescribed by the American Board of Emergency Medicine.

	b.  he has met all requirements to be qualified for BCP.

	c.  he was involved with operations in support of his unit that prevented him from applying for the appropriate pay at the time he received notice of his eligibility. 

3.  The applicant provides documentation from the American Board of Emergency Medicine and verification of his board certification.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant is currently serving on active duty in the rank of major assigned to Fort Campbell, KY, as an emergency medicine physician.


2.  He provides documentation that shows he is board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine.  The period of certification is 8 November 2011 through 31 December 2021.

3.  In the processing of this case, on 17 June 2013, an advisory opinion was obtained from the Chief, Army Medical Department Special Pay Branch, Office of The Surgeon General.  The advisory official recommends payment of BCP for the period 8 November 2011 through 30 September 2012.  The advisory official states:

	a.  requests for BCP are initiated by the officer through their supporting Human Resource office.  A review of supporting documentation and available special pay and finance data indicates the applicant's BCP was started on 
1 October 2012 and expires on 31 December 2021.

	b.  there is no record of authorization or payment of BCP for the period 
8 November 2011 through 30 September 2012.

	c.  the applicant is eligible to receive BCP for the period 8 November 2011 through 30 September 2012.

	d.  utilize a Health Professions Pay Entry Date or finance MS-Pay-Date of 
9 June 2003 for the correct pay rate level.  The retroactive payment for this total period is approximately $2,236.00 prior to withholding; exact payment to be determined by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS).

4.  On 17 June 2013, the advisory opinion was furnished to the applicant for information and to allow him the opportunity to submit comments or a rebuttal.  He did not respond.

5.  Title 37, U.S. Code, sections 301d, 302, 302f, and 303a, provides for multi-year retention bonuses and special pays for medical officers and health professionals of the Armed Forces.  For Army Medical Corps officers (physicians), these special pays include 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 Health Professional Pay Entry Date.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence shows the applicant received board certification by the American Board of Emergency Medicine on 8 November 2011.


2.  The advisory opinion points out:

* his BCP started on 1 October 2012 and expires on 31 December 2021
* there is no record of authorization or payment of BCP for the period
8 November 2011 to 30 September 2012 in his military pay file
* he is eligible to receive BCP for the period 8 November 2011 to 
30 September 2012

3.  In view of the foregoing his record should be corrected as recommended below.

BOARD VOTE:

____X____  ____X____  ___X_____  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

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 was approved for Board Certification Pay and paying him Board Certification Pay in arrears for the period 8 November 2011 through 30 September 2012, utilizing a Health Professions Pay Entry Date or finance MS-Pay-Date of
9 June 2003 for the correct pay rate level.



      ___________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)                                         AR20130007761



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20130007761



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