IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 6 September 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160007991 BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ___x____ ____x___ ____x____ DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 6 September 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160007991 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. _____________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: 6 September 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160007991 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, correction of his DA Form 5074-R (Record of Award of Entry Grade Credit (Medical and Dental Officers)) to show he was granted an additional 1 year of constructive service credit (CSC). 2. The applicant states he received a master's degree in public health in 2009 from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. He has not been awarded CSC for this degree. According to Army Regulation 135-101 (Appointment of Reserve Commissioned Officers for Assignment to Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Branches), chapter 3, he is eligible for 1 year of CSC for his 1 year of graduate studies culminating in a master's degree. 3. The applicant provides copies of his DA Form 5074-R and graduate school transcripts. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant was awarded a Master of Science in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, which was conferred on 21 May 2009. He was awarded a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, which was conferred on 22 May 2013. 2. In conjunction with his upcoming appointment in the Regular Army in the Medical Corps (MC), a DA Form 5074-R was completed on 10 January 2013. According to this form, his MD was his basic qualifying degree. He was credited with 4 years of CSC for his basic qualifying degree. Accordingly, his CSC qualified him for entry in the rank/grade of CPT/O-3. He was not awarded any additional CSC for professional experience or academic coursework. 3. The applicant was appointed as a commissioned officer in the Regular Army on 22 May 2013, in the rank/grade of CPT/O-3, in the MC. He executed an Oath of Office and entered active duty on that date. 4. In the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was obtained on 22 June 2016, from the Program Manager, Graduate Medical Education, Office of The Surgeon General (OTSG), Falls Church, Virginia. The advisory official stated: a. Department of Defense Instruction (DODI) 6000.13 (Accession and Retention Policies, Programs, and Incentives for Military Health Professions Officers (HPOs)) is the governing directive in granting entry grade credit. Enclosure 3, Paragraph 1.c.(4) states that credit will be awarded for any period of advanced education in a health profession (other than medicine and dentistry) beyond the baccalaureate degree level that exceeds the basic education required for the appointment, if such advanced education will be directly used by the Military Department concerned. b. An MPH degree is not a prerequisite for medical school, an Emergency Medicine Residency, or appointment as a Medical Corps officer in the U.S. Army. Accordingly, this additional training is not applicable to constructive credit for education, training, or experience required for appointment to the Medical Corps beyond 4 years of credit already granted for his medical school training in accordance with Enclosure 3, Paragraph 1.c.(3). Therefore, the recommendation is to not grant any additional credit for the MPH. 5. The applicant was provided a copy of the advisory opinion on 28 June 2016 for information and to allow him the opportunity to submit comments and/or a rebuttal. He did not respond. REFERENCES: 1. Army Regulation 135-101 provides that grade and date of rank upon original appointment and assignment to an AMEDD branch will be determined by the number of years of entry-grade credit awarded. Except as limited by maximum credit limits, entry-grade credit granted will be the sum of CSC and credit for prior active commissioned service. Table 3-1 states the degree must add adjunctive skills to primary specialty and must contribute directly to performance in anticipated duty position. Credit is awarded based on full-time equivalent education up to 24 months for a master's degree or up to 36 months for a doctorate. Additional degree must not have been earned concurrently with primary credential. Credit includes time spent in attainment of lower degree. No additional credit will be given for more than one degree in a single field." 2. DODI 6000.13, dated 30 June 1997 and in effect at the time, implemented policy, assigned responsibilities, and prescribed procedures to carry out medical manpower and personnel programs. a. Paragraph 6.1.2 provides that CSC is awarded to persons who begin their commissioned service after obtaining the additional education, training, or experience required for appointment, designation, or assignment as an officer in a health profession, with a grade and date of rank comparable to that attained by officers who begin their commissioned service after getting a baccalaureate degree and serve for the period of time it would take to obtain the additional education. b. Sub-paragraph 6.1.2.2.2 provides that credit for master's and doctorate degrees in a health profession other than medicine and dentistry, whether it is the primary degree or an additional advanced degree, shall be awarded based on actual full-time equivalent education of up to 2 years for a master’s degree and up to 4 years for a doctorate. 3. DODI 6000.13, dated 30 December 2015 and currently in effect, implements policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures to carry out medical manpower and personnel programs. a. Enclosure 3, paragraph 1.c. (CSC) provides that CSC is awarded to a person who begins commissioned service after obtaining the additional education, training, or experience required for appointment, designation, or assignment as a Health Professions Officer (HPO). The designation will be to the same grade and date of rank comparable to that attained by officers who begin commissioned service after getting a baccalaureate degree and serve for the period of time it would take to obtain the additional education. CSC will only be used to determine initial grade, rank in grade, and service in grade for promotion eligibility. b. Enclosure 3, paragraph 1.c.(3) provides that one year of CSC will be granted for each year of graduate level education toward the first professional degree completed when that degree is required for appointment in the professional specialty being entered. The maximum number of years of CSC that may be awarded under this provision is the number of years of graduate level education required by a majority of institutions that award degrees in that professional field. DISCUSSION: 1. The applicant's contention that his CSC should be adjusted to account for his Master of Science in Public Health was carefully considered. 2. Army Regulation 135-101 provides that advanced degrees may qualify for additional CSC when the advanced degree contributes directly to the officer's performance in the anticipated duty position. 3. The applicant received his MPH degree prior to his completion of medical school. The Program Manager, Graduate Medical Education, OTSG, determined that his Master of Science in Public Health was not a prerequisite for medical school or appointment as an MC officer. Therefore, the additional training is not applicable towards CSC credit for education, training, or experience. 4. Based on the aforementioned evidence, his CSC of 4 years, 0 months, and 0 days and entry-grade rank of CPT are correct. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160007991 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160007991 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2