BOARD DATE: 6 June 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160010761 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 BOARD DATE: 6 June 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160010761 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. BOARD DATE: 6 June 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160010761 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 correction to her DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show two additional awards. 2. The applicant states two awards were omitted from her DD Form 214: the "A" Proficiency Designator for Outstanding Qualification in the Field of Nursing Research and the Order of Military Medical Merit. 3. The applicant provides – * Order of Military Medical Merit certificate * Letter from the President of the Order of Military Medical Merit, dated 8 December 2005 * "A" Proficiency Designator for Outstanding Qualifications in the Field of Nursing Research certificate and congratulatory letter * Memorandum from Office of the Chief Army Nurse Corps, dated 19 February 2007; subject: "A" Proficiency Designator * DD Form 214 * DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214) CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant's failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing. 2. On 8 August 1985 the applicant was appointed a Reserve commissioned officer in the rank of second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Her appointment letter shows her branch was not yet assigned. 3. On 20 October 1986 the applicant entered active duty as an obligated officer. Her orders show she was to attend the U.S. Army Medical Department officer basic course. Her Army specialist skill identifier was 66, Army Nurse Corps. 4. On 5 November 1996 she was appointed a Regular Army commissioned officer in the rank and grade of major/O-4. 5. On 31 October 2009 the applicant retired for sufficient length of service in the rank of colonel, pay grade O-6. She was issued a DD Form 214 upon her retirement. She also was issued a DD Form 215. a. Item 11 (Primary Specialty) shows she served in military occupational specialty 66H 5P 9A – Medical Surgical Nurse for 22 years and 11 months. She also held MOS 66E – Operating Room Nurse for 13 years and 11 months. b. Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) does not contain the awards she requested in her application. 6. The applicant provides the following evidence in support of her application: a. a letter from a retired colonel dated 8 December 2005, wherein he informed the applicant she was selected as a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit. He states the Order of the Military Medical Merit is a non-profit organization. b. a certificate showing she was conferred membership into the Order of the Military Medical Merit on 8 December 2005. She was recognized for her contributions to the U.S. Army Medical Department. A retired colonel signed the non-Department of the Army certificate. c. a letter from the Chief, Army Nurse Corps, dated 19 February 2007, who personally informed the applicant she was awarded the "A" proficiency designator. This is a coveted title awarded to senior officers with specialty expertise. d. a DA Form 2442 (Certificate of Achievement) presented to the applicant on 8 January 2007 stating in recognition of her outstanding qualifications in the field of nursing research she was awarded the "A" proficiency designator. The certificate was signed by The Surgeon General of the Army. e. a letter from the Chief, Army Nurse Corps congratulating the applicant on her selection for award of the "A" proficiency designator, dated 19 February 2007. REFERENCES: 1. Army Regulation 611-1 (Military Occupational Classification Structure Development and Implementation) prescribes the policies and responsibilities for developing, maintaining, evaluating and revising the military occupational classification and structure for the Army. The Office of the Surgeon General provides functional and technical advice, recommendations for development and refinement of personnel management and structure for medical personnel. Officer occupational identifiers are authorized to identify personnel and manning positions. Positions in requirements and authorization documents must be classified and coded in the appropriate identifier (area of concentration, MOS, skill identifier, special qualification identifier and additional skill identifier). Officer identifiers are shown in Department of the Army Pamphlet (DA PAM) 611-21 (Military Occupational Classification and Structure). * area of concentration codes are identified by three characters (two numeric and one alpha) * skill identifiers are two characters either numeric or alpha or alpha-numeric combinations used to identify specific requirements of a position * designation of degrees of proficiency denote degrees of proficiency in formal training and professional experience * area of concentration for medical officers generally defines the scope of an occupational area with regard to the level of skills, grade, echelon or responsibility involved * 5P designates a parachutist * 9A proficiency designator (medical) 2. DA PAM 611-21 provides guidance to individuals, commanders, personnel managers, proponents, and combat and material developers. It contains information on the classification of individuals by identifiers including officer branches, functional areas or medical functional areas and skill identifiers. Specific information is found on a secure website. In pertinent part, the medical proficiency identifier is not an additional skill identifier. For the Army Nurse Corps in area of concentration 66, The Surgeon General's Classification Board renders individual decisions based on applications submitted by nurse supervisors or superiors. The Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG) Regulation 15-35 (Boards, Commissions, and Committees – Award of the "A" Proficiency Designator) establishes the criteria and board process for selecting medical professionals for this specific identifier known as "9A." Upon nomination and selection a nurse will receive a DA Form 2442. 3. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), then in effect, stated to list awards and decorations for all periods of service in the priority sequence specified in Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards). Army Regulation 600-8-22 gives the order of precedence for awards and decorations. Only decorations, medals, and ribbons are listed. Certificates of achievement, letters of appreciation, and similar documents are not listed on the DD Form 214. 4. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. This regulation does not show the "Order of Military Medical Merit" or the "'A' Proficiency Designator for Outstanding Qualification in the Field of Nursing Research" as an authorized award, decoration or badge. DISCUSSION: 1. The applicant's DA Form 2442 recognizing her for her qualifications in nursing research as an "A" proficiency designator is not an award or decoration recognized by Army regulation. The regulation governing MOS classification structure, development and implementation prescribes the policies and responsibilities for developing, maintaining and evaluating MOSs. It states the 9A proficiency designator for medical officers generally defines the scope of an occupational area with regard to the level of skills, grade, echelon or responsibility involved. The applicant's DD Form 214 appropriately shows her "A" proficiency designator in item 11 by the numeric-alpha designator "9A." 2. The certificate from a non-profit organization showing the applicant was conferred membership into the Order of the Military Medical Merit is not an authorized Department of the Army award or decoration. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160010761 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160010761 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2