IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 12 June 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160016786 BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 x :x :x GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 12 June 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160016786 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, retroactive Health Professions Officer Incentive Pay (HPO IP). 2. The applicant states he has been a physician assistant (PA) since 30 January 2015 and a Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC) graduate since 20 May 2015. He has not received HPO IP. The Human Resources Command (HRC) approved his request and will give the applicant back pay from 1 March 2016. However, the applicant is requesting back pay from 20 May 2015 because he met the requirements on that date. HRC recommended he submit a request to the ABCMR. 3. The applicant provides his Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) covering the period 1 to 30 September 2016. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Following prior enlisted service in the Regular Army, the applicant was appointed as a Medical Specialist Corps officer in the rank of first lieutenant (1LT)/O-2E on 30 January 2015, and executed an Oath of Office on the same date. 2. An advisory opinion was obtained on 3 November 2017 from the Chief, Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Special Pay Branch, Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG). This official summarizes the applicable policy and states: a. A review of special pay and finance records indicates the applicant executed his HPO BCP agreement and received payment at $6,000/year; payable $500/month, commencing 20 May 2015. The applicant met the requirements of the aforementioned ALARACT message for the HPO IP; however, there is no record of submission, authorization, or payment of an HPO IP agreement until 1 March 2016. b. The applicant met the general eligibility criteria for the discretionary HPO IP agreement effective 20 May 2015 and the HPO BCP agreement was processed effective 20 May 2015. In what may have been an oversight, his supporting military personnel office did not produce the HPO IP agreement. The applicant should be eligible for the retroactive effective date and period of prorated payment effective 20 May 2015 to 28 February 2016 (all months payable as 30-days) at $5,000/year; payable at $416.66/month, or approximately $3,902. The exact payment would be determined by Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS)-Indianapolis (IN). c. In accordance with AR 37-104-4, Military Pay and Allowances Policy, 8 June 2005, chapter 20, Settlement Actions Resulting from Correction of Records by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR); only the Director, DFAS-IN may make settlement actions affecting the military pay accounts of soldiers as a result of correction of records by the ABCMR per provisions of AR 15-185 (ABCMR). Therefore, any ABCMR relief granted should be addressed for action to the Corrections - Claims Section, DFAS-IN. 5. A copy of the advisory opinion was forwarded to the applicant on 7 November 2017, for information and to allow him the opportunity to submit comments or a rebuttal. We did not receive a response. 6. On 10 April 2018, the applicant retired by reason of physical disability (temporary). His DD Form 214 shows he completed 3 years, 2 months, and 11 days of net active service this period. He was placed on the temporary disability retired list on 11 April 2018. REFERENCES: ALARACT Message 195/2010 states to receive HPO IP an officer must be a commissioned HPO who is a graduate of the Army Medical Department Officer Basic Course, and fully qualified by award of area of concentration (AOC) in the specialty. Additionally, subparagraph 4c(5) indicates that an officer, as a Health Care Provider, must be currently credential and privileged, or actively seeking privileges at the Medical Treatment Facility in the specialty for which the HPO is to be paid. DISCUSSION: An advisory opinion from the OTSG states that the evidence of record shows the applicant met the requirements for the receipt of HPO IP for the missing period from 20 May 2015 to 28 February 2016 and may receive HPO IP for this period upon favorable consideration by this Board. 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 is authorized payment of Health Professions Officer Incentive Pay for the period 20 May 2015 through 28 February 2016 at the applicable rate. 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. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160016786 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160016786 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2