BOARD DATE: 24 July 2020 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170004874 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of her record to show her accession rank/grade as captain (CPT)/O-3. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * Appointment memorandum, U.S. Army Human Resources Command (HRC), dated 17 June 2016 * DA Form 71 (Oath of Office), sworn on 30 June 2016 * DA Form 5074-1-R (Record of Award of Entry Grade Credit (Health Services Officers), dated 9 August 2016 * Email Traffic for Submission, dated 22 March 2017 FACTS: 1. The applicant states – a. On 30 June 2016, she entered the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) as a direct commission, as an Audiologist (72C), with the level of education required (8 years). After speaking with the USAR Audiology consultant, it is her understanding that all USAR 72C's possessing a doctorate degree have been commissioned as CPT's since USAR grade assignment policy was aligned with active duty grade assignment policy in 2015. Therefore, her entry grade should be change from 1LT to CPT. b. Her original 5074-1-R granted her 3 years of constructive credit, when it should have been 4 years of constructive credit for her Audiology Doctorate Degree. 2. A review of the applicant’s official records show the following: a. On 7 May 2015, she received a Doctorate of Audiology from the University of Utah. b. On 30 June 2016, the applicant was appointed as a Reserve commissioned officer and executed an oath of office. c. On 9 August 2016, a DA Form 5074-1-R (Record of Award of Entry Grade Credit (Health Services Officers)) was completed showing in Part I (Constructive Credit) - * Section A (Credit for Basic Qualifying Service), the applicant was awarded 3 years of constructive credit for her Audiology Degree (14 September 2011 - 7 May 2015) * Section D (Credit for Professional Experience), she was awarded 5 months and 11 days credit based on the licensed medical experience she performed in Bozeman, MT, from 11 June 2015 to 3 May 2016 3. Part III (Computation of Entry Grade and Date of Rank) of the DA Form 5074-1-R shows the applicant was awarded 3 years, 5 months, and 11 days for total constructive credit, which qualified for an entry grade of 1LT/O-2. 4. The applicant provides email correspondence from the Chief, Medical Services Corps Accessions, Headquarters, U.S. Army Recruiting Command, dated 21 March 2017. This official confirms that the applicant should have been appointed as a CPT (including 4-years of constructive credit for the Audiology Doctorate, instead of 3 years as indicated on the 5074-1-R.) 5. The applicant was promoted to CPT effective 21 August 2018. 6. According to DODI 6000.13, enclosure 3, credit will be awarded for any period of advanced education in a health profession 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. BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that relief is warranted. 2. The evidence confirms that the applicant's appointment grade should have been CPT/O-3. The Board agreed that correcting the record to show she was originally appointed as a CPT would exceed the Board's authority. As a matter of equity, however, the Board determined the effective date of her promotion to CPT should be adjusted to align with the date of her initial appointment, which was 30 June 2016. ? BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : :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 her effective date of rank for captain/O-3 is 30 June 2016 and paying her any pay and allowances she is due as a result of this correction. 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. REFERENCES: 1. Army Regulation 135-101 (Appointment of Reserve Commissioned Officers for Assignment to Army Medical Department Branches) states: a. Paragraph 3-2 (Determination of entry grade for officers not ordered to active duty) table ERR shows entry grade credit of 7 or more but less than 14 years, the grade awarded will be CPT. b. Paragraph 3-3 (Determination of entry grade for officers ordered to active duty) states criteria for determining the grade of RC officers ordered to active duty in an AMEDD corps will be updated at least annually and published in the Department of the Army Circular 601 series for the appropriate Corps. Authorized credit in excess of the minimum required for appointment to the appropriate grade in that circular will be used to adjust the date of rank within that grade. 2. DODI 6000.13 (Accession and Retention Policies, Programs, and Incentives for Military Health Professions Officers), shows in Enclosure 3 (Procedures) a. Paragraph 1c (Constructive Service Credit) states this credit 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. 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. Constructive service credit will only be used to determine initial grade, rank in grade, and service in grade for promotion eligibility. b. Paragraph 1c(3)(b) states credit for master's and doctorate degrees in a health profession to include doctors of Audiology may be awarded based on actual full-time equivalent education of up to 2 years of a master's degree and up to 4 years for a doctorate degree. Credit may not include time spent in attainment of baccalaureate or other lower degrees. No additional credit may be given for more than one advanced degree in a single filed or closely related field. The total credit allowed for both a master's and a doctorate degree may not exceed the maximum allowed for a doctorate. c. Paragraph 1c(4) states 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. 3. DODI 1310.01 (23 August 2013) provides that a Service Secretary may "adjust the date of rank of an officer ... appointed to a higher grade ... if the appointment of that officer to the higher grade is delayed by unusual circumstances." //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20170004874 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1