IN THE CASE OF:  

		BOARD DATE:  26 March 2020

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20180006083


APPLICANT REQUESTS: Correction of her record to show her accession rank/grade 
as captain (CPT)/O-3, in lieu of, first lieutenant (1LT)/O-2. 

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD:

*	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
*	DD Form 2088 (Statement of Ecclesiastical Endorsement), dated 20 January 
	2017
*	DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), dated 
	26 April 2018

FACTS:

1.  The applicant states her DD Form 2088 reports her years in professional ministry as 
10 years.  According to Lieutenant Colonel S- Y-, U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) chaplain 
career manager, Headquarters Department of the Army, Office of the Chief of 
Chaplains, she should have entered as a CPT because she had over seven years full – 
time civilian experience.

2.  A review of the applicant’s official records show the following:

	a.  On 31 March 2012, the Master of Divinity was conferred upon the applicant.

	b.  On 20 January 2017, DD Form 2088 was completed showing the following in:

*	item h (Number of years of professional ministry experience prospect has 
completed) 10 years
*	item I (Application is for) USAR
*	item 4a (Typed or printed name of religious organization granting religious 
ministry professional endorsement) Evangelical Covenant Church

	c.  On 14 July 2017, the applicant was appointed as a Reserve commissioned officer 
in the rank of 1LT, and executed an oath of office.
	d.  On 24 January 2018, the applicant entered active duty for training.  On                            
26 April 2018, she was released from active duty and transferred to her USAR unit.

	e.  On 3 October 2018, Orders Number B-10-808407, issued by the U.S. Army 
Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, KY, promoted the applicant to the rank of 
CPT, effective 20 September 2018.

3.  On 28 February 2020, the Office of the Chief of Chaplains reviewed the applicant's 
records and rendered an advisory opinion in her case.  After a thorough review, the 
Chief, Chaplain Corps Branch opined that:

	a.  The applicant was appointed as a USAR Chaplain on 14 July 2017.  She 
completed her degree from Northwest Nazarene University on 21 March 2012 [sic].
According to Department of Defense Instructions (DODI) 1304.28 (Guidance for the 
Appointment of Chaplains for the Military Departments) and the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 
Chaplain Corps Accessions Policy and the FY17 Chaplain Corps Accessions standard 
operating procedure, and Department of the Army (DA) Pamphlet 165-17 (Chaplain 
Personnel Management), for a chaplain to be brought in as a CPT, they are required to 
have 7 years of full-time Professional Work Experience (PWE) following completion of 
the qualifying post-baccalaureate degree.  According to her PWE chronology she had 
only 5 years and 1 month of qualifying ministry experience.  Ministry experience prior to 
graduation does not count toward obtaining the rank of CPT upon entering the military. 
Therefore, she was brought on as a 1LT.

	b.  From this review, the policy clearly states that a Chaplain must have more than 7 
years of PWE after meeting the educational requirements in order to be accessioned as 
a CPT.  The applicant only had 5 years of PWE following her graduation from seminary.  
Therefore she was rightfully accessioned as a 1LT in 2017.

	c.  A copy of the complete advisory opinion has been provided to the Board for their 
review and consideration.

4.  The applicant was provided with a copy of this advisory opinion to give her an 
opportunity to respond and/or submit a rebuttal.  She did not respond.

5.  DA Pam 165-17:

	a.  Paragraph 2-10 (Appointment grade or date of rank) states applicants without 
prior commissioned service are awarded 3 years entry grade credit (parahraph 2-13) 
and are appointed in the grade of 1LT.

	b.  Table 2-1 (Appointment grade and date of rank determination) states:

*	entry from civilian status, 3 years constructive service credit is awarded, and 
appoint as a 1LT
*	entry from civilian status with 7 years pastoral experience documented on DD 
Form 2088, 4 years constructive service credit is awarded and appoint as a 
1LT (Pastoral experience must be subsequent to the fulfillment of the 
educational requirements for the chaplaincy)

6.  Army Regulation (AR) 135-100 (Appointment of Commissioned and Warrant Officers 
of the Army) chapter 3 (Appointments of Chaplains), paragraph 3-7 states applicants 
without prior commissioned service will be credited with 3 years’ service in an active 
status.  They will be appointed in the rank of 1LT.  

BOARD DISCUSSION:

After reviewing the application, supporting documents, and the evidence found within 
the military record, the Board found that relief was not warranted.  The applicant’s 
contentions, the military record, the review and conclusions of the advising official, and 
regulatory guidance were carefully considered.  The Board concluded there was 
insufficient evidence of an error or injustice which would warrant a change to the 
applicant’s rank.























BOARD VOTE:

Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

:	:	:	GRANT FULL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT FORMAL HEARING

:XXX	:XX	:XX	DENY APPLICATION


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.


		  
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.  DA Pam 165-17 (Chaplain Personnel Management):

	a.  Paragraph 2-10 (Appointment grade or date of rank) states applicants without 
prior commissioned service are awarded 3 years entry grade credit (para 2-13) and are 
appointed in the grade of 1LT.

	b.  Table 2-1 (Appointment grade and date of rank determination) states:

*	entry from civilian status, 3 years constructive service credit is awarded, and 
appoint as a 1LT
*	entry from civilian status with 7 years pastoral experience documented on       
DD Form 2088, 4 years constructive service credit is awarded and appoint as 
a 1LT (Pastoral experience must be subsequent to the fulfillment of the 
educational requirements for the chaplaincy)

2.  Army Regulation 135-100 (Appointment of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of 
the Army) chapter 3 (Appointments of Chaplains), paragraph 3-7 states applicants 
without prior commissioned service will be credited with 3 years’ service in an active 
status.  They will be appointed in the rank of 1LT.  

//NOTHING FOLLOWS//
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20180006083


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ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


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