ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:

	BOARD DATE: 1 August 2019 

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20180014770


APPLICANT REQUESTS: Correction of his record to show he was paid Health Profession Officer (HPO) Incentive Pay (IP) beginning on 7 September 2017 instead of 20 October 2017.

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

* DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
* Medical University of South Carolina (SC) Doctor of Dental Medicine Certificate, dated 19 May 2017
* SC State Board of Dentistry re-registration, dated 14 July 2017
* Joint Centralized Credentials Quality Assurance (JCCQAS) provider privilege printout
* Memorandum, Subject: Request for HPO IP, dated 10 August 2017
* Excerpt, Army Active Component and HPO Special and IP plan
* Self-authored letter, dated 26 September 2018

FACTS:

1.  The applicant states the effective date of his HPO IP is wrong.  It was registered as 20 October 2017 and should be 7 September 2017.  The date discrepancy means he was on active duty working as a dentist without special pay for 6 weeks.  He would like the discrepancy to be corrected.  Per the Army active component HPO special pay and IP plan, page 8, item 7, part b, it states the agreement of effective date for IP is the latter of the following:

* no earlier than upon completion of qualifying training plus 3 months
* date of privileging and licensure as a health care provider 

He graduated dental school on 19 May 2017 (plus 3 months = 19 August 2017).  He was licensed as a dentist on 14 July 2017 and was privileged as a dentist on 7 September 2017



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

* 1 July 2013 – the applicant was appointed as a Reserve commissioned officer in the rank/grade of second lieutenant (2LT)/O-2 and executed an oath of office
* 19 May 2017 – the degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine was conferred upon the applicant
* 10 June 2017 – the applicant was appointed as a Regular Army officer in the Dental Corps in the rank/grade of captain (CPT)/O-3
* open source check of the SC Board of Dentistry confirmed the applicant was a board certified dentist as of 14 July 2017
* the applicant’s records are void of an HPO IP request through his command

3.  The applicant provides:

* Doctor of Dental Medicine Certificate showing the applicant completed the degree requirements as of 19 May 2017
* SC State board registry showing the applicant was a registered board certified dentist as of 14 July 2017
* JCCQAS showing the applicant was a privileged provider as of 7 September 2017
* Memorandum, Subject: Request for HPO IP wherein the applicant requested HPO IP based upon meeting the qualifying requirements as a general dentist and qualified for HPO IP in the amount of $20,000.00 per year, and his period of active duty would be effective 20 October 2017, dated 10 August 2017
* Excerpt, Army active component HPO special pay and IP plan showing the agreement effective date for HPO IP was the date of privileging as a health care provider 
* Self-authored letter providing details of his accession into the Army and he was informed to sign a document for incentive pay, and the effective date written on the document was 20 October 2017, which was incorrect

4.  Department of Defense Instruction (DODI) 600.13 states annual IP payments will be paid in equal monthly payments.  To be eligible the HPO must be serving on active duty in a designated health profession specialty or skill.  The effective date of the IP will be calculated from the completion of the qualifying training plus 3 months

5.  Title 37 U.S. Code (USC), section 335 states health profession IP may be paid to an officer in the Regular Army component serving in a designated health profession (performed by officers in the Dental Corps).  The recipient shall enter into a written agreement that specifies the amount of the bonus.

6.  Title 37 USC, section 302 states an officer may be paid IP for any 12 month period and may not exceed $75,000.00.

BOARD DISCUSSION:

1.  The Board carefully considered the applicant’s request, supporting documents and evidence in the records.  The Board considered the applicant’s statement, his completion of degree requirements, the SC state board registry, his entry on to active duty, the date of his privileging as a provider and the date on the memorandum requesting Health Professions Officer (HPO) Incentive Pay (IP).  The Board found that the applicant met the eligibility requirements for HPO IP as of the date he became a privileged provider and should be entitled to IP as of that date.  Based on a preponderance of evidence, the Board determined that a correction to his record was warranted. 

2.  After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that relief was warranted.
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 amending the Memorandum for the Surgeon General of the Army, AMEDD Special Pay Branch, SUBJECT: Request for Health Professions Officer (HPO) Incentive Pay (IP), signed by the applicant on 10 August 2017, to show in paragraph 2. f. “The period of continuous active duty that I agree to serve will be effective: 20170907.”



	 
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.


ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE(S):

Not Applicable



REFERENCES:

1.  DODI 600.13 states annual IP payments will be paid in equal monthly payments.  To be eligible the HPO must be serving on active duty in a designated health profession specialty or skill.  The effective date of the IP will be calculated from the completion of the qualifying training plus 3 months

2.  Title 37 USC, section 335 states health profession IP may be paid to an officer in the Regular Army component serving in a designated health profession (performed by officers in the Dental Corps).  The recipient shall enter into a written agreement that specifies the amount of the bonus.

3.  Title 37 USC, section 302 states an officer may be paid IP for any 12 month period and may not exceed $75,000.00.


ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20180014770
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