Constructive Credit
Constructive credit is used to determine rank and grade based on prior service and advance degrees. The purpose of constructive credits is to provide grade and date of rank comparability for persons commissioned after obtaining advanced education, training or experience relative to a contemporary who began commissioned service immediately after obtaining a baccalaureates degree.
Federal Law
10 U.S. Code § 532: Original appointments as commissioned officers may be given to individuals who possess special qualifications as prescribed by the Service Secretaries.
Original appointments in the medical and dental specialties may be made in grades O2 to O6.
10 U.S. Code § 533: Upon receiving an original appointment in the Armed Forces, each officer shall be credited with prior active commissioned service (other than service as a commissioned warrant officer) in any armed forces, NOAA, or the Public Health Service that was complete prior to the appointment.
Under SECDEF regulation, each appointed officer gains constructive credit for training, education, and experience in the following ways:
- One year for each year of advanced education beyond a baccalaureate degree for officers in positions requiring advanced education.
- Credit for periods of advanced education in health profession other than medicine or dentistry if such education is relevant to the appointed positions.
- Up to one year may be credited for any internship or professional training relevant to the needs of the military.
- Up to one year may be credited for each additional year of graduate-level training or experience towards any certifications in specialties needed by the military.
- Except as authorized by SECDEF, total constructive credit cannot exceed that which is needed for an original appointment in O6.
10 U.S. Code § 12206: When former active-duty officers are appointed as officers in the Reserves, those officers may be placed in the reserve active status list (RASL) in the same competitive category and grade as they had formerly held.
10 U.S. Code § 12207: Officers receiving original appointments in the Reserves will be credited for any service as a regular officer in any armed forces, NOAA or the Public Health Service.
Under SECDEF regulation, each appointed Reserve officer gains constructive credit for training, education and experience in the following ways:
- One year for each year of advanced education beyond a baccalaureate degree for officers in positions requiring advanced education.
- Credit for periods of advanced education in health profession other than medicine or dentistry if such education is relevant to the appointed positions.
- Up to one year may bebe credited for any internship or professional training relevant to the needs of the military.
- Up to one year may be credited for each additional year of graduate-level training or experience towards any certifications in specialties needed by the military.
- Except as authorized by SECDEF, total constructive credit cannot exceed that which is needed for an original appointment in O6.
- SECDEF may authorize Service Secretaries to credit medical, dental, nursing, veterinary, and JAG appointees such that they are appointed at O3.
DoD Policy
DODI 1312.03:ASD for Manpower and Reserve Affairs develops, establishes, maintains and oversees policies involving service credit determination in a manner that is consistent with 10 USC § 533 and § 12207. Service secretaries ensure compliance with this Instruction, that persons are awarded constructive service credit proportional to the advanced education, training, and experience obtained, and recommend changes to the Instruction to the USD (P&R).
The number of years creditable as constructive service credit may not exceed the following:
- Chaplains and JAG Officers: Entry grade credit shall not exceed 3 years. Constructive credit awarded may not result in an appointment about the O-3 grade.
- 1 year of constructive service credit will be awarded for each year of graduate level education to persons appointed, designated, or assigned in an officer category that requires such advanced education or an advanced degree as a prerequisite for appointment. The amount of credit awarded will not exceed the number of years the majority of institutions that award degrees in that field require for completion of the advanced education or award of the advanced degree.
- Graduates of Service Academies may not receive credits for services, education, training or experience obtained prior to graduation.
- Regardless of the amount of entry grade credit awarded, a person receiving an original appointment may not be appointed to a grade above the O-6 grade.
DODI 6000.13: Constructive credit is awarded as follows:
- One year of constructive service credit will be granted for each year of graduate level education toward the first professional degree completed when that degree is required for appointment in the professional specialty being entered. The maximum years of constructive credit is the number of years of graduate level education required by a majority of institutions that award degrees in that field.
- Service Secretaries may direct that doctors of medicine (M.D.), doctors of osteopathic medicine (D.O.), doctors of dental surgery (D.D.S.) and doctors of dental medicine (D.M.D.), doctors of veterinary medicine (D.V.M. or V.M.D.), or other recipients of advanced health professional degrees that typically require 4 years to complete, be given sufficient constructive service credit to allow appointment to the grade of O-3.
- Credit for master's and doctorate degrees in a health profession other than those listed above may be awarded based on actual full-time equivalent education of up to 2 years for a master's degree and up to 4 years for a doctorate degree.
- Year-for-year credit or (or day-for-day if less than a year in duration) for successful completion of a residency, internship, or fellowship required by the Service.
- Credit of one-half year for each year of experience, to a maximum of 3 years, may be granted for experience in a health profession.
- Credit will be awarded for any period of advanced education in a health profession (other than medicine and dentistry) beyond the baccalaureate level that exceeds the basic education required for the appointment if the experience will be used by the Department.
- Year-for-year credit for additional special experience or qualifications, as determined by the Service Secretary.
Air Force Policy
AFI 36-2032: Contains tables listing the amount of constructive credit to be awarded for prior commissioned service or professional training and education.
Army Policy
AD 2019-27: Establishes policy for the direct appointment of officers up to the grade of colonel in areas of concentration other than special branches. Constructive credit is awarded pursuant to 10 U.S. Code § 533 and 10 U.S. Code § 12207.
AR 135-101: Contains tables listing the amount of constructive credit to be awarded to Medical, Dental, Medical Service, Veterinary, Nurse, and Medical Specialist Corps officers. The maximum entry grade credit for appointment in the MC or DC is 14 years. For appointment in the ANC, MSC, VC, or AMSC, entry grade credit granted (with or without concurrent call to active duty) will be more than the amount required for entry grade O4 as if the officer were to be concurrently called to active duty in the corps concerned.
DA PAM 165-17AR 135-100: This regulation applies to both chaplains and judge advocates. Chaplains without prior commissioned service are awarded 3 years entry grade credit and are appointed in the grade of first lieutenant. Judge advocates are awarded 3 years constructive credit for award of the first professional law degree (J.D. or LL.B) by a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) at the time the applicant received the degree.
Navy Policy
In general, for each year of previous service with the armed forces in a capacity relevant to the appointment, the appointee is credited with one year of constructive credit. Additionally, an appointee is credited with a year of service for each year spent pursuing advanced education that is required/relevant for the appointment.
Separate policies regarding constructive credit for Medical, Dental, Nursing, Medical Services, Chaplain, Civil Engineering, JAG Corps are enumerated in: OPNAVINST 1120.4C, OPNAVINST 1120.5B, OPNAVINST 1120.7A, OPNAVINST 1120.8A, OPNAVINST 1120.9A ,OPNAVINST 1120.10A, and OPNAVINST 1120.11A.
Marine Corps Policy
1007. A due course officer is an officer who has neither failed of selection for promotion nor selected from the below zone. Additionally, a due course officer has never been awarded any constructive service credit.
1021. If the SECDEF determines that the number of designated active duty Marine Corps judge advocates below the grade of major are less than the numbers needed for the Marine Corps, the SECDEF may authorize SECNAV to credit any person receiving both an original appointment and a judge advocate designation, with a period of service credit. Constructive service credit is credit, other than prior commissioned service credit, which is granted for law school attendance. It provides grade and rank comparability for an officer who begins Marine Corps commissioned service after obtaining a baccalaureate degree.
Implements U.S. Law, DOD policy and Navy policy.