Procedures for determining the entry grade of commissioned health services officers will be standardized across the active and reserve components, under a directive issued by Army Secretary John McHugh.

"Effective immediately, the criteria for determining the entry grade of Reserve officers (into the Army Medical Department branches) will be the same as the criteria for Regular Army officers," McHugh ordered Aug. 13.

"Standardization will more actively project performance and promotion potential, and increase the transparency and accountability of the talent management and officer accession process," he said.

The new procedures will be defined by the Army surgeon general in an upcoming revision of AR 135-101 (Appointment of Reserve Commissioned Officers for Assignment to Army Medical Department Branches).

McHugh ordered the revision to be published "as soon as possible."

The grade and date of rank of officers appointed and assigned to the AMEDD is determined by the number of years of entry grade credit awarded by the Army, which in turn is based on constructive service credit for education and professional experience, and, if appropriate, credit for prior active commissioned service.

For example, the appointment grade for many Medical Corps and Dental Corps officers is captain, which recognizes their extensive graduate-level education and experience.

Under the changes ordered by McHugh, Recruiting Command's Health Services Division will calculate entry-grade credit based on criteria published at least annually by the surgeon general for each of the AMEDD branches.

In addition to the Medical Corps and Dental Corps, the AMEDD is comprised of the Nurse Corps, Medical Service Corps, Medical Specialist Corps and Veterinary Corps.

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