RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-02641

						COUNSEL:  NONE
 AKA:  
						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 



APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her DD Form 214, Report of Separation From Active Duty, be changed to reflect XXXXX instead of XXXXX.  


APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Her DD Form 214 reflects the last name of her first husband because she was married to him at the time of her discharge.  However, she has remarried and presently her last name is her maiden name along with her current husband’s name attached.  Until recently, she did not know that she had to have the DD Form 214 corrected.  

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.


STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 1 October 1974.

On 30 April 1976, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with one year and seven months of active service.  

On 25 March 2015, the applicant was forwarded a copy of the SAF/MR memorandum, dated 9 March 2015, that was provided in order to comply with 10 U.S.C. §1556.  Specifically, the memorandum notes that the DD Form 214 is a document primarily created for the benefit of the veteran to establish entitlement to various government programs or in seeking employment with organizations that grant a veterans' preference.  However, any such name change should be limited only to the DD Form 214; any change to an applicant's other records to reflect a post-service name change should rarely be recommended, and only in the most unusual cases.  The AFBCMR should require proof that the applicant's name was legally changed.  A signed and authenticated court order should be required. Further, the correction should be to the DD Form 214 and for the limited purposes of mitigating an injustice caused by use of the DD Form 214 (Exhibit E).  

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the memorandum prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), which is attached at Exhibit C.  


AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSIRP recommends denial.  In accordance with Air Force Instruction, 36-3208, Military Personnel Records System, the records of former members will not be corrected to reflect a name change unless evidence proves the name used while serving with the Air Force was erroneously recorded.  A review of the applicant’s records revealed a DD Form 1343, Notification of Change in Service Member’s Official Record, dated 28 April 1975, showing her name was officially changed to “XXXXX”.  Also, her records indicate that she served and was discharged under the name of “XXXXX”.  The Marriage Certificate changing the applicant’s name is dated 10 January 1992, which is after the applicant’s period of service.  As such, it does not appear the Air Force erroneously recorded the applicant’s name.  

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSIRP evaluation is at Exhibit C.


APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 9 February 2015 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D).  As of this date, no response has been received by this office.  


THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations.

2.  The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file.

3.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice.  We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR) and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error of injustice.  Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the requested relief.  
THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the application was denied without a personal appearance; and the application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application.


The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-02641 in Executive Session on 27 May 2015 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	Chair
	Member
	Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 30 July 2014, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSIRP, dated 25 August 2014.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 9 February 2015.  
	Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 March 2015, w/atch.