IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  18 January 2011

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20100018675 


THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE:

1.  Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any).

2.  Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any).


THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant requests his first name be changed from “Marvin” to “Marvis” on his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty).

2.  He states his first name was incorrect from the beginning and it should have been “Marvis.”

3.  He provides the following documents in support of his application:

* DD Form 214
* Certificate of Live Birth
* social security card

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 24 November 1987 and continued to serve on active duty until he completed sufficient service for retirement on 29 February 2008.  Item 1 (Name (Last, First, Middle)) on his DD Form 214, authenticated in his own hand, shows his first name as “Marvin.”

2.  All of the documents in his service personnel records show his first name as “Marvin.”

3.  He provided a copy of his birth certificate and social security card which show his first name as “Marvis.”

4.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) prescribes the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army.  It establishes standardized policy for the preparation of the DD Form 214.  In pertinent part it states that the DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty.  It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active Army service at the time of release from active duty, retirement or discharge.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  For historical purposes, the Army has an interest in maintaining the accuracy of its records.  The data and information contained in those records should actually reflect the conditions and circumstances that existed at the time the records were created.  In the absence of a showing of material error or injustice, this Board is reluctant to recommend that those records be changed.

2.  The applicant’s birth certificate and social security card show his first name as “Marvis.”

3.  Although the applicant appears to be currently using the first name of “Marvis,” his service record shows he served in the military and was released from the military using the first name of “Marvin.”  While his desire to have the records changed is understandable, there is no basis for compromising the integrity of the Army's records.  This Board action will be filed in his military records so that a record of the name he is currently using will be on hand.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__X_____  ____X___  ____X___  DENY APPLICATION



BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice.  Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned.




      _______ _ X _______   ___
       	   CHAIRPERSON
      
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.

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20100018675



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20100018675



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