RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-01539 COUNSEL:	NONE
HEARING DESIRED:	NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
Her name on her DD form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be changed back to her maiden name.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
Her	divorce	was	not	finalized	until	after	her	discharge.	She needs to carry her divorce papers with her to prove who she is.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:
On 4 Oct 00, the applicant entered the Regular Air Force.
On 19 Apr 02 she was married, and her name change was made in the military personnel data system on 13 May 02.

On 15 Apr 05, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with 4 years, 5 months, and 12 days of active service.

On 19 Apr 15, the applicant was forwarded a copy of the SAF/MR memorandum, dated 9 Mar 15, that was provided in order to comply with 10 U.S.C. §1556.  Specifically, the memorandum notes that t he DD 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 C).

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 D.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPSOR recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice to warrant changing her name on the DD Form 214.  At the time the applicant separated from service on
15 Apr 05, the recorded name in the service record was her married name. A review of the applicant’s DD Form 214 reflects the same. By the applicant’s admission and an unknown date, the applicant divorced and elected to change her name to her maiden name. The effective date of her name change is after the effective date of the DD Form 214. AFI 36-3202, Separation Documents, is the governing directive for the DD Form 214 and it directs the name on a DD Form 214 be listed as recorded in the military record. For instances of divorce where a name change is effective after the publication of a DD Form 214, applicants provide those agencies providing the benefit/entitlement or service their DD Form 214 as prepared and show legal documentation to explain such a change (e.g., marriage certificates and/or divorce decrees). The applicant has not indicated or provided evidence of an injustice nor provided evidence the DD Form 214 was published in error. The DD Form 214 is not a living document subject to change by marriage and divorce that occur after the date the document is published.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSOR evaluation is at Exhibit D.
On 8 Apr 15, AFPC/DPSIR completed an administrative correction to the Automated Records Management System by changing her last name in the system from her married name to maiden name. (Exhibit E)

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 17 Aug 15 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit F). 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 timely filed.
1.	

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 or 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-2015-01539 in Executive Session on 5 Jan 16 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

Panel Chair Member Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A.	DD Form 149, dated 7 Apr 15, w/atchs. Exhibit B.	Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C.	Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 Apr 15, w/atch. Exhibit D.	Memorandum, AFPC/DPSOR, dated 19 Dec 15.
Exhibit E.		Memorandum, AFPC/DPSIR, dated 8 Apr 15. Exhibit F.	Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 Aug 15.