RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS. IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-01953 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: Her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, and pay records be changed to reflect her new name. APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: Disclosure of her former name on her DD Form 214, in effect, discloses her transgender status. This is an injustice due to the social stigma that transgender people face. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 16 Aug 73. On 15 Aug 78, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with five years of active service. On 14 Mar 96, according to the documentation submitted by the applicant, she changed her first name to reflect the female gender. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the memorandum prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), which is included at Exhibit D. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: SAF/MR provided a memorandum of guidance with regard to name changes. The memorandum is advisory only and is not intended to predetermine outcomes or otherwise restrict the AFBCMR's statutory authority under 10 U.S.C. §1552, where there is error or injustice. 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. 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 214 and for the limited purposes of mitigating an injustice caused by use of the DD 214. A complete copy of the SAF/MR evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSIRP recommends denial stating that Air Force Instruction 36-2608, Military Personnel Records System, Table A7.3, Name Changes, Note 5 states, “Do not correct records of former members unless evidence proves the name used while serving with the Air Force was erroneously recorded.” A review of the applicant's records revealed she enlisted, served and was discharged under the male name and gender. As the male name was presented by the applicant for enlistment and there was no change to the name during enlistment, it does not appear to have been erroneously recorded. Therefore, they are unable to amend her military record or DD Form 214 after the fact. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPRIP evaluation is at Exhibit D. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION: Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 18 May 15 and 31 Jul 15, for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibits C and E). 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 applicant was not timely filed. While the applicant claims a date of discovery of less than three years ago, in our view, the reasonable date of discovery of the alleged error or injustice was more than three years ago and the application is therefore untimely. However, it is in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file. 3.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an injustice. After a thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s complete submission, we believe the applicant’s situation warrants relief. While we note the comments of AFPC/DPSIRP indicating that relief should be denied because the applicant served a full military career under the name of “------” and only changed her name after her period of service was complete, we believe the guidance in the SAF/MR memorandum, dated 9 Mar 15, concerning name changes applies in this situation. Specifically, requiring the applicant to present a DD Form 214 reflecting the name “------” would require her to explain her personal history, which would be needlessly intrusive. Therefore, we recommend the applicant’s records be corrected as indicated below. THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The applicant’s original DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be removed, and a new DD Form 214 be issued to reflect the name of “ ” in Block 1. The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-01953 in Executive Session on 10 Dec 15, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-01953 was considered: Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 6 May 15, w/atchs. Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 9 Mar 15, w/atch. Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSIRP, dated 16 Jun 15. Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 31 Jul 15.