RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-00013

  						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Blocks 19(a) (Mailing Address after Separation), 19(b) (Nearest Relative), and 20 (Copy Be Sent to State/Locality Office of Veterans Affairs) on his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, dated 1 Dec 15, be corrected.  

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His Military Personnel Flight did not use his DD Form 214 corrections submitted prior to his retirement.  

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 1 Nov 95.

On 30 Jul 15, according to the applicant’s retirement application, he listed his future mailing address in Colorado, not New Mexico.

On 1 Dec 15, the applicant retired and was credited with 20 years and 1 month of active service.  

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

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP2STM-214 recommends denial, indicating the corrections requested are administrative.  Per AFI 36-3202, Separation Documents, Table 4, rule 50 (See Exhibit E), block 19a (Mailing Address after Separation), and 19b (Nearest Relative), the sole purpose of the address is for the initial physical delivery of the DD Form 214. With the applicant in receipt of their DD Form 214, the information is of no use, data is administrative, and not used for veteran benefits/entitlements.  The state recorded on the DD Form 214 for delivery to the VA is made available digitally to all states and the former manual distribution process is no longer in use.  Furthermore, the requested correction may not be in the best interest of the applicant.  DD Forms 214 may only be amended twice, and the risk of using one of those amendments to correct an error that has no impact on his benefits or entitlements is not in the best interest of the member.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DP2STM-214 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 22 Aug 16 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 timely filed.

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice.  After a thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s complete submission, we believe the applicant is the victim of an error or injustice.  While we note the comments of AFPC/DP2STM-214 indicating that relief should be denied because the requested changes to his DD Form 214 are administrative and do not affect benefits or entitlements, we believe a preponderance of the evidence substantiates that corrective action is warranted.  In this respect, we note the applicant’s retirement application indicated the Colorado Springs, CO, address as his future mailing address and that it is more likely than not the applicant’s requested changes were submitted prior to his retirement.  We further note AFPC/DP2STM-214 states DD Forms 214 may only be amended twice, and the risk of using one of those amendments to correct an error that has no impact on the applicant’s benefits or entitlements may not be in the best interest of the member; however, the Board believes the correction is of such significance to the applicant to warrant one of two DD Form 214 revisions.  Therefore, we recommend the applicant’s records be corrected as indicated below.  

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, issued on 30 Nov 15, be amended in Block 19(a) from current street address, city and state, to requested street address, city and state; Block 19(b), line 1, from spouse to relative residing in NM; and, Block 20 from “NM” to “CO”.

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-00013 in Executive Session on 9 May 17 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	, Panel Chair
	, Member
	, Member

All members voted to correct the records as recommended.  The following documentary was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 29 Dec 15.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP2STM-214, dated 26 Jul 16.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBMR, dated 22 Aug 16.
	Exhibit E.  AFI 36-3202 extract.

Pursuant to paragraph 1 of AFI 36-2603 (Title 32 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 865.1), it is certified that a quorum was present at the Board's review and deliberations, and that the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board's proceedings in the above matter.