RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2019-04772
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL: NONE
(AKA)  XXXXXXXXXXX	HEARING REQUESTED: NO

APPLICANT’S REQUEST
The name on his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be changed to reflect his birth name.
APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS
He did not realize his first name was misspelled, until he applied for a Real ID driver’s license. The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
The applicant is an honorably discharged Air Force sergeant (E-4).
The applicant served in the Air Force from 2 August 1978 to 1 July 1984, under the name AAB.
On 5 May 1959, according to a certified birth certificate provided by the applicant, he was born with a different name from the name indicated on his DD Form 214.
For more information, see the excerpt of the applicant’s record at Exhibit B.
APPLICABLE AUTHORITY
Consistent with recommendations of the Air Staff and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Separations Standardization Working Group, the Board has established a precedent of granting requests for name changes on the DD Form 214 based on error under the following conditions:
(1) the DD Form 214 was erroneous when issued; (2) the applicant provides adequate proof (True Copy Raised Seal, Notarized, or official digital document with electronic signature).
AIR FORCE EVALUATION
SAF/MR memorandum, Guidance to the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records, dated 9 March 2015, states that while the Board generally has the authority to correct an applicant’s records to reflect a legal change to the applicant’s name, it should exercise discretion in doing so. The DD Form 214 is primarily created for the benefit of the veteran to establish entitlements to various government programs, or in seeking employment with organizations that grant veteran’s preferences. A DD Form 214 may constitute an injustice when the veteran asserts that presenting a DD Form 214 that lists the old name effectively requires a needlessly intrusive explanation of personal history. This type of injustice may arise in situations such as when the name change is transgender-related or associated with a divorce.
A complete copy of the SAF/MR guidance is at Exhibit C.

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION
The Board sent a copy of the SAF/MR memorandum to the applicant on 21 November 2019 for comment (Exhibit D), but has received no response.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION
1.	The application was not timely filed, but it is in the interest of justice to excuse the delay.
2.	The applicant exhausted all available non-judicial relief before applying to the Board.
3.	After reviewing all Exhibits, the Board concludes the applicant is the victim of an error. The Board finds the applicant’s certified birth certificate meets the criteria noted above for correction of the DD Form 214. Therefore, the Board recommends correcting the applicant’s records as indicated below.
RECOMMENDATION
The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, issued in conjunction with the 1 July 1984 discharge, be declared void; a new DD Form 214 be issued to reflect the current legal name in Block 1; and no entries be made on the reissued DD Form 214 indicating the name was changed or the DD Form 214 was administratively reissued.
CERTIFICATION
The following quorum of the Board, as defined in Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2603, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR), paragraph 1.5, considered Docket Number BC-2019-04772 in Executive Session on 8 May 2020:

, Panel Chair 
, Panel Member 
, Panel Member
All members voted to correct the record. The panel considered the following: Exhibit A: Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 16 September 2019.
Exhibit B: Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records. Exhibit C: Advisory opinion, SAF/MR, dated 9 March 2015.
Exhibit D: Notification of advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 21 November 2019.
Taken together with all Exhibits, this document constitutes the true and complete Record of Proceedings, as required by AFI 36-2603, paragraph 4.11.9.