IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 26 October 2023 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20230003282 APPLICANT REQUESTS: her name and gender be corrected on all official Army records (DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214), medical, orders, and other service documents). APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S) CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: . DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) . Order Changing the Name of an Adult, 1 October 2021 . Reissued Birth Certificate . Medical Support Statement, 30 July 2021 . U.S. Passport . Panorama Therapy Statement, 1 September 2021 FACTS: 1. The applicant states as a transgender woman under gender care from the U.S. Army, it would be both helpful and beneficial to her last year or so in military service to have her records match everything else. 2. Review of the applicant’s service records shows: a. The applicant served in the U.S. Air Force from 7 June 2000 to 26 March 2004, under the name , (Full Name A). The applicant was issued a DD Form 214 by the U.S. Air Force for this period of service. b. The applicant enlisted in the Arkansas Army National Guard (ARARNG) on 2 June 2006, under the full name (A) and identified as a male. The applicant later transferred to the Texas Army National Guard (TXARNG). c. The applicant entered active duty for training (ADT) on 3 November 2006 and completed training. The applicant was released from active duty on 16 September 2007. The applicant’s DD Form 214 for this period reflects the full name (A). d. The applicant entered active duty on 11 January 2007 in support of Operation JumpStart. The applicant was honorably released from active duty on 6 May 2007. The applicant’s DD Form 214 for this period reflects the full name (A). e. The applicant was discharged from the TXARNG on 11 July 2011 and was issued an NGB Form 22 (Report of Separation and Record of Service) for the applicant’s ARNG service. f. The applicant enlisted in the TXARNG 2 June 2006, and identified as a male. The applicant later transferred to the Georgia Army National Guard (GAARNG) and extended this enlistment multiple times. g. The applicant entered active duty on 7 June 2018 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The applicant was released from active duty on 17 July 2018. The applicant’s DD Form 214 for this period reflects a previous name. h. On 1 October 2021, the applicant was issued a State Order Changing the Name of an Adult. The court order changed the applicant’s name to . The applicant also applied for and was issued a birth certificate and U.S. Passport under this new name and new gender. i. The applicant entered active duty on 1 October 2020 in support of Border Mission. The applicant was honorably released from active duty on 2 December 2021. The applicant’s DD Form 214 for this period reflects the new name. 3. The applicant provides a medical statement, dated 30 July 2021, wherein a medical doctor states he has been the primary care provider for [Applicant] since 04/06/2021 to help align her physical features with her identified female gender. She has been living as female and receiving gender dysphoria therapy since 07/2015 and started HRT under his care on 04/06/2021. 4. The applicant provides a letter from a psychologist, dated 1 September 2021, to the Army Medical Command. The letter states the author is writing on behalf of the applicant to refer the applicant for consideration for facial feminization surgery and body feminization surgery, including breast augmentation. [Applicant] and the author met on 09/01/2021 for the purposes of a mental health evaluation to determine her eligibility for gender affirming surgery. The author is well-versed in the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care and adhered to these guidelines in our evaluation. 5. The ABCMR limits corrective action to documents that can be individually reviewed after a Soldier's separation, such as the DD Form 214. The DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty. It provides a brief, clear­cut record of active Army service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. The DD Form 214 is a historical document that should reflect the record as it existed at the time the DD Form 214 was created. A post-service name change does not retroactively create an error on the DD Form 214. However, the unique circumstances of transgender individuals may prevent or delay receipt of benefits for which these individuals must provide a DD Form 214 as proof of military service. BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. After reviewing the application, all supporting documents, and the evidence found within the military record, the Board found partial relief is warranted. 2. The Board found the evidence only supports changing "outward facing" documents, i.e., documents that may be requested when seeking Veterans benefits, specifically the applicant's DD Forms 214. The Board determined the evidence supports reissuing the applicant's DD Forms 214 for the periods ending 6 May 2007, 15 September 2007, and 17 July 2018 to show the applicant's current legal name. 3. The Board found it does not have jurisdiction to correct the applicant's U.S. Air Force DD Form 214 or any NGB Forms 22 she has been issued as these documents must be corrected by the U.S. Air Force and the National Guard, respectively. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF :X :X :X GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 1. The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army and Army National Guard records of the individual concerned be corrected by reissuing her DD Forms 214 for the periods ending 6 May 2007, 15 September 2007, and 17 July 2018 to show her current legal name. Do not include a statement on the reissued DD Forms 214 indicating they have been administrative reissued. 2. The Board further determined the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief. As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to any relief in excess of that described above. 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. REFERENCES: Army Regulation 635-8 (Separation Processing and Documents), currently in effect and dated 10 February 2014, prescribes the transition processing function of the military personnel system, including preparation of the DD Form 214. a. The DD Form 214 is a summary of the Soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of all current active, prior active, and prior inactive duty service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. b. For Item 1 (Name), compare with the original enlistment contract or appointment order and review the official record for possible name changes. If a name change has occurred, list other names of record in item 18 (Remarks). c. For Item 18 (Remarks), when a DD Form 214 is administratively issued or reissued, enter "DD FORM 214 ADMINISTRATIVELY ISSUED/REISSUED ON (date)." However, do not make this entry if the appellate authority, Executive Order, or Headquarters, Department of the Army, directs otherwise. d. The Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Review Boards) (DASA (RB)), Army Review Boards Agency (ARBA), is authorized to issue or reissue DD Forms 214. Once a DD Form 214 has been issued, at the direction of the ABCMR or in other instances when appropriate, including when it is determined that the original DD Form 214 cannot be properly corrected by issuance of a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214). //NOTHING FOLLOWS//