From: Chairman, Board for Correction of Naval Records 

To: Secretary of the Navy 

Subj: REVIEW OF NAVAL RECORD OF FORMER 

Ref: 
(a) 10 U.S.C. §1552 
(b) OSD/DOD Name Change Provisions/Guidance 

Encl: 
(1) DD Form 149 with attachments 
(2) Case Summary 

1. Pursuant to the provisions of reference (a), Petitioner, a former enlisted member of the Navy, 
filed enclosure (1) with this Board requesting a change to his naval record, specifically, to 
correct the record to reflect a name change in his service record. Enclosures (1) and (2) apply. 

2. The Board, consisting of reviewed Petitioner's 
allegations of error and injustice on 22 August 2019, and pursuant to its regulations, determined 
the corrective action indicated below should be taken on the available evidence of record. 
Documentary material considered by the Board consisted of the enclosures, relevant portions of 
Petitioner’s naval records, and applicable statutes, regulations, and policies. 

3. The Board, having reviewed all the facts of record pertaining to Petitioner's allegations of 
error and injustice finds as follows: 

a. Before applying to this Board, Petitioner exhausted all administrative remedies available 
under existing law and regulations within the Department of the Navy. 

b. Enclosure (1) was filed in a timely manner and, accordingly, the Board reviewed the 
application on its merits. 

c. At the time of Petitioner’s enlistment into the Navy, Petitioner’s legal name was “ 
On 10 September 2017, Petitioner was honorably discharged from the Navy. In this regard, Petitioner was issued a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) based on the name used while serving in the Navy, specifically, “ 

d. After discharge from the Navy, Petitioner, who is a transgender man, had his name legally changed from “ to align with his gender identity. 

e. Based on the guidance reflected in reference (b) from the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and Department of Defense (DOD), former military personnel who have legally changed their name and sex, or are the subject of gender reassignment, may have their DD Form 214 changed to accurately reflect their present name and sex/gender. In this regard, the change may allow them to obtain various benefits, services, employment, etc., without being subject to otherwise invasive questions. However, the provisions/guidance only apply to the service-member’s DD Form 214. 

CONCLUSION: 

Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, the Board concludes Petitioner’s 
request warrants favorable action. 

The Board noted Petitioner has provided sufficient legal evidence (specifically, the Decree 
Changing Name and Gender, from the 
dated 15 May 2018), supporting his request. The Board found that the legal actions taken by 
civilian authorities to change Petitioner’s name to align with his gender identity, along with the 
provisions/guidance of reference (b), support a change to his DD Form 214 to reflect Petitioner’s 
legal name. 

In this regard, the Board noted that normally a DD Form 215 would be issued to correct the record, however, the Board concluded a new and updated DD Form 214 is warranted to eliminate the possibility of invasive questions. The Board further concluded that both the previously issued DD Form 214, and the new DD Form 214 bearing the name “ should remain in the record for historical purposes. 

RECOMMENDATION: 

In view of the above, the Board directs the following corrective action. 

Petitioner's naval record, specifically, Block 1 of the DD Form 214, be corrected to reflect the 
name “ 

Petitioner be issued a new DD Form 214 which reflects the name 

Petitioner be issued a new Honorable Discharge Certificate which reflects the name 

That no further changes be made to the record. 

That a copy of this report of proceedings be filed in Petitioner’s naval record, along with the 
previously issued DD Form 214 which reflects the name “ 
and the updated DD Form 214 which reflects the name “ 

That, upon request, the Department of Veterans Affairs be informed that Petitioner's application 
was received by the Board on 12 April 2019. 


4. 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-entitled matter. 

5. Pursuant to the delegation of authority set out in Section 6(e) of the revised Procedures of the 
Board for Correction of Naval Records (32 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 723.6(e)), and 
having assured compliance with its provisions, it is hereby announced that the foregoing 
corrective action, taken under the authority of reference (a), has been approved by the Board on 
behalf of the Secretary of the Navy.