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Changing your name on documentation
Changing your gender on documentation
Veterans and Military Issues
Thirteen percent of all adults in the United States are veterans of the armed services. It is probable then that approximately thirteen percent of transgender people are veterans as well. Like all veterans, transgender people who have served in the military deserve the same respect and services earned by other veterans.
Transgender veterans at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue, Don’t Harass (DADTDPDH) is a federal policy that allows for the discharge of lesbian, gay, and bisexual military personnel based on their sexual orientation. The four component of DADTDPDH state that:
- Commanders and Inquiry Official may not ask servicemembers to reveal their sexual orientation. If asked, servicemembers are not required to provide information regarding their sexual orientation.
- Servicemembers may be discharged for saying they are lesbian, gay or bisexual or for saying they plan to “engage in homosexual acts”.
- A commanding official may initiate an investigation into a service member’s sexual orientation only if the service member has stated that they are lesbian, gay, or bisexual; have engaged in sexual activity with someone of the same sex; or attempts to marry someone of the same sex.
- Anti-gay harassment (verbal or physical) will not be tolerated.
Even though DADTDPDH has been in place for a number of years, military personal continually bend or break these rules.
Members of the US military needing legal assistance regarding the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy should contact the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network or 202-328-3244.
Selective Service
Female to Male transpeople do not need to register with the Selective Service but do need to receive a letter from the Selective Service stating their exemption if they were born after January 1st, 1960 for the following reasons:
Technically, “a man who fails to register may, if prosecuted and convicted, face a fine of up to $25,000 and/or a prison term of up to five years.”
While chances of prosecution are extremely slim, an FTM transperson who is legally male and does not register for the draft by age 26 and does not have an exemption letter may find that “some doors are permanently closed”.
These doors include student financial aid, federal employment, federal job training, and US citizenship.
In order to get a letter of exemption, you may be required to send in documentation that proves you were born female (such as an unamended birth certificate) to the Selective Service along with a “Request for Status Information” (this form can be found at www.sss.gov)
The exemption letter they send back clearly states that you are exempt from the draft but does not give any information as to why.
More information can be found at http://www.sss.gov/FSmen.htm or by calling (847) 688-6888.
Documentation
Name Changes
You may change your names in the Veterans Affairs databases by submitting the following to the regional VA office that hold your records and the office that is your healthcare facility:
- A letter requesting the change.
- A certified copy of the court order legally changing your name.
You may also change your name with the Department of Defense by submitting a certified copy of the court order legally changing your name to your parent service's personnel command retiree section and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service Columbus Retired Pay Office
You can chance your name in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System by submitting a certified copy of the court order legally changing your name at any military Pass and ID office.
You can receive a new retired ID card by submitting a certified copy of the court order legally changing your name. at any military Pass and ID office.
You cannot change your name on the DD-214 once it has been issued. If you have legally changed your name in military records before leaving service, the DD-214 can be issued with your legal name.
Gender Changes
You may change your gender marker in the Veterans Affairs databases by submitting a notarized copy of the surgeon's letter stating that you have had Gender Reassignment Surgery to the regional VA office that hold your records and the office that is your healthcare facility.
You may change your gender marker with the Department of Defense by submitting the following to the Board for Correction of Naval Records:
- Form DD 149, Application for Correction of Military Record.
- A certified copy of the court order legally changing your name.
- A notarized copy of the surgeon's letter stating that you have had Gender Reassignment Surgery.
You can change your gender marker in the DFAS databases by submitting the following to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service Columbus Retired Pay Office:
- A copy of the Statement of Service letter.
- A letter requesting a change in gender marker in all areas of the DFAS databases.
You can chance your gender marker in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System by submitting the following at any military Pass and ID office:
- A notarized copy of the surgeon's letter stating that you have had Gender Reassignment Surgery.
- Statement of Service showing your new gender.
Go to the Transgender American Veterans Association at for more information.
Transgender Veterans March to the Wall
From April 30th to May 2nd, 2004 the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA) commemorated and celebrated transgender veterans in Washington, DC. Trans veterans and their allies from across the country gathered for this historic occasion.
NCTE helped kick off the weekend on the evening of April 30th by honoring the veterans with a welcome reception. The events continued the following day with a march to the Vietnam Wall, a visit to the Iwo Jima Memorial, and a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery.
Angela Brightfeather, TAVA Special Projects Committee Chair and one of the March organizers, reflected on the ceremony at Arlington Cemetery with the following words, “As people watched us cry at the Tomb of the Unknown when the wreath was dedicated and announced as coming from the Transgender American Veterans Association, everyone present knew and understood that they were at that moment a part of an historic event. Humanity was honored in that short period of time.”
Transgender veterans have been rendered invisible by the transphobia that pervades our society. This weekend gave all of us the opportunity to honor transgender veterans and their service to our country.
Never before has an organization had the vision to organize such an event and NCTE applauds TAVA for the success of this weekend and their service to transgender veterans.
