§1551. Correction of name after separation from service under an assumed name

The Secretary of the military department concerned shall issue a certificate of discharge or an order of acceptance of resignation in the true name of any person who was separated from the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps honorably or under honorable conditions after serving under an assumed name during a war with another nation or people, upon application by, or on behalf of, that person, and upon proof of his identity. However, a certificate or order may not be issued under this section if the name was assumed to conceal a crime or to avoid its consequences.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 116 .)

The word "shall" is substituted for the words "is authorized and required". The word "separated" is substituted for the word "discharged", since the revised section covers acceptances of resignations as well as certificates of discharge. The words "enlisted or" and "while minors or otherwise" are omitted as surplusage. The words "the War of the Rebellion" are omitted as obsolete. The word "with" is substituted for the words "between the United States and". The words "honorably or under honorable conditions" are substituted for the word "honorably".

Personnel Freeze for Service Review Agencies

Pub. L. 105–261, div. A, title V, §541, Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2019 , provided that:

"(a) Limitation.-During fiscal years 1999, 2000, and 2001, the Secretary of a military department may not carry out any reduction in the number of military and civilian personnel assigned to duty with the service review agency for that military department below the baseline number for that agency until-

"(1) the Secretary submits to Congress a report that describes the reduction proposed to be made, provides the Secretary's rationale for that reduction, and specifies the number of such personnel that would be assigned to duty with that agency after the reduction; and

"(2) a period of 90 days has elapsed after the date on which such report is submitted.

"(b) Baseline Number.-The baseline number for a service review agency under this section is-

"(1) for purposes of the first report with respect to a service review agency under this section, the number of military and civilian personnel assigned to duty with that agency as of October 1, 1997; and

"(2) for purposes of any subsequent report with respect to a service review agency under this section, the number of such personnel specified in the most recent report with respect to that agency under this section.

"(c) Service Review Agency Defined.-In this section, the term 'service review agency' means-

"(1) with respect to the Department of the Army, the Army Review Boards Agency;

"(2) with respect to the Department of the Navy, the Board for Correction of Naval Records; and

"(3) with respect to the Department of the Air Force, the Air Force Review Boards Agency."