Posted on Aug 5, 2020
SPC Civil Affairs Specialist
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I'm enlisting next Wednesday and I have kind of a dumb question. I have a hyphenated last name and I wanted to know what determines what appears on my name tape. My brother is in and his has the first part of our last name on his OCP name tape but on his dress uniform he has our full last name. Would it be possible for me to get the last part of my last name on my OCP name plate and have my full name on my dress uniform?
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SFC Michael Hasbun
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Both names without the hyphen will appear. The hyphen itself isn't allowed on nametapes, they just treat both names like one long name...
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SPC Civil Affairs Specialist
SPC (Join to see)
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Thank you for this!
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Capt Gregory Prickett
Capt Gregory Prickett
>1 y
SFC Michael Hasbun - I will point out that hyphens and accent marks are specifically authorized in the Air Force, per a change to AFI 36-2903, so that names like Peña, Lewis-Miles, Müller, Calderón can be reflected by nametape or name tag.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
SFC Michael Hasbun
>1 y
Capt Gregory Prickett - the individual stated that they would be "enlisting" which leads me to believe they are joining the military, and not the Air Force ;o)
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Capt Gregory Prickett
Capt Gregory Prickett
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SFC Michael Hasbun - Oh, I missed that. ASVAB scores too low? lol
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MAJ Byron Oyler
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What do you want to be called? One name on your ACU and done different on dress uniform will get you called a variety of names. You only have one listed here. So you need to decide what you want to be called as strangers will call you what they see written on the uniform you are wearing.
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SPC Civil Affairs Specialist
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Preferably I'd get the one that I have listed on here, as it's what I go by on pretty much everything. I very rarely use my full last name, and I think it would look dumb on the name tape on my OCPs as it's 15 characters long.
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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I can't remember how it's supposed to go in Basic in regards to name tapes/plates and hyphenated names. I've seen hyphenated names (as long as they weren't too long a name) and I've seen folks with only one part of their hyphenated name. It's possible they will ask you down in Reception how you want it done....or they could very well make the decision for you.
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SPC Civil Affairs Specialist
SPC (Join to see)
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I've seen people with hyphenated names on their name tapes too and i just think it looks kind of goofy and out of place. My brother went to Leonard Wood for Basic and he said "the Army picked for me" but I'll be going to Jackson so maybe I'll have a little bit of luck and I'll get to decide.
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