AF Form 135: Corrections to Record of Trial – Download PDF

AF Form 135: Corrections to Record of Trial – Download PDF – AF Form 135, officially titled “Corrections to Record of Trial,” is a specialized U.S. Air Force form used to document and authorize precise changes to the official Record of Trial (ROT) in court-martial proceedings. This form ensures the accuracy and integrity of military justice records, which are critical for appellate review, administrative actions, and maintaining the official history of a case under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

Military justice professionals, including judge advocates (JAGs), court reporters, and Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) offices, primarily use the form when errors are identified in the transcribed or assembled Record of Trial after a General, Special, or Summary Court-Martial.

What Is the Purpose of AF Form 135?

The form provides a structured way to log specific corrections to the ROT. It includes details such as the page number, the exact lines to change (from top and bottom lines), the affected charge (if applicable), the corrected text, who authorized the change, and confirmation that the updates were posted to all required copies of the record.

A key note on the form states: “Post changes to all U.S. v. [Accused] copies of the Record of Trial.” This ensures consistency across the original ROT, office copies, and any distributed versions.

Accurate Records of Trial support due process, appellate rights, and compliance with the Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM) and Department of the Air Force Instruction (DAFI) 51-201, Administration of Military Justice. Errors in the ROT—such as typographical mistakes, transcription inaccuracies, or minor omissions—can affect the validity of findings, sentencing, or post-trial processing if left uncorrected.

Note: AF Form 135 is an older AF IMT (Information Management Tool) dated 19880901 (September 1, 1988). Current procedures for correcting the Summary of Trial Record (STR), Court Administrator’s Data and Action Memorandum (CADAM), or Enrolled Judgment (EoJ) are detailed in DAFI 51-201, which emphasizes striking through errors, underlining corrections, adding “CORRECTED COPY – DESTROY ALL OTHERS” in the header, and redistributing updated versions. AF Form 135 supports the traditional tabular logging of line-by-line changes in the assembled ROT.

When Is AF Form 135 Used?

Common scenarios include:

  • Transcription errors identified during ROT assembly or review.
  • Minor factual inaccuracies in testimony summaries or charge specifications.
  • Formatting or pagination issues in the bound record.
  • Post-trial corrections before final distribution to the Air Force Legal Operations Agency (AFLOA) or appellate authorities.

It is not used for broad corrections to an individual’s military personnel records (those typically require DD Form 149 for the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records – AFBCMR) or for changing the outcome of a court-martial (which involves appellate processes or clemency).

How to Complete AF Form 135?

The form uses a tabular format for clarity and auditability. Here’s a breakdown of the main fields (based on the official PDF structure):

  • Page: The page number in the Record of Trial where the error appears.
  • From (Top Line / Bottom Line): Specify the exact starting and ending lines of the text to be corrected.
  • Charge: Identify the relevant charge or specification if the correction relates to it.
  • To: Enter the corrected text or wording.
  • Authorized By: The name, rank, and position of the individual approving the correction (often the military judge, court reporter supervisor, or SJA designee).
  • Changes Posted to Copies: Confirmation that the correction was applied to all required copies of the ROT.

Important Instructions:

  • Always post the same change to every copy of the ROT to maintain uniformity.
  • Retain the original erroneous text in some procedures (strike-through with underlined correction) while inserting the updated version.
  • For modern STR/EoJ corrections under DAFI 51-201, include a bold header like “CORRECTED COPY – DESTROY ALL OTHERS” and update the date block as needed. Redistribute per the official STR/EoJ distribution list.

After completion, the form (or the logged corrections) becomes part of the ROT assembly process.

Download the Official AF Form 135

You can download the fillable or printable PDF directly from the official Air Force e-Publishing site:

→ Download AF Form 135 PDF: https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_ja/form/af135/af135.pdf

This is the authoritative source. Always verify you are using the most current version through e-Publishing.af.mil when preparing records.

  • DAFI 51-201, Administration of Military Justice — Governs post-trial processing, ROT assembly, corrections to STR/CADAM/EoJ, and distribution requirements.
  • Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM) — Provides overarching rules for Records of Trial under the Rules for Courts-Martial (R.C.M.).
  • AF Form 1359 — Often related, as it reports results of trial and may feed into the ROT.

For larger errors or injustices in service records (beyond the trial transcript itself), eligible individuals may apply to the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR) using DD Form 149.

Who Should Use This Form?

  • Air Force Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps personnel
  • Court reporters and legal office staff involved in court-martial processing
  • Trial or defense counsel identifying post-trial discrepancies

If you are an accused, victim, or witness and believe there is an error in your case record, contact your servicing SJA office or legal assistance attorney rather than attempting to complete the form yourself.

Tips for Accurate Court-Martial Record Management (U.S. Air Force)

  1. Identify errors as early as possible during the authentication and assembly phase.
  2. Document corrections clearly and obtain proper authorization.
  3. Ensure all copies are updated to prevent discrepancies during appellate review.
  4. Follow current DAFI 51-201 guidance for header markings and redistribution.
  5. Consult your local legal office for case-specific advice, as procedures can evolve with policy updates.

Maintaining precise Records of Trial upholds the fairness and transparency of the military justice system, protecting the rights of all parties involved.

Need the form or more guidance?
Visit the official Air Force e-Publishing website or contact your installation’s Legal Office / SJA for assistance with AF Form 135 and related military justice matters.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Procedures are governed by official Department of the Air Force publications and the MCM. Always refer to current directives and consult qualified legal counsel.