A situation similar to B.J.'s has occurred in real life. When J.R. Cash entered the U.S. Air Force in 1950, he was told that he had to have a real first name, and not initials, so he changed his name to John R. Cash, and later, Johnny Cash. This may not have been an actual policy so much as an individual in the Air Force deciding that "J.R." was not a "real" first name, even though it literally was his real name, as in B.J.'s case.