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10 U.S.C. § 661 — Management policies for joint qualified officers
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Establishment.—** The Secretary of Defense shall establish policies, procedures, and practices for the effective management of officers of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps on the active-duty list, and officers of the Space Force on the Space Force officer list, who are particularly trained in, and oriented toward, joint matters (as defined in [section 668 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section668&num=0&edition=prelim)). Such officers shall be identified or designated (in addition to their principal military occupational specialty) as a joint qualified officer or in such other manner as the Secretary of Defense directs.
**(b) Levels, Designation, and Numbers.—**
(1)
(A) The Secretary of Defense shall establish different levels of joint qualification, as well as the criteria for qualification at each level. Such levels of joint qualification shall be established by the Secretary with the advice of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Each level shall, as a minimum, have both joint education criteria and joint experience criteria. The purpose of establishing such qualification levels is to ensure a systematic, progressive, career-long development of officers in joint matters and to ensure that officers serving as general and flag officers have the requisite experience and education to be highly proficient in joint matters.
(B) The number of officers who are joint qualified shall be determined by the Secretary of Defense, with the advice of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Such number shall be large enough to meet the requirements of subsection (d).
(2) Certain officers shall be designated as joint qualified by the Secretary of Defense with the advice of the Chairman of the Joint
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**(a) Establishment.—** The Secretary of Defense shall establish policies, procedures, and practices for the effective management of officers of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps on the active-duty list, and officers of the Space Force on the Space Force officer list, who are particularly trained in, and oriented toward, joint matters (as defined in [section 668 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section668&num=0&edition=prelim)). Such officers shall be identified or designated (in addition to their principal military occupational specialty) as a joint qualified officer or in such other manner as the Secretary of Defense directs.
**(b) Levels, Designation, and Numbers.—**
(1)
(A) The Secretary of Defense shall establish different levels of joint qualification, as well as the criteria for qualification at each level. Such levels of joint qualification shall be established by the Secretary with the advice of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Each level shall, as a minimum, have both joint education criteria and joint experience criteria. The purpose of establishing such qualification levels is to ensure a systematic, progressive, career-long development of officers in joint matters and to ensure that officers serving as general and flag officers have the requisite experience and education to be highly proficient in joint matters.
(B) The number of officers who are joint qualified shall be determined by the Secretary of Defense, with the advice of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Such number shall be large enough to meet the requirements of subsection (d).
(2) Certain officers shall be designated as joint qualified by the Secretary of Defense with the advice of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
(3) An officer may be designated as joint qualified under paragraph (2) only if the officer—
(A) meets the education and experience criteria of subsection (c);
(B) meets such additional criteria as prescribed by the Secretary of Defense; and
(C) holds the grade of captain or, in the case of the Navy, lieutenant or a higher grade.
(4) The authority of the Secretary of Defense under paragraph (2) to designate officers as joint qualified may be delegated only to the Deputy Secretary of Defense or an Under Secretary of Defense.
**(c) Education and Experience Requirements.—**
(1) An officer may not be designated as joint qualified until the officer—
(A) successfully completes an appropriate program of joint professional military education, as described in subsections (b) and (c) of [section 2155 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section2155&num=0&edition=prelim), at a joint professional military education school; and
(B) successfully completes—
(i) a full tour of duty in a joint assignment, as described in [section 664(d) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section664/d&num=0&edition=prelim); or
(ii) such other assignments and experiences in a manner that demonstrate the officer’s mastery of knowledge, skills, and abilities in joint matters, as determined under such regulations and policy as the Secretary of Defense may prescribe.
(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) through (6), the Secretary of Defense may waive the requirement under paragraph (1)(A) that an officer has successfully completed a program of education, as described in subsections (b) and (c) of [section 2155 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section2155&num=0&edition=prelim).
(3) In the case of an officer in a grade below brigadier general or rear admiral (lower half), a waiver under paragraph (2) may be granted only if—
(A) the officer has completed two full tours of duty in a joint duty assignment, as described in [section 664(d) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section664/d&num=0&edition=prelim), in such a manner as to demonstrate the officer’s mastery of knowledge, skills, and abilities on joint matters; and
(B) the Secretary of Defense determines that the types of joint duty experiences completed by the officer have been of sufficient breadth to prepare the officer adequately for service as a general or flag officer in a joint duty assignment position.
(4) In the case of a general or flag officer, a waiver under paragraph (2) may be granted only—
(A) under unusual circumstances justifying the variation from the education requirement under paragraph (1)(A); and
(B) under circumstances in which the waiver is necessary to meet a critical need of the armed forces, as determined by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
(5) In the case of officers in grades below brigadier general or rear admiral (lower half), the total number of waivers granted under paragraph (2) for officers in the same pay grade during a fiscal year may not exceed 10 percent of the total number of officers in that pay grade designated as joint qualified during that fiscal year.
(6) There may not be more than 32 general and flag officers on active duty at the same time who, while holding a general or flag officer position, were designated joint qualified (or were selected for the joint specialty before October 1, 2007) and for whom a waiver was granted under paragraph (2).
**(d) Number of Joint Duty Assignments.—**
(1) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that approximately one-half of the joint duty assignment positions in grades above major or, in the case of the Navy, lieutenant commander are filled at any time by officers who have the appropriate level of joint qualification.
(2) The Secretary of Defense, with the advice of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shall designate an appropriate number of joint duty assignment positions as critical joint duty assignment positions. A position may be designated as a critical joint duty assignment position only if the duties and responsibilities of the position make it important that the occupant be particularly trained in, and oriented toward, joint matters.
(3)
(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), a position designated under paragraph (2) may be held only by an officer who—
(i) was designated as joint qualified in accordance with this chapter; or
(ii) was selected for the joint specialty before October 1, 2007.
(B) The Secretary of Defense may waive the requirement in subparagraph (A) with respect to the assignment of an officer to a position designated under paragraph (2). Any such waiver shall be granted on a case-by-case basis. The authority of the Secretary to grant such a waiver may be delegated only to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or a designee of the Chairman who is an officer of the armed forces in grade O–9 or higher.
(4) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that, of those joint duty assignment positions that are filled by general or flag officers, a substantial portion are among those positions that are designated under paragraph (2) as critical joint duty assignment positions.
**(e) Career Guidelines.—** The Secretary, with the advice of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shall establish career guidelines for officers to achieve joint qualification and for officers who have been designated as joint qualified. Such guidelines shall include guidelines for—
(1) selection;
(2) military education;
(3) training;
(4) types of duty assignments; and
(5) such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate.
**(f) Treatment of Certain Service.—** Any service by an officer in the grade of captain or, in the case of the Navy, lieutenant in a joint duty assignment shall be considered to be service in a joint duty assignment for purposes of all laws (including [section 619a of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section619a&num=0&edition=prelim)) establishing a requirement or condition with respect to an officer’s service in a joint duty assignment.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) General Rule.—** An officer on the active-duty list of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force may not be appointed to the grade of brigadier general or rear admiral (lower half) unless the officer has been designated as a joint qualified officer in accordance with [section 661 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section661&num=0&edition=prelim).
**(b) Exceptions.—** Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary of Defense may waive subsection (a) in the following circumstances:
(1) When necessary for the good of the service.
(2) In the case of an officer whose proposed selection for promotion is based primarily upon scientific and technical qualifications for which joint requirements do not exist.
(3) In the case of—
(A) a medical officer, dental officer, veterinary officer, medical service officer, nurse, or biomedical science officer;
(B) a chaplain; or
(C) a judge advocate.
(4) In the case of an officer selected by a promotion board for appointment to the grade of brigadier general or rear admiral (lower half) while serving in a joint duty assignment if the officer’s total consecutive service in joint duty assignments is not less than two years and the officer has successfully completed a program of education described in subsections (b) and (c) of [section 2155 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section2155&num=0&edition=prelim).
(5) In the case of an officer who served in a joint duty assignment that began before January 1, 1987, if the officer served in that assignment for a period of sufficient duration (which may not be less than 12 months) for the officer’s service to have been considered a full tour of duty under the policies and re
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 619a
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Joint Matters.—**
(1) In this chapter, the term “joint matters” means matters related to any of the following:
(A) The development or achievement of strategic objectives through the synchronization, coordination, and organization of integrated forces in operations conducted across domains, such as land, sea, or air, in space, or in the information environment, including matters relating to any of the following:
(i) National military strategy.
(ii) Strategic planning and contingency planning.
(iii) Command and control, intelligence, fires, movement and maneuver, protection or sustainment of operations under unified command.
(iv) National security planning with other departments and agencies of the United States.
(v) Combined operations with military forces of allied nations.
(B) Acquisition matters conducted by members of the armed forces and covered under chapter 87 of this title involved in developing, testing, contracting, producing, or fielding of multi-service programs or systems.
(C) Other matters designated in regulation by the Secretary of Defense in consultation with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
(2) In the context of joint matters, the term “integrated forces” refers to military forces that are involved in achieving unified action with participants from—
(A) more than one military department; or
(B) a military department and one or more of the following:
(i) Other departments and agencies of the United States.
(ii) The military forces or agencies of other countries.
(iii) Non-governmental persons or entities.
**(b) Joint Duty Assignment.—**
(1) The Secretary of Defense shall by regulation define the term “joint duty assignment” for the purposes of this chapter. That definition—
(A)
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Prerequisite of Completion of Joint Professional Military Education Phase I Program of Instruction.—**
(1) After September 30, 2009, an officer of the armed forces may not be accepted for, or assigned to, a program of instruction designated by the Secretary of Defense as joint professional military education Phase II unless the officer has successfully completed a program of instruction designated by the Secretary of Defense as joint professional military education Phase I.
(2) The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff may grant exceptions to the requirement under paragraph (1). Such an exception may be granted only on a case-by-case basis under exceptional circumstances, as determined by the Chairman. An officer selected to receive such an exception shall have knowledge of joint matters and other aspects of the Phase I curriculum that, to the satisfaction of the Chairman, qualifies the officer to meet the minimum requirements established for entry into Phase II instruction without first completing Phase I instruction. The number of officers selected to attend an offering of the principal course of instruction at the Joint Forces Staff College or a senior level service school designated by the Secretary of Defense as a joint professional military education institution who have not completed Phase I instruction should comprise no more than 10 percent of the total number of officers selected.
**(b) Phase II Requirements.—** The Secretary shall require that the curriculum for Phase II joint professional military education at any school—
(1) focus on developing joint operational expertise and perspectives and honing joint warfighting skills; and
(2) be structured—
(A) so as to adequately prepare students to perform effectively in an assignment to a joint, mult
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 2155
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Appointment.—**
(1) There is a Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from the officers of the regular components of the armed forces.
(2) The Chairman and Vice Chairman may not be members of the same armed force. However, the President may waive the restriction in the preceding sentence for a limited period of time in order to provide for the orderly transition of officers appointed to serve in the positions of Chairman and Vice Chairman.
(3) The Vice Chairman serves at the pleasure of the President for a single term of four years, beginning on October 1 of an odd-numbered year, except that the term may not begin in the same year as the term of a Chairman. In time of war, there is no limit on the number of reappointments.
(4)
(A) The Vice Chairman shall not be eligible for promotion to the position of Chairman or any other position in the armed forces.
(B) The President may waive subparagraph (A) if the President determines such action is necessary in the national interest.
**(b) Requirement for Appointment.—**
(1) The President may appoint an officer as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff only if the officer—
(A) has the joint specialty under [section 661 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section661&num=0&edition=prelim); and
(B) has completed a full tour of duty in a joint duty assignment (as defined in section 664(f) 11 See References in Text note below. of this title) as a general or flag officer.
(2) The President may waive paragraph (1) in the case of an officer if the President determines such action is necessary in the national interest.
**(c) Duties.—** The Vice Chairman performs the duties prescr
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 154
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Assignment as Combatant Commander.—**
(1) The President may assign an officer to serve as the commander of a unified or specified combatant command only if the officer—
(A) has the joint specialty under [section 661 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section661&num=0&edition=prelim); and
(B) has completed a full tour of duty in a joint duty assignment (as defined in [section 664(d) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section664/d&num=0&edition=prelim)) as a general or flag officer.
(2) The President may waive paragraph (1) in the case of an officer if the President determines that such action is necessary in the national interest.
(3)
(A) If the President removes an officer assigned under paragraph (1) to serve as the commander of a unified or specified combatant command or transfers that officer to another position or location before the expected end of the officer’s service as a combatant commander, the President shall, not later than five days after the removal or transfer takes effect, submit to Congress, including the congressional defense committees, notice that the officer is being removed or transferred and a statement of the reason for the removal or transfer.
(B) Nothing in this paragraph prohibits a personnel action authorized by another provision of law.
**(b) Responsibilities of Combatant Commanders.—**
(1) The commander of a combatant command is responsible to the President and to the Secretary of Defense for the performance of missions assigned to that command by the President or by the Secretary with the approval of the President.
(2) Subject to the direction of the President, the commander of a combatant command—
(A) performs his d
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 164
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) General Rule.—** An officer on the Space Force officer list may not be appointed to the grade of brigadier general unless the officer has been designated as a joint qualified officer in accordance with [section 661 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section661&num=0&edition=prelim).
**(b) Exceptions.—** Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary of Defense may waive subsection (a) in the following circumstances:
(1) When necessary for the good of the service.
(2) In the case of an officer whose proposed selection for promotion is based primarily upon scientific and technical qualifications for which joint requirements do not exist.
(3) In the case of an officer selected by a promotion board for appointment to the grade of brigadier general while serving in a joint duty assignment if—
(A) the officer’s total consecutive service in joint duty assignments is not less than two years; and
(B) the officer has successfully completed a program of education described in subsections (b) and (c) of [section 2155 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section2155&num=0&edition=prelim).
(4) In the case of an officer who—
(A) is selected by a promotion board for appointment to the grade of brigadier general;
(B) is not exempted under subsection (g); and
(C) has successfully completed the education requirements prescribed in subparagraph (A) of [section 661(c)(1) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section661/c/1&num=0&edition=prelim) but has not been afforded the opportunity to complete the experience requirements described in subparagraph (B) of that section.
**(c) Waiver to Be Individual.—** A waiver may be granted un
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 20233
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) In General.—** The Secretary of Defense shall implement a comprehensive framework for the joint professional military education of officers, including officers nominated under [section 661 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section661&num=0&edition=prelim) for the joint specialty.
**(b) Joint Military Education Schools.—** The Secretary of Defense, with the advice and assistance of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shall periodically review and revise the curriculum of each school of the National Defense University (and of any other joint professional military education school) to enhance the education and training of officers in joint matters. The Secretary shall require such schools to maintain rigorous standards for the military education of officers with the joint specialty.
**(c) Other Professional Military Education Schools.—** The Secretary of Defense shall require that each Department of Defense school concerned with professional military education periodically review and revise its curriculum for senior and intermediate grade officers in order to strengthen the focus on—
(1) joint matters; and
(2) preparing officers for joint duty assignments.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 2152
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Procedures.—**
(1) The Secretary of Defense, with the advice of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shall establish procedures for overseeing the careers of—
(A) officers designated as a joint qualified officer; and
(B) other officers who serve in joint duty assignments.
(2) Such oversight shall include monitoring of the implementation of the career guidelines established under [section 661(e) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section661/e&num=0&edition=prelim).
**(b) Function of Joint Staff.—** The Secretary shall take such action as necessary to enhance the capabilities of the Joint Staff so that it can—
(1) monitor the promotions and career assignments of officers designated as a joint qualified officer and of other officers who have served in joint duty assignments; and
(2) otherwise advise the Chairman on joint personnel matters.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 665
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
The Secretary of Defense shall establish personnel policies emphasizing education and experience in joint matters for reserve officers not on the active-duty list. Such policies shall, to the extent practicable for the reserve components, be similar to the policies provided by this chapter.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 666
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 643
TITLE 10—ARMED FORCES
§ 661
Sec.
666.
Reserve officers not on the active-duty list.
[667.
Repealed.]
668.
Definitions.
Editorial Notes
AMENDMENTS
2014—Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title V, § 505(b), Dec. 19,
2014, 128 Stat. 3356, struck out item 667 ‘‘Annual report
to Congress’’.
2008—Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title V, § 522(a)(3), (c)(3),
Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4445, added items 661 and 665 and
struck out former items 661 ‘‘Management policies for
officers who are joint qualified’’ and 665 ‘‘Procedures
for monitoring careers of joint officers’’.
2006—Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title V, § 516(e)(2), Oct. 17,
2006, 120 Stat. 2189, substituted ‘‘officers who are joint
qualified’’ for ‘‘joint specialty officers’’ in item 661.
2004—Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, § 532(c)(2)(B), Oct.
28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1900, substituted ‘‘Joint duty assign-
ments after completion of joint professional military
education’’ for ‘‘Education’’ in item 663.
§ 661. Management policies for joint qualified of-
ficers
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Defense
shall establish policies, procedures, and prac-
tices for the effective management of officers of
the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps on
the active-duty list, and officers of the Space
Force on the Space Force officer list, who are
particularly trained in, and oriented toward,
joint matters (as defined in section 668 of this
title). Such officers shall be identified or des-
ignated (in addition to their principal military
occupational specialty) as a joint qualified offi-
cer or in such other manner as the Secretary of
Defense directs.
(b) LEVELS, DESIGNATION,
AND
NUMBERS.—
(1)(A) The Secretary of Defense shall establish
different levels of joint qualification, as well as
the criteria for q
Source: Supplied 2024 U.S. Code historical extraction · 10 U.S.C. § 661
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