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10 U.S.C. § 531 — Original appointments of commissioned officers
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)**
(1) Original appointments in the grades of second lieutenant, first lieutenant, and captain in the Regular Army, Regular Air Force, Regular Marine Corps, and Space Force, and in the grades of ensign, lieutenant (junior grade), and lieutenant in the Regular Navy shall be made by the President alone.
(2) Original appointments in the grades of major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel in the Regular Army, Regular Air Force, Regular Marine Corps, and Space Force, and in the grades of lieutenant commander, commander, and captain in the Regular Navy shall be made by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
**(b)** The grade of a person receiving an appointment under this section who at the time of appointment (1) is credited with service under [section 533 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section533&num=0&edition=prelim), and (2) is not a commissioned officer of a reserve component shall be determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense based upon the amount of service credited. The grade of a person receiving an appointment under this section who at the time of the appointment is a commissioned officer of a reserve component is determined under [section 533(f) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section533/f&num=0&edition=prelim).
**(c)** Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the President, an original appointment as a commissioned officer in the Regular Army, Regular Air Force, Regular Navy, Regular Marine Corps, or Space Force may be made by the Secretary of Defense in the case of a reserve commissioned officer upon the transfer of such officer from the reserve active-status list of a reserve component of the
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Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-10/section-531-original-appointments-of-commissioned-officers--f4c4f8c423.md
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Source location: Title 10, Chapter 33, § 531; chapter-033-original-appointments-of-regular-officers-in-grades-above-warrant-officer-grades.md
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**(a)**
(1) Original appointments in the grades of second lieutenant, first lieutenant, and captain in the Regular Army, Regular Air Force, Regular Marine Corps, and Space Force, and in the grades of ensign, lieutenant (junior grade), and lieutenant in the Regular Navy shall be made by the President alone.
(2) Original appointments in the grades of major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel in the Regular Army, Regular Air Force, Regular Marine Corps, and Space Force, and in the grades of lieutenant commander, commander, and captain in the Regular Navy shall be made by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
**(b)** The grade of a person receiving an appointment under this section who at the time of appointment (1) is credited with service under [section 533 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section533&num=0&edition=prelim), and (2) is not a commissioned officer of a reserve component shall be determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense based upon the amount of service credited. The grade of a person receiving an appointment under this section who at the time of the appointment is a commissioned officer of a reserve component is determined under [section 533(f) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section533/f&num=0&edition=prelim).
**(c)** Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the President, an original appointment as a commissioned officer in the Regular Army, Regular Air Force, Regular Navy, Regular Marine Corps, or Space Force may be made by the Secretary of Defense in the case of a reserve commissioned officer upon the transfer of such officer from the reserve active-status list of a reserve component of the armed forces to the active-duty list of an armed force, notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (a).
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)**
(1) For the purpose of determining the grade and rank within grade of a person receiving an original appointment in a commissioned grade (other than a warrant officer grade) in the Regular Army, Regular Navy, Regular Air Force, Regular Marine Corps, or Space Force, such person shall be credited at the time of such appointment with any active commissioned service (other than service as a commissioned warrant officer) that he performed in any armed force, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or the Public Health Service before such appointment.
(2) The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations, which shall apply uniformly among the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force, to authorize the Secretary of the military department concerned to limit the amount of prior active commissioned service with which a person receiving an original appointment may be credited under paragraph (1), or to deny any such credit, in the case of a person who at the time of such appointment is credited with constructive service under subsection (b).
**(b)**
(1) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the military department concerned shall credit a person who is receiving an original appointment in a commissioned grade (other than a commissioned warrant officer grade) in the Regular Army, Regular Navy, Regular Air Force, Regular Marine Corps, or Space Force and who has advanced education or training or special experience with constructive service for such education, training, or experience as follows:
(A) One year for each year of advanced education beyond the baccalaureate degree level, for persons appointed, designated, or assigned in officer categories requiring such advanced education or an advanced degree a
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 533
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, an original appointment as a commissioned officer (other than as a commissioned warrant officer) in the Regular Army, Regular Navy, Regular Air Force, or Regular Marine Corps may be given only to a person who—
(1) is a citizen of the United States;
(2) is of good moral character;
(3) is physically qualified for active service; and
(4) has such other special qualifications as the Secretary of the military department concerned may prescribe by regulation.
**(b)**
(1) Original appointments in the Regular Army in the Medical Corps or Dental Corps, and original appointments in the Regular Air Force with a view to designation of an officer as a medical or dental officer, may be made in the grades of first lieutenant through colonel. Original appointments in the Regular Navy in the Medical Corps or Dental Corps may be made in the grades of lieutenant (junior grade) through captain. Such appointments may be made only from persons who are qualified doctors of medicine, osteopathy, or dentistry.
(2) To be eligible for an original appointment as a medical officer, a doctor of osteopathy must—
(A) be a graduate of a college of osteopathy whose graduates are eligible to be licensed to practice medicine or surgery in a majority of the States;
(B) be licensed to practice medicine, surgery, or osteopathy in a State or in the District of Columbia;
(C) under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, have completed a number of years of osteopathic and preosteopathic education equal to the number of years of medical and premedical education prescribed for persons entering recognized schools of medicine who become doctors of medicine and who would be qualified for an original appointment in the grade
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 532
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Authority.—** The Secretary concerned may, solely for the purpose of restructuring an armed force under the jurisdiction of that Secretary—
(1) discharge an officer described in subsection (b); or
(2) transfer such an officer from the active-duty list of that armed force to the reserve active-status list of a reserve component.
**(b) Covered Officers.—**
(1) The authority under this section may be exercised in the case of an officer (other than an officer of the Space Force) who—
(A) has completed not more than six years of service as a commissioned officer in the armed forces; or
(B) has completed more than six years of service as a commissioned officer in the armed forces, but has not completed a minimum service obligation applicable to that member.
(2) In this subsection, the term “minimum service obligation” means the initial period of required active duty service together with any additional period of required active duty service incurred during the initial period of required active duty service.
**(c) Appointment of Transferred Officers.—** An officer of the Regular Army, Regular Air Force, Regular Navy, or Regular Marine Corps who is transferred to a reserve active-status list under this section shall be discharged from the regular component concerned and appointed as a reserve commissioned officer under [section 12203 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section12203&num=0&edition=prelim).
**(d) Regulations.—** The Secretary concerned shall prescribe regulations for the exercise of the Secretary’s authority under this section.
**(e) Space Force.—** For a similar provision with respect to officers of the Space Force, see [section 20405 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granule
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 647
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** Whenever the needs of the service require, the Secretary of the military department concerned shall convene selection boards to recommend for promotion to the next higher permanent grade, under subchapter II of this chapter, officers on the active-duty list in each permanent grade from first lieutenant through brigadier general in the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force and from lieutenant (junior grade) through rear admiral (lower half) in the Navy. The preceding sentence does not require the convening of a selection board in the case of officers in the permanent grade of first lieutenant or, in the case of the Navy, lieutenant (junior grade) when the Secretary concerned recommends for promotion to the next higher grade under [section 624(a)(3) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section624/a/3&num=0&edition=prelim) all such officers whom the Secretary finds to be fully qualified for promotion.
**(b)** Whenever the needs of the service require, the Secretary of the military department concerned may convene selection boards to recommend officers for continuation on active duty under [section 637 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section637&num=0&edition=prelim) or for early retirement under [section 638 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section638&num=0&edition=prelim).
**(c)** The convening of selection boards under subsections (a) and (b) shall be under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 611
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
The President of the United States is authorized to designate and empower the head of any department or agency in the executive branch, or any official thereof who is required to be appointed by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to perform without approval, ratification, or other action by the President (1) any function which is vested in the President by law, or (2) any function which such officer is required or authorized by law to perform only with or subject to the approval, ratification, or other action of the President: Provided, That nothing contained herein shall relieve the President of his responsibility in office for the acts of any such head or other official designated by him to perform such functions. Such designation and authorization shall be in writing, shall be published in the Federal Register, shall be subject to such terms, conditions, and limitations as the President may deem advisable, and shall be revocable at any time by the President in whole or in part.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
### Statutory Notes
Section, added Pub. L. 96–513, title I, § 103, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2841; amended Pub. L. 98–525, title V, § 522, Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2523; Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title XI, § 1131(1)(B), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1505, related to authorized total strengths of regular commissioned officers on active duty.
#### Effective Date of Repeal
Repeal effective on the first day of the first month beginning more than 180 days after Oct. 28, 2004, see section 501(g) of Pub. L. 108–375, set out as an Effective Date of 2004 Amendment note under [section 531 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section531&num=0&edition=prelim).
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 522
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) In General.—** The following definitions apply in this title:
(1) The term “United States”, in a geographic sense, means the States and the District of Columbia.
(2) Repealed. Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title X, § 1057(a)(1), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3440.]
(3) The term “possessions” includes the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Guano Islands, so long as they remain possessions, but does not include any Commonwealth.
(4) The term “armed forces” means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard.
(5) The term “uniformed services” means—
(A) the armed forces;
(B) the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
(C) the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service.
(6) The term “department”, when used with respect to a military department, means the executive part of the department and all field headquarters, forces, reserve components, installations, activities, and functions under the control or supervision of the Secretary of the department. When used with respect to the Department of Defense, such term means the executive part of the department, including the executive parts of the military departments, and all field headquarters, forces, reserve components, installations, activities, and functions under the control or supervision of the Secretary of Defense, including those of the military departments.
(7) The term “executive part of the department” means the executive part of the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, or Department of the Air Force, as the case may be, at the seat of government.
(8) The term “military departments” means the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, and the Department of the Air Force.
(9) The term
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 101
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Regular Officers.—**
(1) A regular officer who is discharged under chapter 36 of this title (except under section 630(1)(A) or 643 of such chapter) or under section 580 or 8372 of this title and who has completed six or more, but less than twenty, years of active service immediately before that discharge is entitled to separation pay computed under subsection (d)(1).
(2) A regular commissioned officer of the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps who is discharged under section 630(1)(A), 643, or 1186 of this title, and a regular warrant officer of the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps who is separated under section 1165 or 1166 of this title, who has completed six or more, but less than twenty, years of active service immediately before that discharge or separation is entitled to separation pay computed under subsection (d)(1) or (d)(2), as determined by the Secretary of the military department concerned, unless the Secretary concerned determines that the conditions under which the officer is discharged or separated do not warrant payment of such pay.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), an officer discharged under any provision of chapter 36 of this title for twice failing of selection for promotion to the next higher grade is not entitled to separation pay under this section if either (or both) of those failures of selection for promotion was by the action of a selection board to which the officer submitted a request in writing not to be selected for promotion or who otherwise directly caused his nonselection through written communication to the Board under [section 614(b) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section614/b&num=0&edition=prelim).
(4) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), an officer wh
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 1174
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)**
(1) To become an officer of a reserve component a person must be appointed as a Reserve of an armed force in a grade corresponding to a grade authorized for the regular component of the armed force concerned and, except as provided in paragraph (2), subscribe to the oath prescribed by [section 3331 of title 5](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title5-section3331&num=0&edition=prelim). In addition, to become an officer of the Army National Guard of the United States or the Air National Guard of the United States, he must first be appointed to, and be federally recognized in, the same grade in the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard, as the case may be.
(2) If an officer is transferred from the active-duty list of an armed force to a reserve active-status list of an armed force in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, the officer is not required to subscribe to the oath referred to in paragraph (1) in order to qualify for an appointment under that paragraph.
**(b)** Except as otherwise provided by law, the Secretary concerned shall prescribe physical, mental, moral, professional, and age qualifications for the appointment of persons as Reserves of the armed forces under his jurisdiction. However, no person may be appointed as a Reserve unless he is at least 18 years of age and—
(1) he is a citizen of the United States or has been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act ([8 U.S.C. 1101](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1101&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.); or
(2) he has previously served in the armed forces or in the National Security Training Corps.
**(c)** A person who is otherwise quali
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 12201
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** Appointments of reserve officers in commissioned grades of lieutenant colonel and commander or below, except commissioned warrant officer, shall be made by the President alone. Appointments of reserve officers in commissioned grades above lieutenant colonel and commander shall be made by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, except as provided in section 624, 12213, or 12214 of this title.
**(b)** Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the President, the Secretary of Defense may appoint as a reserve commissioned officer any regular officer transferred from the active-duty list of an armed force to the reserve active-status list of a reserve component under [section 647 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section647&num=0&edition=prelim), notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (a).
**(c)** Appointments of Reserves in commissioned grades are for an indefinite term and are held during the pleasure of the President.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 12203
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