### §9063. Designation: officers to perform certain professional functions

(a) Medical functions in the Air Force and the Space Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force and who are designated as medical officers.

(b) Dental functions in the Air Force and the Space Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary and who are designated as dental officers.

(c) Veterinary functions in the Air Force and the Space Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, and who are designated as veterinary officers.

(d) Medical service functions in the Air Force and the Space Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, and who are designated as medical service officers.

(e) Nursing functions in the Air Force and the Space Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary and who are designated as Air Force nurses.

(f) Biomedical science functions, including physician assistant functions and chiropractic functions, in the Air Force and the Space Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, and who are designated as biomedical science officers.

(g) Judge advocate functions in the Air Force and the Space Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, and who are designated as judge advocates.

(h) Chaplain functions in the Air Force and the Space Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary and who are designated as chaplains.

(i) Other functions in the Air Force and the Space Force requiring special training or experience shall be performed by members of the Air Force or the Space Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, and who are designated as being in named categories.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 494, §8067; Pub. L. 85–861, §1(156), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1513; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, §504(5), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2916; Pub. L. 97–86, title IV, §403, Dec. 1, 1981, 95 Stat. 1105; Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title V, §505(c), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2404; renumbered §9067, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §806(c), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1833; renumbered §9063, Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title IX, §952(b)(1), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1561; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, §923(b)(9), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3809.)

| Revised section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 8067(a) 8067(b) 8067(c) | 10:1837(a) (as applicable to medical officers).10:1837(a) (as applicable to dental officers).10:1837(a) (as applicable to veterinary officers). | Sept. 19, 1951, ch. 407, §307 (less (d)), 65 Stat. 330.June 24, 1952, ch. 457 (less 1st and last provisos), 66 Stat. 156. |
| 8067(d) | 10:1837(a) (as applicable to medical service officers). | |
| 8067(e) | 10:1837(a) (as applicable to nurses). | |
| 8067(f) | 10:1837(a) (as applicable to women medical specialists). | |
| 8067(g) | 10:1837(a) (as applicable to judge advocates). | |
| 8067(h) | 10:1837(a) (as applicable to chaplains). | |
| 8067(i) | 10:1837(a) (less categories covered by subsections (a)–(h)).10:1837(b), (c).10:81–2 (less 1st and last provisos). | |

8067(b)

8067(c)

10:1837(a) (as applicable to dental officers).

10:1837(a) (as applicable to veterinary officers).

June 24, 1952, ch. 457 (less 1st and last provisos), 66 Stat. 156.

10:1837(b), (c).

10:81–2 (less 1st and last provisos).

The references in clauses (4), (6), and (7) of 10:1837(a) are omitted, since the laws to which reference is made deal with qualifications for appointment as commissioned officers and do not specify professional qualifications prerequisite to designation to duties requiring special training or experience. The reference in clause (8) is omitted as executed.

10:1837(b) and (c) are omitted, since, except in the case of a reference to a law not presently in effect, their substance is covered by including the laws referred to in various revised sections of this title (see the distribution tables). 10:81–2 (less 1st and last provisos) is omitted as unnecessary.

In subsections (a)–(d), (g), and (h), the words "commissioned officers" are substituted for the word "members", in 10:1837(a), since, under the laws to which reference is made, only commissioned officers may be designated to perform these functions.

In subsections (e) and (f), the words "female commissioned officers" are substituted for the word "members", in 10:1837(a), since, under the laws to which reference is made, only female commissioned officers may be designated to perform these functions.

| Revised section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 8067(e), (f) | 10 App.:166b–3.10 App.:1837. | Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 654, §§1, 3(b), 69 Stat. 579. |

10 App.:1837.

The section is amended to reflect the authority contained in the source statute to appoint male reserve officers with a view to designation as Air Force nurses or medical specialists.

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### Amendments

2021—Subsecs. (a) to (h). Pub. L. 116–283, §923(b)(9)(A), substituted "in the Air Force and the Space Force" for "in the Air Force".

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 116–283 substituted "in the Air Force and the Space Force" for "in the Air Force" and inserted "or the Space Force" after "members of the Air Force".

2019—Pub. L. 116–92 renumbered section 9067 of this title as this section.

2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 8067 of this title as section 9067 of this title.

1992—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 102–484 inserted "and chiropractic functions" after "physician assistant functions".

1981—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 97–86 inserted reference to physician assistant functions.

1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–513, §504(5)(A), struck out "in conformity with section 8289 or 8294 of this title," after "Secretary of the Air Force".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–513, §504(5)(B), struck out "in conformity with section 8294 of this title," after "prescribed by the Secretary".

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 96–513, §504(5)(C), struck out "in conformity with section 8291 of this title," after "prescribed by the Secretary".

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 96–513, §504(5)(D), substituted "Biomedical science functions" for "Medical specialist functions" and "biomedical science officers" for "medical specialists".

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 96–513, §504(5)(E), struck out "in conformity with section 8293 of this title," after "prescribed by the Secretary".

1958—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 85–861 struck out "female" before "commissioned officers".

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 85–861 struck out "female" before "commissioned officers", and "women" before "medical specialists".

#### **Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries**

#### Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

#### Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–513 effective Sept. 15, 1981, see section 701 of Pub. L. 96–513, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.