10 USC Ch. 38: JOINT OFFICER MANAGEMENT

From Title 10—ARMED FORCES

Subtitle A—General Military Law

PART II—PERSONNEL

CHAPTER 38—JOINT OFFICER MANAGEMENT

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 assignments after completion of joint professional military education" for 

"Education" in item 663.

§661. Management policies for joint qualified officers

(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 who 

are particularly trained in, and oriented toward, joint matters (as defined in section 668 of this title). 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 

Sec.

661.

Management policies for joint qualified officers.

662.

Promotion policy objectives for joint officers.

663.

Joint duty assignments after completion of joint professional military education.

664.

Length of joint duty assignments.

665.

Procedures for monitoring careers of joint qualified officers.

666.

Reserve officers not on the active-duty list.

[667.

Repealed.]

668.

Definitions.

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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, 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(f) of this title; 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.

(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(f) of this title, 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 

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Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

(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) establishing a requirement or condition with respect 

to an officer's service in a joint duty assignment.

(Added Pub. L. 99–433, title IV, §401(a), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1025; amended Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, 

title XIII, §1301–1302(b), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1168, 1169; Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title V, §§511, 512(a), 

517(a), 518, Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 1968, 1971; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XI, §§1113, 1122, Nov. 29, 

1989, 103 Stat. 1554, 1556; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title V, §501(a), (d), title XV, §1503(a)(6), Feb. 10, 

1996, 110 Stat. 290, 292, 511; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, §521(a), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1097; Pub. 

L. 107–314, div. A, title V, §502(c), title X, §1062(a)(3), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2530, 2649; Pub. L. 109–

364, div. A, title V, §516(a)–(e)(1), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2187–2189; Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title V, 

§522(a)(1), (2), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4444, 4445.)

AMENDMENTS

2008—Pub. L. 110–417 amended section catchline generally, substituting "Management 

policies for joint qualified officers" for "Management policies for officers who are joint qualified", 

and in subsec. (a), substituted "as a joint qualified officer or in such other manner as the 

Secretary of Defense directs" for "in such manner as the Secretary of Defense directs".

2006—Pub. L. 109–364, §516(e)(1), substituted "officers who are joint qualified" for "joint 

specialty officers" in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–364, §516(a), struck out at end "For purposes of this chapter, 

officers to be managed by such policies, procedures, and practices are referred to as having, or 

having been nominated for, the 'joint specialty'."

Subsecs. (b) to (d). Pub. L. 109–364, §516(b), amended subsecs. (b) to (d) generally. Prior to 

amendment, subsecs. (b) to (d) related to numbers and selection of officers with the joint 

specialty, education and experience requirements, and number of joint duty assignments.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 109–364, §516(c), substituted "officers to achieve joint qualification and 

for officers who have been designated as joint qualified" for "officers with the joint specialty" in 

introductory provisions.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 109–364, §516(d), substituted "619a" for "619(e)(1)".

2002—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 107–314, §1062(a)(3), substituted "December 28, 2001," for 

"the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002".

Subsec. (c)(3)(E). Pub. L. 107–314, §502(c), substituted "paragraph" for "subparagraph".

2001—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 107–107, in introductory provisions, substituted "Each officer on 

the active-duty list on the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for 

Fiscal Year 2002 who has not before that date been nominated for the joint specialty by the 

Secretary of a military department, and each officer who is placed on the active-duty list after 

such date, who meets the requirements of subsection (c) shall automatically be considered to 

have been nominated for the joint specialty. From among those officers considered to be 

nominated for the joint specialty, the Secretary may select for the joint specialty only officers—" 

for "The Secretaries of the military departments shall nominate officers for selection for the joint 

specialty. Nominations shall be made from among officers—".

1996—Subsec. (c)(3)(D). Pub. L. 104–106, §501(d)(1), in third sentence, substituted "In the 

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case of officers in grades below brigadier general and rear admiral (lower half), the total 

number" for "The total number".

Subsec. (c)(3)(E). Pub. L. 104–106, §501(d)(2), added subpar. (E).

Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 104–106, §501(a), substituted "800" for "1,000".

Subsec. (d)(2)(B). Pub. L. 104–106, §1503(a)(6)(A), substituted "Each position designated by 

the Secretary under subparagraph (A)" for "Until January 1, 1994, at least 80 percent of the 

positions designated by the Secretary under subparagraph (A) shall be held at all times by 

officers who have the joint specialty. On and after January 1, 1994, each position so 

designated".

Subsec. (d)(2)(C). Pub. L. 104–106, §1503(a)(6)(B), struck out "the second sentence of" after 

"the requirement in".

Subsec. (d)(2)(D). Pub. L. 104–106, §1503(a)(6)(C), struck out subpar. (D) which read as 

follows: "During the period beginning on October 1, 1992, and ending on January 1, 1993, the 

Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on the operation, to the date of the 

report, of the first sentence of subparagraph (B) and on the Secretary's projection for the use of 

the waiver authority provided under subparagraph (C), including the Secretary's estimate of the 

average annual number of waivers to be provided under subparagraph (C)."

1989—Subsec. (c)(1)(B), (3)(A). Pub. L. 101–189, §1113, substituted "(as described in section 

664(f) of this title (other than in paragraph (2) thereof))" for "(as described in section 664(f)(1) or 

(f)(3) of this title)".

Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 101–189, §1122, added par. (4).

1988—Subsec. (c)(3)(D). Pub. L. 100–456, §511, inserted "for officers in the same pay grade" 

after "under this paragraph", substituted "10 percent" for "5 percent", and inserted "in that pay 

grade" after "numbers of officers".

Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 100–456, §512(a), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), 

struck out sentence at end which directed that each position so designated by the Secretary 

could be held only by an officer who had the joint specialty, and added subpars. (B) to (D).

Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 100–456, §517(a), substituted "25 percent" for "one-third".

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 100–456, §518, added subsec. (f).

1987—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 100–180, §1301(a)(1), added par. (3).

Subsec. (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 100–180, §1301(b)(1), inserted "(as described in section 664(f)(1) 

or (f)(3) of this title)" after "joint duty assignment".

Subsec. (c)(2)(A). Pub. L. 100–180, §1301(b)(2)(A)–(C), designated existing provisions as 

subpar. (A), substituted "An officer (other than a general or flag officer) who has a military 

occupational specialty that is" for "An officer who has" and "full tour of duty in a joint duty 

assignment (as described in section 664(f)(2) of this title)" for "joint duty assignment of not less 

than two years", and struck out provisions that an officer selected for the joint specialty complete 

generally applicable requirements for selection under par. (1)(B) as soon as practicable after 

such officer's selection.

Subsec. (c)(2)(B). Pub. L. 100–180, §1301(b)(2)(D), added subpar. (B).

Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 100–180, §1301(b)(3), added par. (3).

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 100–180, §1302(a)(1), added subpars. (A) and (B) and substituted "by 

officers who—" for "by officers who have (or have been nominated for) the joint specialty." in 

introductory provisions.

Subsec. (d)(2) to (4). Pub. L. 100–180, §1302(b), added pars. (2) to (4) and struck out former 

par. (2) which read as follows: "The Secretary of Defense shall designate not fewer than 1,000 

joint duty assignment positions as critical joint duty assignment positions. Each such position 

shall be held only by an officer with the joint specialty."

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2006 AMENDMENT

Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title V, §516(f), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2189, provided that: "The 

amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on October 1, 2007."

TREATMENT OF CURRENT JOINT SPECIALTY OFFICERS

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Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title V, §516(g), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2189, provided that: "For the 

purposes of chapter 38 of title 10, United States Code, and sections 154, 164, and 619a of such 

title, an officer who, as of September 30, 2007, has been selected for or has the joint specialty 

under section 661 of such title, as in effect on that date, shall be considered after that date to be 

an officer designated as joint qualified by the Secretary of Defense under section 661(b)(2) of 

such title, as amended by this section."

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title V, §516(h), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2189, provided that:

"(1) Plan required.—Not later than March 31, 2007, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to 

the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the 

House of Representatives a plan for the implementation of the joint officer management system, 

which will take effect on October 1, 2007, as provided in subsection (f) [set out above], as a 

result of the amendments made by this section [amending this section] and other provisions of 

this Act [see Tables for classification] to provisions of chapter 38 of title 10, United States Code.

"(2) Elements of plan.—In developing the plan required by this subsection, the Secretary shall 

pay particular attention to matters related to the transition of officers from the joint specialty 

system in effect before October 1, 2007, to the joint officer management system in effect after 

that date. At a minimum, the plan shall include the following:

"(A) The policies and criteria to be used for designating officers as joint qualified on the 

basis of service performed by such officers before that date, had the amendments made by 

this section and other provisions of this Act to provisions of chapter 38 of title 10, United 

States Code, taken effect before the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 17, 2006].

"(B) The policies and criteria prescribed by the Secretary of Defense to be used in 

making determinations under section 661(c)(1)(B)(ii) of such title, as amended by this section.

"(C) The recommendations of the Secretary for any legislative changes that may be 

necessary to effectuate the joint officer management system."

EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN OFFICERS FROM LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY TO GRANT A

WAIVER OF REQUIRED COMPLETION OR SEQUENCING FOR JOINT

PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION

Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title V, §502(a), (b), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2530, provided for 

exclusion from the limitation set forth in former subsec. (c)(3)(D) of this section of any officer 

selected for the joint specialty who, on Dec. 28, 2001, had met the requirements for nomination 

for the joint specialty, but had not been nominated before that date, and who had been 

automatically nominated before Dec. 2, 2002, and provided that such exclusion would terminate 

on Oct. 1, 2006.

INDEPENDENT STUDY OF JOINT OFFICER MANAGEMENT AND JOINT PROFESSIONAL

MILITARY EDUCATION REFORMS

Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, §526, Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1099, directed the Secretary of

Defense to provide for an independent study of the joint officer management system and the 

joint professional military education system and to require the entity conducting the study to 

submit a report to Congress on the study not later than one year after Dec. 28, 2001.

STUDY OF DISTRIBUTION OF GENERAL AND FLAG OFFICER POSITIONS IN JOINT

DUTY ASSIGNMENTS

Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title IV, §404, Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2398, directed Secretary of 

Defense to conduct a study of whether joint organizations of Department of Defense are fully 

staffed with appropriate number of general and flag officers and, not later than one year after 

Oct. 23, 1992, submit a report to Congress.

TRANSITION TO JOINT OFFICER PERSONNEL POLICY

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Pub. L. 99–433, title IV, §406(a)–(c), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1033, as amended by Pub. L. 

100–456, div. A, title V, §516, Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 1971, provided that:

"(a) Joint Duty Assignments.—(1) Section 661(d) of title 10, United States Code, shall be 

implemented as rapidly as possible and (except as provided under paragraph (2)) not later than 

October 1, 1989.

"(2) The first sentence of section 661(d)(2)(B) of such title shall apply with respect to positions 

designated under the first sentence of section 661(d)(2)(A) of that title as critical joint duty 

assignment positions which become vacant after January 1, 1989.

"(b) Joint Specialty.—

"(1) Initial selections.—(A) In making the initial selections of officers for the joint specialty 

under section 661 of title 10, United States Code (as added by section 401 of this Act), the 

Secretary of Defense may waive the requirement of either subparagraph (A) or (B) (but not 

both) of subsection (c)(1) of such section in the case of any officer in a grade above captain 

or, in the case of the Navy, lieutenant.

"(B) In applying such subparagraph (B) to the initial selections of officers for the joint 

specialty, the Secretary may in the case of any officer—

"(i) waive the requirement that a joint duty assignment be served after the officer has 

completed an appropriate program at a joint professional military education school;

"(ii) waive the requirement for the length of a joint duty assignment in the case of a 

joint duty assignment begun by an officer 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) 

to have been considered a full tour of duty under the policies and regulations in effect on 

September 30, 1986; or

"(iii) consider as a joint duty assignment any tour of duty begun by an officer before 

October 1, 1986, that involved significant experience in joint matters (as determined by the 

Secretary) if the officer served in that assignment for a period of sufficient duration (which 

may not be less than 12 months) for his service to have been considered a full tour of duty 

under the policies and regulations in effect on September 30, 1986.

"(C) A waiver under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph or under any provision of 

subparagraph (B) of this paragraph may only be made on a case-by-case basis.

"(D) The authority of the Secretary of Defense to grant a waiver under subparagraph (A) 

or (B) of this paragraph may be delegated only to the Deputy Secretary of Defense.

"(2) Requirement for high standards.—In exercising the authority provided by paragraph 

(1), the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the highest standards of performance, 

education, and experience are established and maintained for officers selected for the joint 

specialty.

"(3) Sunset.—The authority provided by paragraph (1) shall expire on October 1, 1989.

"(c) Career Guidelines.—The career guidelines required to be established by section 661(e) 

of such title, the procedures required to be established by section 665(a) of such title, and the 

personnel policies required to be established by section 666 of such title (as added by section 

401) shall be established not later than the end of the eight-month period beginning on the date 

of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 1, 1986]. The provisions of section 665(b) of such title shall be 

implemented not later than the end of such period."

§662. Promotion policy objectives for joint officers

The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the qualifications of officers assigned to joint duty assignments 

are such that—

(1) officers who are serving on, or have served on, the Joint Staff are expected, as a group, to be 

promoted to the next higher grade at a rate not less than the rate for officers of the same armed force in 

the same grade and competitive category who are serving on, or have served on, the headquarters staff 

of their armed force; and

(2) officers in the grade of major (or in the case of the Navy, lieutenant commander) or above who have 

been designated as a joint qualified officer are expected, as a group, to be promoted to the next higher 

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grade at a rate not less than the rate for all officers of the same armed force in the same grade and 

competitive category.

(Added Pub. L. 99–433, title IV, §401(a), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1026; amended Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, 

title V, §513, Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 1969; Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XIII, §1311(3), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 

Stat. 1669; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title V, §510, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2514; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, 

title V, §521(b), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1097; Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title X, §1062(a)(4), Dec. 2, 2002, 

116 Stat. 2650; Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, §535, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1901; Pub. L. 109–364, div. 

A, title V, §517, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2190; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title X, §1063(a)(3), Jan. 28, 2008, 

122 Stat. 321; Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title V, §523, Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4446; Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, 

title X, §1073(c)(2), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2474; Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title V, §505(a)(2), Dec. 19, 

2014, 128 Stat. 3356.)

AMENDMENTS

2014—Pub. L. 113–291 struck out subsec. (a) designation and heading "Qualifications.—" 

before "The Secretary of Defense" and struck out subsec. (b) which related to annual report.

2009—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 111–84 made technical amendment to directory language of 

Pub. L. 110–417, §523(1). See 2008 Amendment note below.

2008—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 110–417, §523(1), as amended by Pub. L. 111–84, substituted 

"officers in the grade of major (or in the case of the Navy, lieutenant commander) or above who 

have been designated as a joint qualified officer" for "officers who are serving in or have served 

in joint duty assignments".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–417, §523(2), inserted "or on the Joint Staff, and officers who have 

been designated as a joint qualified officer in the grades of major (or in the case of the Navy, 

lieutenant commander) through colonel (or in the case of the Navy, captain)" after "joint duty 

assignments".

Pub. L. 110–181 substituted "paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a)" for "paragraphs (1), 

(2), and (3) of subsection (a)".

2006—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–364 inserted "and" at end of par. (1), added par. (2), and 

struck out former pars. (2) and (3) which read as follows:

"(2) officers who have the joint specialty are expected, as a group, to be promoted—

"(A) during the period beginning on December 28, 2001, and ending on December 27, 

2006, at a rate not less than the rate for officers of the same armed force in the same grade 

and competitive category; and

"(B) after December 27, 2006, at a rate not less than the rate for officers of the same 

armed force in the same grade and competitive category who are serving on, or have served 

on, the headquarters staff of their armed force; and

"(3) officers who are serving in, or have served in, joint duty assignments (other than officers 

covered in paragraphs (1) and (2)) are expected, as a group, to be promoted to the next higher 

grade at a rate not less than the rate for all officers of the same armed force in the same grade 

and competitive category."

2004—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 108–375 substituted "December 27, 2006" for "December 27, 

2004" in two places.

2002—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 107–314, §1062(a)(4)(A), substituted "during the period 

beginning on December 28, 2001, and ending on December 27, 2004," for "during the threeyear period beginning on the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act 

for Fiscal Year 2002,".

Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 107–314, §1062(a)(4)(B), substituted "after December 27, 2004" 

for "after the end of the period specified in subparagraph (A)".

2001—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 107–107 substituted "promoted—" for "promoted at a rate", 

added subpar. (A), designated "not less than the rate for officers of the same armed force in the 

same grade and competitive category who are serving on, or have served on, the headquarters 

staff of their armed force; and" as subpar. (B), and inserted "after the end of the period specified 

in subparagraph (A), at a rate" after subpar. (B) designation.

1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–201, §510(b), in first sentence, substituted "paragraphs" for 

"clauses" and, in second sentence, inserted "for any fiscal year" after "such objectives" and 

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substituted "report for that fiscal year" for "periodic report required by this subsection".

Pub. L. 104–201, §510(a), substituted "Annual Report" for "Report" in heading and "Not later 

than January 1 of each year, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on the 

promotion rates during the preceding fiscal year" for "The Secretary of Defense shall 

periodically (and not less often than every six months) report to Congress on the promotion 

rates" in text.

1990—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–510 substituted "the Secretary shall include in the periodic 

report required by this subsection information on such failure and on" for "the Secretary shall 

immediately notify Congress of such failure and of".

1988—Subsec. (a)(1), (3). Pub. L. 100–456 inserted "to the next higher grade" after 

"promoted".

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2009 AMENDMENT

Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title X, §1073(c), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2474, provided that the 

amendment made by section 1073(c)(2) is effective as of Oct. 14, 2008, and as if included in 

Pub. L. 110–417 as enacted.

§663. Joint duty assignments after completion of joint professional military 

education

(a) Joint Qualified Officers.—The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that each officer designated as a joint 

qualified officer who graduates from a school within the National Defense University specified in subsection 

(c) shall be assigned to a joint duty assignment for that officer's next duty assignment after such graduation 

(unless the officer receives a waiver of that requirement by the Secretary in an individual case).

(b) Other Officers.—(1) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that a high proportion (which shall be 

greater than 50 percent) of the officers graduating from a school within the National Defense University 

specified in subsection (c) who are not designated as a joint qualified officer shall receive assignments to a 

joint duty assignment (or, as authorized by the Secretary in an individual case, to a joint assignment other 

than a joint duty assignment) as their next duty assignment after such graduation or, to the extent authorized 

in paragraph (2), as their second duty assignment after such graduation.

(2) The Secretary may, if the Secretary determines that it is necessary to do so for the efficient 

management of officer personnel, establish procedures to allow up to one-half of the officers subject to the 

assignment requirement in paragraph (1) to be assigned to such an assignment as their second (rather than 

first) assignment after such graduation from a school referred to in paragraph (1).

(c) Covered Schools Within the National Defense University.—For purposes of this section, a school 

within the National Defense University specified in this subsection is one of the following:

(1) The National War College.

(2) The Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy.

(3) The Joint Forces Staff College.

(d) Exception for Officers Graduating From Other-than-in-residence Programs.—(1) Subsection (a) does 

not apply to an officer graduating from a school within the National Defense University specified in 

subsection (c) following pursuit of a program on an other-than-in-residence basis.

(2) Subsection (b) does not apply with respect to any group of officers graduating from a school within the 

National Defense University specified in subsection (c) following pursuit of a program on an other-than-inresidence basis.

(Added Pub. L. 99–433, title IV, §401(a), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1027; amended Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, 

title XI, §1123(c)(1), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1557; Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title IX, §912(a), Dec. 5, 1991, 

105 Stat. 1452; Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title IX, §933(a), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1735; Pub. L. 107–107,

div. A, title X, §1048(a)(6), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1223; Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title X, §1062(a)(5), Dec. 

2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2650; Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, §532(b)–(c)(2)(A), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1900; 

Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title V, §518, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2190; Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title V, §522

(b), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4445; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title V, §503, div. B, title XXVIII, §2861(c), Dec. 

31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1388, 1701.)

AMENDMENTS

2011—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 112–81, §503(a)(1), inserted "(or, as authorized by the 

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Secretary in an individual case, to a joint assignment other than a joint duty assignment)" after 

"to a joint duty assignment".

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 112–81, §503(a)(2), substituted "the assignment" for "the joint duty 

assignment" and "such an assignment" for "a joint duty assignment".

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 112–81, §2861(c), substituted "Dwight D. Eisenhower School for 

National Security and Resource Strategy" for "Industrial College of the Armed Forces".

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 112–81, §503(b), added subsec. (d).

2008—Subsecs. (a), (b)(1). Pub. L. 110–417, in subsec. (a), substituted "Qualified" for 

"Specialty" in heading and "designated as a joint qualified officer" for "with the joint specialty" in 

text, and, in subsec. (b)(1), substituted "are not designated as a joint qualified officer" for "do not 

have the joint specialty".

2006—Subsecs. (a), (b)(1). Pub. L. 109–364, §518(a)(1), (2)(A), substituted "a school within 

the National Defense University specified in subsection (c)" for "a joint professional military 

education school".

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 109–364, §518(a)(2)(B), substituted "a school referred to in paragraph 

(1)" for "a joint professional military education school".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–364, §518(b), added subsec. (c).

2004—Pub. L. 108–375, §532(c)(2)(A), substituted "Joint duty assignments after completion of 

joint professional military education" for "Education" in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–375, §532(c)(1)(A), (B), redesignated subsec. (d)(1) as (a), inserted 

heading, and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (a) which related to capstone course 

for new general and flag officers. See section 2153 of this title.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–375, §532(c)(1)(C)–(F), redesignated subsec. (d)(2)(A) as (b)(1) and 

substituted "in paragraph (2)" for "in subparagraph (B)", redesignated subsec. (d)(2)(B) as (b)(2) 

and substituted "in paragraph (1)" for "in subparagraph (A)", and inserted subsec. heading.

Pub. L. 108–375, §532(b), transferred subsec. (b), relating to joint military education schools, 

to section 2152(b) of this title.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–375, §532(b), transferred subsec. (c), relating to other professional 

military education schools, to section 2152(c) of this title.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 108–375, §532(c)(1)(B), (C), (E), redesignated par. (1) as subsec. (a), 

redesignated subpars. (A) and (B) of par. (2) as pars. (1) and (2), respectively, of subsec. (b), 

and struck out heading "Post-Education Joint Duty Assignments".

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 108–375, §532(c)(1)(A), struck out heading and text of subsec. (e) which 

related to the duration of the principal course of instruction offered at the Joint Forces Staff 

College. See section 2156 of this title.

2002—Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 107–314 substituted "Joint Forces Staff College" for "Armed 

Forces Staff College".

2001—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 107–107 substituted "Joint Forces Staff College" for "Armed 

Forces Staff College" in subsec. heading and in text of par. (1).

1993—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–160 amended subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, 

subsec. (d) read as follows: "Post-Education Duty Assignments.—The Secretary of Defense 

shall ensure that—

"(1) unless waived by the Secretary in an individual case, each officer with the joint 

specialty who graduates from a joint professional military education school shall be assigned 

to a joint duty assignment for that officer's next duty assignment; and

"(2) a high proportion (which shall be greater than 50 percent) of the other officers 

graduating from a joint professional military education school also receive assignments to a 

joint duty assignment as their next duty assignment."

1991—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 102–190 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. 

(2).

1989—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 101–189 added subsec. (e).

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1993 AMENDMENT

Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title IX, §933(b), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1736, provided that: "The 

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amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to 

officers graduating from joint professional military education schools after the date of the 

enactment of this Act [Nov. 30, 1993]."

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1991 AMENDMENT

Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title IX, §912(b), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1452, as amended by Pub. 

L. 102–484, div. A, title IX, §921, Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2473, provided that the amendment 

made by section 912(a)(2) of Pub. L. 102–190 to this section was not to apply with respect to 

the Armed Forces Staff College until Jan. 1, 1994.

IMPLEMENTATION OF SUBSECTION (E)

Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XI, §1123(c)(2), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1557, provided that: 

"Subsection (e) of such section, as added by paragraph (1), shall be implemented by the 

Secretary of Defense not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 

29, 1989]."

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS; JOINT OFFICER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

Pub. L. 99–433, title IV, §406(d), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1033, provided that:

"(1) Capstone course.—Subsection (a) of section 663 of such title [10 U.S.C. 663(a)] (as 

added by section 401) shall apply with respect to officers selected in reports of officer selection 

boards submitted to the Secretary concerned after the end of the 120-day period beginning on 

the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 1, 1986].

"(2) Review of military education schools.—(A) The first review under subsections (b) and (c) 

of such section shall be completed not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of 

this Act. The Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the review 

at each Department of Defense school not later than 60 days thereafter.

"(B) Such subsections shall be implemented so that the revised curricula take effect with 

respect to courses beginning after July 1987.

"(3) Post-education duty assignments.—Subsection (d) of such section shall take effect with 

respect to classes graduating from joint professional military education schools after January 

1987."

§664. Length of joint duty assignments

(a) General Rule.—The length of a joint duty assignment—

(1) for general and flag officers shall be not less than two years; and

(2) for other officers shall be not less than three years.

(b) Waiver Authority.—The Secretary of Defense may waive subsection (a) in the case of any officer.

(c) Initial Assignment of Officers With Critical Occupational Specialties.—The Secretary may for purposes 

of section 661(c)(1)(B) of this title authorize a joint duty assignment of less than the period prescribed by 

subsection (a), but not less than two years, without the requirement for a waiver under subsection (b) in the 

case of an officer—

(1) who has a military occupational specialty designated under section 668(d) of this title as a critical 

occupational specialty; and

(2) for whom such joint duty assignment is the initial joint duty assignment.

(d) Exclusions From Tour Length.—The Secretary of Defense may exclude the following service from the 

standards prescribed in subsection (a):

(1) Service in a joint duty assignment in which the full tour of duty in the assignment is not completed by 

the officer because of—

(A) retirement;

(B) release from active duty;

(C) suspension from duty under section 155(f)(2) or 164(g) of this title; or

(D) a qualifying reassignment from a joint duty assignment—

(i) for unusual personal reasons, including extreme hardship and medical conditions, beyond the 

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control of the officer or the armed forces; or

(ii) to another joint duty assignment immediately after—

(I) the officer was promoted to a higher grade, if the reassignment was made because no joint 

duty assignment was available within the same organization that was commensurate with the 

officer's new grade; or

(II) the officer's position was eliminated in a reorganization.

(2) Service in a joint duty assignment outside the United States or in Alaska or Hawaii which is less than 

the applicable standard prescribed in subsection (a).

(3) Service in a joint duty assignment in a case in which the officer's tour of duty in that assignment 

brings the officer's accrued service for purposes of subsection (f)(3) to the applicable standard prescribed 

in subsection (a).

(e) Average Tour Lengths.—(1) The Secretary shall ensure that the average length of joint duty 

assignments during any fiscal year, measured by the lengths of the joint duty assignments ending during 

that fiscal year, meets the standards prescribed in subsection (a).

(2) In computing the average length of joint duty assignments for purposes of paragraph (1), the Secretary 

may exclude the following service:

(A) Service described in subsection (c).

(B) Service described in subsection (d).

(C) Service described in subsection (f)(6).

(f) Full Tour of Duty.—An officer shall be considered to have completed a full tour of duty in a joint duty 

assignment upon completion of any of the following:

(1) A joint duty assignment that meets the standards prescribed in subsection (a).

(2) A joint duty assignment under the circumstances described in subsection (c).

(3) Accrued joint experience in joint duty assignments as described in subsection (g).

(4) A joint duty assignment outside the United States or in Alaska or Hawaii for which the normal 

accompanied-by-dependents tour of duty is prescribed by regulation to be at least two years in length, if 

the officer serves in the assignment for a period equivalent to the accompanied-by-dependents tour 

length.

(5) A joint duty assignment with respect to which the Secretary of Defense has granted a waiver under 

subsection (b), but only in a case in which the Secretary determines that the service completed by that 

officer in that duty assignment shall be considered to be a full tour of duty in a joint duty assignment.

(6) A second and subsequent joint duty assignment that is less than the period required under 

subsection (a), but not less than two years.

(g) Accrued Joint Experience.—For the purposes of subsection (f)(3), the Secretary of Defense may 

prescribe, by regulation, certain joint experience, such as temporary duty in joint assignments, joint 

individual training, and participation in joint exercises, that may be aggregated to equal a full tour of duty. 

The Secretary shall prescribe the regulations with the advice of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

(h) Constructive Credit.—(1) The Secretary of Defense may accord constructive credit in the case of an 

officer (other than a general or flag officer) who, for reasons of military necessity, is reassigned from a joint 

duty assignment within 60 days of meeting the tour length criteria prescribed in paragraphs (1), (2), and (4) 

of subsection (f). The amount of constructive service that may be credited to such officer shall be the 

amount sufficient for the completion of the applicable tour of duty requirement, but in no case more than 60 

days.

(2) For the purpose of computing under subsection (e) the average length of joint duty assignments during 

a fiscal year, the amount of any constructive service credited under this subsection with respect to a joint 

duty assignment to be counted in that computation shall be excluded.

(Added Pub. L. 99–433, title IV, §401(a), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1028; amended Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, 

title XIII, §1303(a), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1170; Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title V, §§514, 517(b), Sept. 29, 

1988, 102 Stat. 1969, 1971; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title V, §501(b), (e), (f), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 290, 

292; Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title X, §1066(a)(5), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 770; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, 

§522, Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1097; Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title V, §519(d)(1), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 

2191; Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title V, §524, Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4446.)

AMENDMENTS

2008—Subsec. (d)(1)(D). Pub. L. 110–417, §524(a)(1), added subpar. (D) and struck out 

former subpar. (D) which read as follows: "a qualifying reassignment (as described in 

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subsection (g)(4))."

Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 110–417, §524(a)(2), added par. (3) and struck out former par. (3) 

which read as follows: "Service in a joint duty assignment in a case in which—

"(A) the officer's tour of duty in that assignment brings the officer's cumulative service for 

purposes of subsection (f)(3) to the applicable standard prescribed in subsection (a); and

"(B) the length of time served in that assignment (in any case other than an assignment 

which is described in subsection (g)(4)(B)) was not less than two years."

Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 110–417, §524(b), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which 

read as follows: "In computing the average length of joint duty assignments for purposes of 

paragraph (1), the Secretary may exclude the following service:

"(A) Service described in subsection (c), except that not more than 121⁄2 percent of all 

joint duty assignments shown on the list published pursuant to section 668(b)(2)(A) of this title

may be so excluded in any year.

"(B) Service described in subsection (d).

"(C) Service described in subsection (f)(6), except that no more than 10 percent of all 

joint duty assignments shown on the list published pursuant to section 668(b)(2)(A) of this title

may be so excluded in any year."

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–417, §524(c), in par. (3) substituted "Accrued joint experience" for 

"Cumulative service", in par. (4) struck out "(except that not more than 6 percent of all joint duty 

assignments may be considered to be under this paragraph at any time)" before period at end, 

added par. (6), and struck out former par. (6) which read as follows "A second joint duty 

assignment that is less than the period required under subsection (a), but not less than two 

years, without regard to whether a waiver was granted for such assignment under subsection 

(b).".

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 110–417, §524(d), amended subsec. (g) generally. Prior to amendment, 

subsec. (g) related to cumulative service of an officer in joint duty assignments.

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 110–417, §524(e), substituted "paragraphs (1), (2), and (4) of subsection 

(f)" for "subsection (f)(1), (f)(2), (f)(4), or (g)(2)" in par. (1) and struck out par. (3) which read as 

follows: "This subsection shall not apply in the case of an officer who serves less than 10 

months in the joint duty assignment."

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 110–417, §524(f), struck out subsec. (i) which related to joint duty credit 

for certain joint task force assignments.

2006—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–364, in introductory provisions, substituted "661(c)(1)(B)" for 

"661(c)(2)", redesignated pars. (2) and (3) as (1) and (2), respectively, in par. (1), substituted 

"668(d)" for "661(c)(2)", and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: "who is nominated 

for the joint specialty;".

2001—Subsec. (i)(4)(E). Pub. L. 107–107, §522(1), substituted "Except as provided in 

subparagraph (F), the joint task force" for "The joint task force".

Subsec. (i)(4)(F). Pub. L. 107–107, §522(2), added subpar. (F).

1999—Subsec. (i)(2)(A). Pub. L. 106–65 substituted "February 10, 1996" for "the date of the 

enactment of this subsection" in introductory provisions.

1996—Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 104–106, §501(f), struck out "(after fiscal year 1990)" after "any 

fiscal year".

Subsec. (e)(2)(C). Pub. L. 104–106, §501(e)(1), added subpar. (E).

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 104–106, §501(e)(2)(A), substituted "completion of any of the following:" 

for "completion of—" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 104–106, §501(e)(2)(B), (D), substituted "A joint duty" for "a joint duty" 

and "subsection (a)." for "subsection (a);".

Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 104–106, §501(e)(2)(B), (D), substituted "A joint duty" for "a joint duty" 

and "subsection (c)." for "subsection (c);".

Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 104–106, §501(e)(2)(C), (D), substituted "Cumulative" for "cumulative" 

and "subsection (g)." for "subsection (g);".

Subsec. (f)(4). Pub. L. 104–106, §501(e)(2)(B), (D), substituted "A joint duty" for "a joint duty" 

and "any time)." for "any time); or".

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Subsec. (f)(5). Pub. L. 104–106, §501(e)(2)(B), substituted "A joint duty" for "a joint duty".

Subsec. (f)(6). Pub. L. 104–106, §501(e)(2)(E), added par. (6).

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 104–106, §501(b), added subsec. (i).

1988—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 100–456, §514(1)(A), substituted "two years" for "three years".

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 100–456, §514(1)(B), substituted "three years" for "three and one-half 

years".

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 100–456, §514(2), substituted "is" for "has been" and struck out 

"before such assignment begins" after "specialty".

Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 100–456, §514(3), inserted "which is less than the applicable standard 

prescribed in subsection (a)" after "Hawaii".

Subsec. (e)(2)(A). Pub. L. 100–456, §517(b), substituted "121⁄2 percent" for "10 percent".

Subsec. (f)(4), (5). Pub. L. 100–456, §514(4), added pars. (4) and (5).

Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 100–456, §514(5), substituted "shall be excluded if the officer served 

less than 10 months in that assignment" for "shall be excluded—

"(A) if the officer served less than 10 months in that assignment; and

"(B) to the extent that the assignment was served more than eight years before the date 

of computation of the cumulative service."

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 100–456, §514(6), added subsec. (h).

1987—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–180 added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) 

which read as follows: "The Secretary of Defense may waive subsection (a) in the case of any 

officer, but the Secretary shall ensure that the average length of joint duty assignments meets 

the standards prescribed in that subsection."

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–180 added subsec. (c) and struck out former subsec. (c), "Certain 

officers with critical combat operations skills", which read as follows: "Joint duty assignments of 

less than the period prescribed by subsection (a), but not less than two years, may be 

authorized for the purposes of section 661(c)(2) of this title. Such an assignment may not be 

counted for the purposes of determining the average length of joint duty assignments under 

subsection (b)."

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–180 added subsec. (d) and struck out former subsec. (d), 

"Exception", which read as follows:

"(1) Subsection (a) does not apply in the case of an officer who fails to complete a joint duty 

assignment as the result of—

"(A) retirement;

"(B) separation from active duty; or

"(C) suspension from duty under section 155(f)(2) or 164(g) of this title.

"(2) In computing the average length of joint duty assignments for purposes of this section, 

the Secretary of Defense shall exclude joint duty assignments not completed because of a 

reason specified in paragraph (1)."

Subsecs. (e) to (g). Pub. L. 100–180 added subsecs. (e) to (g).

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2006 AMENDMENT

Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title V, §519(e), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2191, provided that: "The 

amendments made by this section [amending this section, former section 667, and section 668 

of this title] shall take effect on October 1, 2007."

RETROACTIVE JOINT SERVICE CREDIT FOR DUTY IN CERTAIN JOINT TASK FORCES

Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, §523, Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1097, provided that, in 

accordance with subsec. (i) of this section, the Secretary of Defense was authorized to award 

joint service credit to any officer who served on the staff of a United States joint task force 

headquarters in certain operations and during certain periods, and the Secretary was required 

to submit to Congress a report of the numbers, by service, grade, and operation, of the officers 

given joint service credit not later than one year after Dec. 28, 2001.

JOINT DUTY CREDIT FOR CERTAIN DUTY PERFORMED DURING OPERATIONS

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DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM

Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title IX, §932, Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1735, provided extension of 

authority until the end of the 90-day period beginning on Nov. 30, 1993, to give certain officers 

joint duty credit pursuant to Pub. L. 102–484, §933, formerly set out below.

Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title IX, §933, Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2476, as amended by Pub. L. 

103–35, title II, §202(a)(9), May 31, 1993, 107 Stat. 101; Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title IX, §932

(c)(1), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1735, temporarily authorized the Secretary of Defense to give 

an officer who had completed service during the period beginning on Aug. 2, 1990, and ending 

on Feb. 28, 1991, in an assignment in the Persian Gulf combat zone, credit, on a case-by-case 

basis, for having completed a full tour of duty in a joint duty assignment, or credit countable for 

determining cumulative service in joint duty assignments, for the purposes of any provision of 

this title, notwithstanding the length of such service or whether that service had been within the 

definition of "joint duty assignment" in section 668 of this title, and provided that such authority 

would expire at the end of the six-month period beginning on Oct. 23, 1992.

LENGTH OF JOINT DUTY ASSIGNMENTS

Pub. L. 99–433, title IV, §406(e), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1034, provided that: "Subsection (a) 

of section 664 of title 10, United States Code (as added by section 401), shall apply to officers 

assigned to joint duty assignments after the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date of 

the enactment of this Act [Oct. 1, 1986]. In computing an average under subsection (b) of such 

section, only joint duty assignments to which such subsection applies shall be considered."

WAIVER OF QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT AS SERVICE CHIEF

For waiver of the requirements of this section for the length of a joint duty assignment, see 

section 532(c) of Pub. L. 99–433, formerly set out as a note under section 3033 of this title.

§665. Procedures for monitoring careers of joint qualified officers

(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.

(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.

(Added Pub. L. 99–433, title IV, §401(a), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1028; amended Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], 

title V, §522(c)(1), (2), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4445.)

AMENDMENTS

2008—Pub. L. 110–417 in section catchline substituted "joint qualified officers" for "joint 

officers" and in subsecs. (a)(1)(A) and (b)(1) substituted "designated as a joint qualified officer" 

for "with the joint specialty".

TRANSITION TO JOINT OFFICER PERSONNEL POLICY

Procedures under subsec. (a) of this section to be established not later than the end of the 

eight-month period beginning Oct. 1, 1986, and provisions of subsec. (b) of this section to be 

implemented not later than the end of such period, see section 406(c) of Pub. L. 99–433, set out 

as a note under section 661 of this title.

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§666. Reserve officers not on the active-duty list

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.

(Added Pub. L. 99–433, title IV, §401(a), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1028.)

TRANSITION TO JOINT OFFICER PERSONNEL POLICY

Personnel policies under this section to be established not later than the end of the eightmonth period beginning Oct. 1, 1986, see section 406(c) of Pub. L. 99–433, set out as a note 

under section 661 of this title.

[§667. Repealed. Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title V, §505(a)(1), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3356]

Section, added Pub. L. 99–433, title IV, §401(a), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1029; amended Pub. 

L. 100–180, div. A, title XIII, §1304(a), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1172; Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, 

title V, §512(b), Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 1968; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XI, §1123(d), Nov. 

29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1557; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title V, §501(c), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 292; 

Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, §524, title X, §1048(a)(7), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1098, 1223; 

Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title V, §519(d)(2), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2191; Pub. L. 110–417,

[div. A], title V, §522(d), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4445; Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title V, §503, Oct. 

28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2277, related to annual report to Congress.

§668. Definitions

(a) Joint Matters.—(1) In this chapter, the term "joint matters" means matters related to the achievement of

unified action by integrated military forces in operations conducted across domains such as land, sea, or air, 

in space, or in the information environment, including matters relating to—

(A) national military strategy;

(B) strategic planning and contingency planning;

(C) command and control of operations under unified command;

(D) national security planning with other departments and agencies of the United States;

(E) combined operations with military forces of allied nations; or

(F) acquisition matters addressed by military personnel and covered under chapter 87 of this title.

(2) In the context of joint matters, the term "integrated military forces" refers to military forces that are 

involved in the planning or execution (or both) of operations involving 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) shall be limited to assignments in which the officer gains significant experience in joint matters; and

(B) shall exclude student assignments for joint training and education.

(2) The Secretary shall publish a joint duty assignment list showing—

(A) the positions that are joint duty assignment positions under such regulation and the number of such 

positions and, of those positions, those that are positions held by general or flag officers and the number 

of such positions; and

(B) of the positions listed under subparagraph (A), those that are critical joint duty assignment positions 

and the number of such positions and, of those positions, those that are positions held by general or flag 

officers and the number of such positions.

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(c) Clarification of "Tour of Duty".—For purposes of this chapter, a tour of duty in which an officer serves in 

more than one joint duty assignment without a break between such assignments shall be considered to be a 

single tour of duty in a joint duty assignment.

(d) Critical Occupational Specialty.—(1) In this chapter, the term "critical occupational specialty" means a 

military occupational specialty involving combat operations within the combat arms, in the case of the Army, 

or the equivalent arms, in the case of the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, that the Secretary of Defense 

designates as critical.

(2) At a minimum, the Secretary of Defense shall designate as a critical occupational specialty under 

paragraph (1) any military occupational specialty within a combat arms (or the equivalent) that is 

experiencing a severe shortage of trained officers in that specialty, as determined by the Secretary.

(Added Pub. L. 99–433, title IV, §401(a), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1029; amended Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, 

title XIII, §§1302(c)(1), 1303(b), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1170, 1172; Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title V, §519(b), 

Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 1972; Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, §534(a), (b), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1901; 

Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title V, §519(a)–(c), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2190, 2191; Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, 

title V, §521, Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4214; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title V, §503, Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 

1715; Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VIII, §843, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 915.)

AMENDMENTS

2015—Subsec. (a)(1)(F). Pub. L. 114–92 added subpar. (F).

2013—Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 112–239 substituted "student assignments for joint training 

and education" for "assignments for joint training and education, except an assignment as an 

instructor responsible for preparing and presenting courses in areas of the curricula designated 

in section 2155(c) of this title as part of a program designated by the Secretary of Defense as 

joint professional military education Phase II".

2011—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 111–383, §521(1)(A), substituted "integrated" for "multiple" in 

introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(1)(D). Pub. L. 111–383, §521(1)(B), substituted "or" for "and".

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 111–383, §521(2), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2), which 

read as follows: "In the context of joint matters, the term 'multiple military forces' refers to forces 

that involve participants from the armed forces and one or more of the following:

"(A) Other departments and agencies of the United States.

"(B) The military forces or agencies of other countries.

"(C) Non-governmental persons or entities."

2006—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–364, §519(a), amended heading and text of subsec. (a) 

generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "In this chapter, the term 'joint matters' 

means matters relating to the integrated employment of land, sea, and air forces, including 

matters relating to—

"(1) national military strategy;

"(2) strategic planning and contingency planning; and

"(3) command and control of combat operations under unified command."

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 109–364, §519(b), substituted provisions limiting the definition of "joint 

duty assignment" to assignments in which the officer gains significant experience in joint matters 

and excluding assignments for joint training and education, except an assignment as an 

instructor responsible for courses as part of a program designated as joint professional military 

education Phase II, for provisions limiting the definition of "joint duty assignment" to 

assignments in which the officer gains significant experience in joint matters and excluding 

assignments for joint training or joint education and assignments within an officer's own military 

department.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–364, §519(c), added subsec. (d).

2004—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 108–375, §534(a), substituted "a joint duty assignment list" for 

"a list" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–375, §534(b), struck out "within the same organization" before 

"without a break".

1988—Subsecs. (c), (f). Pub. L. 100–456 redesignated subsec. (f) as (c).

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1987—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 100–180, §1302(c)(1), inserted "and, of those positions, those 

that are positions held by general or flag officers and the number of such positions" in subpars. 

(A) and (B).

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 100–180, §1303(b), added subsec. (f).

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2006 AMENDMENT

Amendment by Pub. L. 109–364 effective Oct. 1, 2007, see section 519(e) of Pub. L. 109–

364, set out as a note under section 664 of this title.

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2004 AMENDMENT

Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, §534(c), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1901, provided that: "The 

amendment made by subsection (b) [amending this section] shall not apply in the case of a joint 

duty assignment completed by an officer before the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 28, 

2004], except in the case of an officer who has continued in joint duty assignments, without a 

break in service in such assignments, between the end of such assignment and the date of the 

enactment of this Act."

PUBLICATION OF REVISED JOINT DUTY ASSIGNMENT LIST

Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title XIII, §1302(c)(2), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1170, directed the 

Secretary of Defense to publish a revised list under subsec. (b)(2) of this section not later than 

six months after Dec. 4, 1987, which would take into account the amendments to this section 

and section 661 of this title made by Pub. L. 100–180, §1302.

TRANSITION TO JOINT OFFICER PERSONNEL POLICY

The list of positions required to be published by subsec. (b)(2) of this section to be published 

not later than six months after Oct. 1, 1986, see section 406(a)(2) of Pub. L. 99–433, set out as 

a note under section 661 of this title.

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