H. R. 2670—490 
‘‘Subtitle F—Alternative Military 
Personnel Systems 
‘‘PART I—SPACE FORCE 
‘‘CHAPTER 2001— SPACE FORCE PERSONNEL SYSTEM 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘20001. Single military personnel management system. 
‘‘20002. Members: duty status. 
‘‘20003. Members: minimum service requirement as applied to Space Force. 
‘‘§ 20001. Single military personnel management system 
‘‘Members of the Space Force shall be managed through a 
single military personnel management system, without component.’’. 
‘‘Chap.
....................................................................................................................
‘‘2001. Space Force Personnel System ................................................................20001
‘‘2003. Status and Participation ..........................................................................20101
‘‘2005. Officers .......................................................................................................20201
‘‘2007. Enlisted Members. ....................................................................................20301
‘‘2009. Retention and Separation Generally .......................................................20401
‘‘2011. Separation of Officers for Substandard Performance of Duty or for 
Certain Other Reasons ............................................................................20501
‘‘2013. Retirement .................................................................................................20601’’. 
SEC. 1712. COMPOSITION OF THE SPACE FORCE WITHOUT COMPO-
NENT. 
(a) COMPOSITION
OF
THE SPACE FORCE.—Section 9081(b) of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (1); 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs 
(1) and (2), respectively; and 
(3) in paragraph (1), as so redesignated, by striking ‘‘, 
including’’ and all that follows through ‘‘emergency’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by subsection 
(a) shall take effect on the date of the certification by the Secretary 
of the Air Force under section 1745. 
SEC. 1713. DEFINITIONS FOR SINGLE PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT 
SYSTEM FOR THE SPACE FORCE. 
(a) SPACE FORCE DEFINITIONS.—Section 101 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (e), (f), and (g) as sub-
sections (f), (g), and (h), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new sub-
section (e): 
‘‘(e) SPACE FORCE.—The following definitions relating to mem-
bers of the Space Force apply in this title: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘space force active status’ means the status 
of a member of the Space Force who is not in a space force 
inactive status and is not retired. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘space force inactive status’ means the status 
of a member of the Space Force who is designated by the 
Secretary of the Air Force, under regulations prescribed by 
the Secretary, as being in a space force inactive status. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘space force retired status’ means the status 
of a member of the Space Force who— 
‘‘(A) is receiving retired pay ; or
H. R. 2670—491 
‘‘(B) but for being under the eligibility age applicable 
under section 12731 of this title, would be eligible for 
retired pay under chapter 1223 of this title. 
‘‘(4) The term ‘sustained duty’ means full-time duty by 
a member of the Space Force ordered to such duty by an 
authority designated by the Secretary of the Air Force— 
‘‘(A) in the case of an officer— 
‘‘(i) to fulfill the terms of an active-duty service 
commitment incurred by the officer under any provi-
sion of law; or 
‘‘(ii) with the consent of the officer; and 
‘‘(B) in the case of an enlisted member, with the consent 
of the enlisted member as specified in the terms of the 
member’s enlistment or reenlistment agreement.’’. 
(b) AMENDMENTS TO EXISTING DUTY STATUS DEFINITIONS.— 
Subsection (d) of such section is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, including sustained 
duty in the Space Force’’ after ‘‘United States’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (7), by inserting ‘‘, or a member of the 
Space Force,’’ after ‘‘Reserves’’ in subparagraphs (A) and (B). 
SEC. 1714. BASIC POLICIES RELATING TO SERVICE IN THE SPACE 
FORCE. 
Chapter 2001 of title 10, United States Code, as added by 
section 1711, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
sections: 
‘‘§ 20002. Members: duty status 
‘‘Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force, 
each member of the Space Force shall be placed in one of the 
following duty statuses: 
‘‘(1) Space Force active status. 
‘‘(2) Space Force inactive status. 
‘‘(3) Space Force retired status. 
‘‘§ 20003. Members: minimum service requirement as applied 
to Space Force 
‘‘(a) INAPPLICABILITY
OF ACTIVE/RESERVE SERVICE DISTINC-
TION.—In applying section 651 of this title to a person who becomes 
a member of the Space Force, the provisions of the second sentence 
of subsection (a) and of subsection (b) of that section (relating 
to service in a reserve component) are inapplicable. 
‘‘(b) TREATMENT UPON TRANSFER OUT
OF SPACE FORCE.—A 
member of the Space Force who transfers to one of the other 
armed forces before completing the service required by subsection 
(a) of section 651 of this title shall upon such transfer be subject 
to section 651 of this title in the same manner as if such member 
had initially entered the armed force to which the member trans-
fers.’’. 
SEC. 1715. STATUS AND PARTICIPATION. 
Subtitle F of title 10, United States Code, as added by section 
1711, is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter: 
‘‘CHAPTER 2003—STATUS AND PARTICIPATION 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘20101. Members in Space Force active status: amount of annual training or active 
duty service required.
H. R. 2670—492 
‘‘20102. Individual ready guardians: designation; mobilization category. 
‘‘20103. Members not on sustained duty: agreements concerning conditions of serv-
ice. 
‘‘20104. Orders to active duty: with consent of member. 
‘‘20105. Sustained duty. 
‘‘20106. Orders to active duty: without consent of member. 
‘‘20107. Transfer to inactive status: initial service obligation not complete. 
‘‘20108. Members of Space Force: credit for service for purposes of laws providing 
pay and benefits for members, dependents, and survivors. 
‘‘20109. Policy for order to active duty based upon determination by Congress. 
‘‘§ 20101. Members in Space Force active status: amount of 
annual training or active duty service required 
‘‘Except as specifically provided in regulations prescribed by 
the Secretary of Defense, a member of the Space Force in a space 
force active status who is not serving on sustained duty shall 
be required to— 
‘‘(1) participate in at least 48 scheduled drills or training 
periods during each year and serve on active duty for not 
less than 14 days (exclusive of travel time) during each year; 
or 
‘‘(2) serve on active duty for training for not more than 
30 days during each year. 
‘‘§ 20102. Individual ready guardians: designation; mobiliza-
tion category 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Under regulations prescribed by the Sec-
retary of Defense, the Secretary of the Air Force may designate 
a member of the Space Force in a space force active status as 
an Individual Ready Guardian. 
‘‘(b) MOBILIZATION CATEGORY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Among members of the Space Force des-
ignated as Individual Ready Guardians, there is a category 
of members (referred to as a ‘mobilization category’) who, as 
designated by the Secretary of the Air Force, are subject to 
being ordered to active duty without their consent in accordance 
with section 20106(a) of this title. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATIONS
ON
PLACEMENT
IN
MOBILIZATION
CAT-
EGORY.—A member designated as an Individual Ready 
Guardian may not be placed in the mobilization category 
referred to in paragraph (1) unless— 
‘‘(A) the member volunteers to be placed in that 
mobilization category; and 
‘‘(B) the member is selected by the Secretary of the 
Air Force, based upon the needs of the Space Force and 
the grade and military skills of that member. 
‘‘(3) LIMITATION ON TIME IN MOBILIZATION CATEGORY.—A 
member of the Space Force in a space force active status 
may not remain designated an Individual Ready Guardian in 
such mobilization category after the end of the 24-month period 
beginning on the date of the separation of the member from 
active service. 
‘‘(4) DESIGNATION
OF
GRADES
AND
MILITARY
SKILLS
OR 
SPECIALTIES.—The Secretary of the Air Force shall designate 
the grades and military skills or specialties of members to 
be eligible for placement in such mobilization category. 
‘‘(5) BENEFITS.—A member in such mobilization category 
shall be eligible for benefits (other than pay and training) 
on the same basis as are available to members of the Individual
H. R. 2670—493 
Ready Reserve who are in the special mobilization category 
under section 10144(b) of this title, as determined by the Sec-
retary of Defense. 
‘‘§ 20103. Members not on sustained duty: agreements con-
cerning conditions of service 
‘‘(a) AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary of the Air Force may enter 
into a written agreement with a member of the Space Force not 
on sustained duty— 
‘‘(1) requiring the member to serve on active duty for a 
definite period of time; 
‘‘(2) specifying the conditions of the member’s service on 
active duty; and 
‘‘(3) for a member serving in a space force inactive status, 
specifying the conditions for the member’s continued service 
as well as order to active duty with and without the consent 
of the member. 
‘‘(b) CONDITIONS OF SERVICE.—An agreement under subsection 
(a) shall specify the conditions of service. The Secretary of the 
Air Force shall prescribe regulations establishing— 
‘‘(1) what conditions of service may be specified in the 
agreement; 
‘‘(2) the obligations of the parties; and 
‘‘(3) the consequences of failure to comply with the terms 
of the agreement. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORITY FOR RETENTION ON ACTIVE DUTY DURING WAR 
OR NATIONAL EMERGENCY.—If the period of service on active duty 
of a member under an agreement under subsection (a) expires 
during a war or during a national emergency declared by Congress 
or the President, the member concerned may be kept on active 
duty, without the consent of the member, as otherwise prescribed 
by law. 
‘‘§ 20104. Orders to active duty: with consent of member 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—A member of the Space Force who is serving 
in a space force active status and is not on sustained duty, or 
who is serving in a space force inactive status, may, with the 
consent of the member, be ordered to active duty, or retained 
on active duty, under the following sections of chapter 1209 of 
this title in the same manner as applies to a member of a reserve 
component ordered to active duty, or retained on active duty, under 
that section with the consent of the member: 
‘‘(1) Section 12301(d), relating to orders to active duty 
at any time with the consent of the member. 
‘‘(2) Section 12301(h), relating to orders to active duty 
in connection with medical or health care matters. 
‘‘(3) Section 12322, relating to active duty for health care. 
‘‘(4) Section 12323, relating to active duty pending line 
of duty determination required for response to sexual assault. 
‘‘(b) APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF LAW.—The following sections 
of chapter 1209 of this title pertaining to a member of a reserve 
component ordered to active duty with the consent of the member 
apply to a member of the Space Force who is ordered to active 
duty under this section in the same manner as to such a reserve 
component member: 
‘‘(1) Section 12308, relating to retention after becoming 
qualified for retired pay.
H. R. 2670—494 
‘‘(2) Section 12309, relating to use of Reserve officers in 
expansion of armed forces. 
‘‘(3) Section 12313, relating to release of reserve members 
from active duty. 
‘‘(4) Section 12314, relating to kinds of duty. 
‘‘(5) Section 12315, relating to duty with or without pay. 
‘‘(6) Section 12316, relating to payment of certain Reserves 
while on duty. 
‘‘(7) Section 12318, relating to duties and funding of reserve 
members on active duty. 
‘‘(8) Section 12320, relating to grade in which ordered to 
active duty. 
‘‘(9) Section 12321, relating to a limitation on number of 
reserve members assigned to Reserve Officer Training Corps 
units. 
‘‘§ 20105. Sustained duty 
‘‘(a) ENLISTED MEMBERS.—An authority designated by the Sec-
retary of the Air Force may order an enlisted member of the 
Space Force in a space force active status to sustained duty, or 
retain an enlisted member on sustained duty, with the consent 
of that member, as specified in the terms of the member’s enlistment 
or reenlistment agreement. 
‘‘(b) OFFICERS.— 
‘‘(1) An authority designated by the Secretary of the Air 
Force may order a Space Force officer in a space force active 
status to sustained duty— 
‘‘(A) with the consent of the officer; or 
‘‘(B) to fulfill the terms of an active-duty service 
commitment incurred by the officer under any provision 
of law. 
‘‘(2) An officer ordered to sustained duty under paragraph 
(1) may not be released from sustained duty without the officer’s 
consent except as provided in chapter 2009 or 2011 of this 
title. 
‘‘§ 20106. Orders to active duty: without consent of member 
‘‘(a) MEMBERS IN A SPACE FORCE ACTIVE STATUS.— 
‘‘(1) A member of the Space Force in a space force active 
status who is not on sustained duty, may, without the consent 
of the member, be ordered to active duty or inactive duty 
in the same manner as a member of a reserve component 
ordered to active duty or inactive duty under the provisions 
of chapter 1209 of this title and any other provision of law 
authorizing the order to active duty of a member of a reserve 
component in an active status without the consent of the 
member. 
‘‘(2) The provisions of chapter 1209 of this title, or other 
applicable provisions of law, pertaining to a member of the 
Ready Reserve when ordered to active duty shall apply to 
a member of the Space Force who is in a space force active 
status when ordered to active duty under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) The provisions of section 12304 of this title pertaining 
to members in the Individual Ready Reserve mobilization cat-
egory shall apply to a member of the Space Force who is 
designated an Individual Ready Guardian when ordered to
H. R. 2670—495 
active duty who meets the provisions of section 20102(b) of 
this title. 
‘‘(b) MEMBERS IN A SPACE FORCE INACTIVE STATUS.— 
‘‘(1) A member of the Space Force in a space force inactive 
status may be ordered to active duty under— 
‘‘(A) the provisions of chapter 1209 of this title; 
‘‘(B) any other provision of law authorizing the order 
to active duty of a member of a reserve component in 
an inactive status; and 
‘‘(C) the terms of any agreement entered into by the 
member under section 20103 of this title. 
‘‘(2) The provisions of chapter 1209 of this title, or other 
applicable provisions of law, pertaining to the Standby Reserve 
shall apply to a member of the Space Force who is in a space 
force inactive service when ordered to active duty. 
‘‘(c) MEMBERS IN A SPACE FORCE RETIRED STATUS.— 
‘‘(1) Chapters 39 and 1209 of this title include provisions 
authorizing the order to active duty of a member of the Space 
Force in a space force retired status. 
‘‘(2) The provisions of sections 688, 688a, and 12407 of 
this title pertaining to a retired member or a member of the 
Retired Reserve shall apply to a member of the Space Force 
in a space force retired status when ordered to active duty. 
‘‘(3) The provisions of section 689 of this title pertaining 
to a retired member ordered to active duty shall apply to 
a member of the Space Force in a space force retired status 
who is ordered to active duty. 
‘‘(d) OTHER APPLICABLE PROVISIONS.—The following provisions 
of chapter 1209 of this title pertaining shall apply to a member 
of the Space Force ordered to active duty in the same manner 
as to a Reserve or member of the Retired Reserve ordered to 
active duty: 
‘‘(1) Section 12305, relating to the authority of the President 
to suspend certain laws relating to promotion, retirement, and 
separation. 
‘‘(2) Section 12308, relating to retention after becoming 
qualified for retired pay. 
‘‘(3) Section 12313, relating to release from active duty. 
‘‘(4) Section 12314, relating to kinds of duty. 
‘‘(5) Section 12315, relating to duty with or without pay. 
‘‘(6) Section 12316, relating to payment of certain Reserves 
while on duty. 
‘‘(7) Section 12317, relating to theological students; limita-
tions. 
‘‘(8) Section 12320, relating to grade in which ordered to 
active duty. 
‘‘§ 20107. Transfer to inactive status: initial service obligation 
not complete 
‘‘(a) GENERAL RULE.—A member of the Space Force who has 
not completed the required minimum service obligation referred 
to in section 20003 of this title shall, if terminating space force 
active status, be transferred to a space force inactive status and, 
unless otherwise designated an Individual Ready Guardian under 
section 20102 of this title, shall remain subject to order to active 
duty without the member’s consent under section 20106 of this 
title.
H. R. 2670—496 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTION.—Subsection (a) does not apply to a member 
who is separated from the Space Force by the Secretary of the 
Air Force under section 20503 of this title. 
‘‘§ 20108. Members of Space Force: credit for service for pur-
poses of laws providing pay and benefits for mem-
bers, dependents, and survivors 
‘‘For the purposes of laws providing pay and benefits for mem-
bers of the armed forces and their dependents and beneficiaries: 
‘‘(1) Military training, duty, or other service performed 
by a member of the Space Force in a space force active status 
not on sustained duty shall be considered military training, 
duty, or other service, as the case may be, as a member of 
a reserve component. 
‘‘(2) Sustained duty performed by a member of the Space 
Force under section 20105 of this title shall be considered 
active duty as a member of a regular component. 
‘‘(3) Active duty performed by a member of the Space 
Force in a space force active status not on sustained duty 
shall be considered active duty as a member of a reserve 
component. 
‘‘(4) Inactive-duty training performed by a member of the 
Space Force shall be considered inactive-duty training as a 
member of a reserve component. 
‘‘§ 20109. Policy for order to active duty based upon deter-
mination by Congress 
‘‘Whenever Congress determines that more units and organiza-
tions capable of conducting space operations are needed for the 
national security than are available among those units comprised 
of members of the Space Force serving on active duty, members 
of the Space Force not serving on active duty shall be ordered 
to active duty and retained as long as so needed.’’. 
SEC. 1716. OFFICERS. 
(a) ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS.—Subtitle F of title 10, United 
States Code, as amended by section 1715, is further amended by 
adding at the end the following new chapter: 
‘‘CHAPTER 2005—OFFICERS 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS 
‘‘§ 20201. Original appointments: how made 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The provisions of section 531 of this title 
shall apply to original appointments of commissioned officers in 
the Space Force. 
‘‘(b) GRADE UPON APPOINTMENT.—(1) The grade of a person 
receiving an appointment under this section who at the time of 
appointment is credited with service under section 20203 of this 
title shall be determined under regulations prescribed by the Sec-
retary of the Defense based upon the amount of service credited. 
‘‘(2) 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 shall be determined under section 
20203(e) of this title.
H. R. 2670—497 
‘‘§ 20202. Original appointments: qualifications 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—An original appointment as a commissioned 
officer in the Space Force may be given only to a person who— 
‘‘(1) is a citizen of the United States; 
‘‘(2) is at least 18 years of age; and 
‘‘(3) has such other physical, mental, moral, professional, 
and age qualifications as the Secretary of the Air Force may 
prescribe by regulation. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTION.—A person who is otherwise qualified, but who 
has a physical condition that the Secretary of the Air Force deter-
mines will not interfere with the performance of the duties to 
which that person may be assigned, may be appointed as an officer 
in the Space Force. 
‘‘§ 20203. Original appointments: service credit 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The provisions of section 533 of this title 
shall apply to the crediting of prior active commissioned service 
for original appointments of commissioned officers. 
‘‘(b) CREDIT FOR PRIOR SERVICE.—(1) For the purpose of deter-
mining the grade and rank within grade of a person receiving 
an original appointment in a commissioned grade in the Space 
Force, such person shall be credited at the time of such appointment 
with any commissioned service (other than service as a commis-
sioned warrant officer) that the person performed before such 
appointment— 
‘‘(A) as a Space Force officer on active duty or in a space 
force active status; or 
‘‘(B) as a regular officer, or as a reserve officer in an 
active status, in any uniformed service. 
‘‘(2) The regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense 
under section 533 of this title shall apply to the Space Force 
to authorize the Secretary of the Air Force to limit the amount 
of prior active commissioned service with which a person receiving 
an original appointment may be credited under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(b) CREDIT FOR EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE.—(1) 
Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force, 
the Secretary shall credit a person who is receiving an original 
appointment in a commissioned grade in the Space Force and 
who has advanced education, training, or special experience with 
constructive service for such education, training, or experience in 
a particular officer career field as designated by the Secretary 
of the Air Force, if such education, training, or experience is directly 
related to the operational needs of the Space Force. 
‘‘(2)(A) The Secretary may credit a person with constructive 
service under this subsection for each instance of relevant advanced 
education or training or special experience regardless of whether 
two or more such instances are concurrent. 
‘‘(B) The Secretary may not credit more than 20 persons with 
an amount of constructive credit under this paragraph in any 
year. 
‘‘(3) The amount of constructive service credited an officer under 
this subsection may not exceed the amount required in order for 
the officer to be eligible for an original appointment in the grade 
of colonel. 
‘‘(4) Constructive service credited an officer under this sub-
section is in addition to any service credited that officer under
H. R. 2670—498 
subsection (a) and shall be credited at the time of the original 
appointment of the officer. 
‘‘(5) Not later than December 1 of each year, the Secretary 
of the Air Force shall submit a report to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and House of Representatives regarding 
the amount of constructive service credited under this subsection 
during the preceding calendar year. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZED USE OF CONSTRUCTIVE CREDIT.—Constructive 
service credited an officer under subsection (b) shall be used only 
for determining the officer’s— 
‘‘(1) initial grade; 
‘‘(2) rank in grade; and 
‘‘(3) service in grade for promotion eligibility. 
‘‘(d) EXCLUSION FOR GRADUATES OF THE SERVICE ACADEMIES.— 
A graduate of a Service Academy (as such term is defined in 
section 347 of this title) is not entitled to service credit under 
this section for service performed, or education, training, or experi-
ence obtained, before graduation from such Service Academy. 
‘‘(e) RESERVE OFFICERS.—A reserve officer (other than a war-
rant officer) who receives an original appointment as an officer 
in the Space Force shall— 
‘‘(1) in the case of an officer on the active-duty list of 
an armed force immediately before that appointment, be 
appointed in the same grade and with the same date of rank 
as the grade and date of rank held by the officer on the 
active-duty list immediately before the appointment; and 
‘‘(2) in the case of an officer not on the active-duty list 
immediately before that appointment, be appointed in the same 
grade and with the same date of rank as the grade and date 
of rank which the officer would have held had the officer 
been serving on the active-duty list on the date of the appoint-
ment. 
‘‘(f) CONTINUITY
OF EXISTING DELEGATION
OF PRESIDENTIAL 
APPOINTMENT FUNCTIONS.—Except as otherwise provided by the 
President by Executive order, the provisions of Executive Order 
13384 (10 U.S.C. 531 note) relating to the functions of the President 
under section 531(a) of this title shall apply in the same manner 
to functions of the President under section 20201 of this title.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS RELATING TO ORIGINAL APPOINT-
MENTS.— 
(1) DEFINITIONS.—Section 101 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended in subsection (b)(10) by inserting before the 
period at the end the following: ‘‘and, with respect to the 
appointment of a member of the armed forces in the Space 
Force, refers to that member’s most recent appointment in 
the Space Force that is neither a promotion nor a demotion’’. 
(2) ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.— 
Section 531 of such title is amended by striking ‘‘Regular’’ 
before ‘‘Space Force’’ each place it appears. 
(3) QUALIFICATIONS
FOR
ORIGINAL
APPOINTMENT
AS
A 
COMMISSIONED
OFFICER.—Section 532(a) of such title is 
amended by striking ‘‘Regular Marine Corps, or Regular Space 
Force’’ and inserting ‘‘or Regular Marine Corps’’. 
(4) SERVICE
CREDIT
UPON
ORIGINAL
APPOINTMENT
AS
A 
COMMISSIONED OFFICER.—Section 533 of such title is amended 
by striking ‘‘Regular’’ before ‘‘Space Force’’ each place it appears.
H. R. 2670—499 
(c) SELECTION BOARDS AND PROMOTIONS.—Chapter 205 of title 
10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subchapters: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—SELECTION BOARDS 
‘‘§ 20211. Convening of selection boards 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Whenever the needs of the service require, 
the Secretary of the Air Force shall convene selection boards to 
recommend for promotion to the next higher permanent grade offi-
cers of the Space Force in each permanent grade from first lieuten-
ant through brigadier general. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTION FOR OFFICERS IN GRADE OF FIRST LIEUTEN-
ANT.—Subsection (a) does not require the convening of a selection 
board in the case of Space Force officers in the permanent grade 
of first lieutenant when the Secretary of the Air Force recommends 
for promotion to the grade of captain under section 20238(a)(4)(A) 
of this title all such officers whom the Secretary finds to be fully 
qualified for promotion. 
‘‘(c) SELECTION
BOARDS
FOR
EARLY
RETIREMENT
OR
DIS-
CHARGE.—The Secretary of the Air Force may convene selection 
boards to recommend officers for early retirement under section 
20404(a) of this title or for discharge under section 20404(b) of 
this title. 
‘‘(d) REGULATIONS.—The convening of selection boards under 
subsection (a) shall be under regulations prescribed by the Secretary 
of the Defense. 
‘‘§ 20212. Composition of selection boards 
‘‘(a) APPOINTMENT AND COMPOSITION OF BOARDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Members of a selection board shall be 
appointed by the Secretary of Air Force in accordance with 
this section. A selection board shall consist of five or more 
officers of the Space Force. Each member of a selection board 
must be serving in a grade higher than the grade of the officers 
under consideration by the board, except that no member of 
a board may be serving in a grade below major. The members 
of a selection board shall include at least one member serving 
on sustained duty and at least one member in a space force 
active status who is not serving on sustained duty. The ratio 
of the members of a selection board serving on sustained duty 
to members serving in a space force active status not on sus-
tained duty shall, to the extent practicable, reflect the ratio 
of officers serving in each of those statuses who are being 
considered for promotion by the board. The members of a selec-
tion board shall represent the diverse population of the Space 
Force to the extent practicable. 
‘‘(2) REPRESENTATION FROM COMPETITIVE CATEGORIES.—(A) 
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a selection board shall 
include at least one officer from each competitive category 
of officers to be considered by the board. 
‘‘(B) A selection board need not include an officer from 
a competitive category when there are no officers of that 
competitive category on the Space Force officer list in a grade 
higher than the grade of the officers to be considered by the 
board and eligible to serve on the board.
H. R. 2670—500 
‘‘(3) RETIRED OFFICERS.—If qualified officers on the Space 
Force officer list are not available in sufficient number to com-
prise a selection board, the Secretary of the Air Force shall 
complete the membership of the board by appointing as mem-
bers of the board— 
‘‘(A) Space Force officers who hold a grade higher than 
the grade of the officers under consideration by the board 
and who are retired officers; and 
‘‘(B) if sufficient Space Force officers are not available 
pursuant to subparagraph (A), Air Force officers who hold 
a grade higher than the grade of the officers under consider-
ation by the board and who are retired officers, but only 
if the Air Force officer to be appointed to the board has 
served in the Space Force or in a space-related career 
field of the Air Force for sufficient time such that the 
Secretary of the Air Force determines that the retired 
Air Force officer has adequate knowledge concerning the 
standards of performance and conduct required of an officer 
of the Space Force. 
‘‘(4) EXCLUSION OF RETIRED GENERAL OFFICERS ON ACTIVE 
DUTY TO SERVE ON A BOARD FROM NUMERIC GENERAL OFFICER 
ACTIVE-DUTY LIMITATIONS.—A retired general officer who is on 
active duty for the purpose of serving on a selection board 
shall not, while so serving, be counted against any limitation 
on the number of general and flag officers who may be on 
active duty. 
‘‘(b) LIMITATION ON MEMBERSHIP ON CONSECUTIVE BOARDS.— 
‘‘(1) GENERAL RULE.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
no officer may be a member of two successive selection boards 
convened under section 20211 of this title for the consideration 
of officers of the same competitive category and grade. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION FOR GENERAL OFFICER BOARDS.—Paragraph 
(1) does not apply with respect to selection boards convened 
under section 20211 of this title for the consideration of officers 
in the grade of colonel or brigadier general. 
‘‘(c) JOINT QUALIFIED OFFICERS.—(1) Each selection board con-
vened under section 20211 of this title that will consider an officer 
described in paragraph (2) shall include at least one officer des-
ignated by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who is a 
joint qualified officer. 
‘‘(2) Paragraph (1) applies with respect to an officer who— 
‘‘(A) is serving on, or has served on, the Joint Staff; or 
‘‘(B) is a joint qualified officer. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary of Defense may waive the requirement in 
paragraph (1) for any selection board of the Space Force. 
‘‘§ 20213. Notice of convening of selection boards 
‘‘(a) NOTICE TO ELIGIBLE OFFICERS.—At least 30 days before 
a selection board is convened under section 20211 of this title 
to recommend officers in a grade for promotion to the next higher 
grade, the Secretary of the Air Force shall— 
‘‘(1) notify in writing the officers eligible for consideration 
for promotion of the date on which the board is to convene 
and the name and date of rank of the junior officer, and 
of the senior officer, in the promotion zone as of the date 
of the notification; or
H. R. 2670—501 
‘‘(2) issue a general written notice to the Space Force 
regarding the convening of the board which shall include the 
convening date of the board and the name and date of rank 
of the junior officer, and of the senior officer, in the promotion 
zone as of the date of the notification. 
‘‘(b) COMMUNICATION FROM OFFICERS.—An officer eligible for 
consideration by a selection board convened under section 20211 
of this title (other than an officer who has been excluded under 
section 20231(d) of this title from consideration by the board) may 
send a written communication to the board, to arrive not later 
than 10 calendar days before the date on which the board convenes, 
calling attention to any matter concerning the officer that the 
officer considers important to the officer’s case. The selection board 
shall give consideration to any timely communication under this 
subsection. 
‘‘(c) NOTICE OF INTENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS TO SERVE ON 
OR OFF ACTIVE DUTY.—An officer on the Space Force officer list 
in the grade of colonel or brigadier general who receives a notice 
under subsection (a) shall inform the Secretary of the officer’s 
preference to serve either on or off sustained duty if promoted 
to the grade of brigadier general or major general, respectively. 
‘‘§ 20214. Information furnished to selection boards 
‘‘The provisions of section 615 of this title shall apply to 
information furnished to selection boards. 
‘‘§ 20215. Recommendations for promotion by selection 
boards 
‘‘(a) BOARD
TO RECOMMEND OFFICERS BEST QUALIFIED
FOR 
PROMOTION.—A selection board convened under section 20211 of 
this title shall recommend for promotion to the next higher grade 
those officers considered by the board whom the board, giving 
due consideration to the needs of the Space Force for officers with 
particular skills (as noted in the guidelines or information furnished 
the board under section 615(b) of this title), considers best qualified 
for promotion within each competitive category considered by the 
board. 
‘‘(b) NUMBER TO BE RECOMMENDED.—The Secretary of the Air 
Force shall establish the number of officers such a selection board 
may recommend for promotion from among officers being consid-
ered. 
‘‘(c) BOARD
PROCEDURES
FOR
RECOMMENDATIONS; LIMITA-
TIONS.—A selection board convened under section 20211 of this 
title may not recommend an officer for promotion unless— 
‘‘(1) the officer receives the recommendation of a majority 
of the members of the board; 
‘‘(2) a majority of the members of the board finds that 
the officer is fully qualified for promotion; and 
‘‘(3) a majority of the members of the board, after consider-
ation by all members of the board of any adverse information 
about the officer that is provided to the board under section 
615 of this title, finds that the officer is among the officers 
best qualified for promotion to meet the needs of the Space 
Force consistent with the requirement of exemplary conduct 
set forth in section 9233 of this title. 
‘‘(d) LIMITATION ON PROMOTIONS UNDER OTHER AUTHORITY.— 
Except as otherwise provided by law, a Space Force officer may
H. R. 2670—502 
not be promoted to a higher grade under this chapter unless the 
officer is considered and recommended for promotion to that grade 
by a selection board convened under this chapter or, in the case 
of an officer transferring into the Space Force from another armed 
force, chapter 36 or chapter 1403 of this title. 
‘‘(e) DISCLOSURE
OF
BOARD
RECOMMENDATIONS.—The rec-
ommendations of a selection board may be disclosed only in accord-
ance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. Those 
recommendations may not be disclosed to a person not a member 
of the board (or a member of the administrative staff designated 
by the Secretary of the Air Force to assist the board) until the 
written report of the recommendations of the board, required by 
section 617 of this title, is signed by each member of the board. 
‘‘(f) PROHIBITION ON ATTEMPTING TO INFLUENCE MEMBERS OF 
A BOARD.—The Secretary of the Air Force, and an officer or other 
official exercising authority over any member of a selection board, 
may not— 
‘‘(1) censure, reprimand, or admonish the selection board 
or any member of the board with respect to the recommenda-
tions of the board or the exercise of any lawful function within 
the authorized discretion of the board; or 
‘‘(2) attempt to coerce or, by any unauthorized means, 
influence any action of a selection board or any member of 
a selection board in the formulation of the board’s recommenda-
tions. 
‘‘(g) HIGHER PLACEMENT ON PROMOTION LIST OF OFFICER OF 
PARTICULAR MERIT.—(1) In selecting the officers to be recommended 
for promotion, a selection board shall, when authorized by the 
Secretary of the Air Force, recommend officers of particular merit, 
pursuant to guidelines and procedures prescribed by the Secretary, 
from among those officers selected for promotion, to be placed 
higher on the promotion list established by the Secretary under 
section 624(a)(1) of this title. 
‘‘(2) An officer may be recommended to be placed higher on 
a promotion list under paragraph (1) only if the officer receives 
the recommendation of at least a majority of the members of the 
board, unless the Secretary of the Air Force establishes an alter-
native requirement. Any such alternative requirement shall be fur-
nished to the board as part of the guidelines furnished to the 
board under section 615 of this title. 
‘‘(3) For the officers recommended to be placed higher on a 
promotion list under paragraph (1), the board shall recommend, 
pursuant to guidelines and procedures prescribed by the Secretary, 
the order in which those officers should be placed on the list. 
‘‘§ 20216. Reports of selection boards 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Each selection board convened under section 
20211 of this title shall submit to the Secretary of the Air Force 
a written report, signed by each member of the board, containing 
a list of the names of the officers it recommends for promotion 
and certifying— 
‘‘(1) that the board has carefully considered the record 
of each officer whose name was furnished to it under section 
615 of this title; and 
‘‘(2) that, in the opinion of a majority of the members 
of the board, the officers recommended for promotion by the 
board are best qualified for promotion to meet the needs of
H. R. 2670—503 
the Space Force (as noted in the guidelines or information 
furnished the board under section 615(b) of this title) among 
those officers whose names were furnished to the selection 
board. 
‘‘(b) OFFICERS WHO SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO SHOW CAUSE 
FOR RETENTION.—A selection board convened under section 20211 
of this title shall include in its report the name of any officer 
before it for consideration for promotion whose record, in the opinion 
of a majority of the members of the board, indicates that the 
officer should be required under section 20503 of this title to show 
cause for the officer’s retention in a space force active status. 
‘‘(c) OFFICERS RECOMMENDED TO BE PLACED HIGHER ON THE 
PROMOTION LIST.—A selection board convened under section 20211 
of this title shall, when authorized under section 20214(g) of this 
title, include in its report the names of those officers recommended 
by the board to be placed higher on the promotion list and the 
order in which the board recommends that those officers should 
be placed on the list. 
‘‘(d) RECOMMENDATION FOR OFFICERS TO BE EXCLUDED FROM 
FUTURE CONSIDERATION FOR PROMOTION.—A selection board con-
vened under section 20211 of this title may include in its report 
a recommendation that an officer considered by the board be 
excluded from future consideration for promotion under this 
chapter. 
‘‘§ 20217. Action on reports of selection boards for promotion 
to brigadier general or major general 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—After reviewing a report received under sec-
tion 20215 of this title recommending officers on the Space Force 
officer list for promotion to the grade of brigadier general or major 
general, but before submitting the report to the Secretary of 
Defense, the Secretary of the Air Force may, under regulations 
prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force, adjust the placement 
of officers as recommended in the report in order to ensure that 
sufficient number of officers on both sustained and non-sustained 
duty are promoted to meet the requirements of the Space Force 
to fill general officer vacancies. 
‘‘(b) REPORT.—Whenever the Secretary of the Air Force uses 
the authority under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to 
the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of 
Representatives a report informing the committees that the 
authority has been used and the reason for the use of the authority. 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—PROMOTIONS 
‘‘§ 20231. Eligibility for consideration for promotion: general 
rules 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENT TO BE ON SPACE FORCE OFFICER LIST.— 
An officer is eligible under this chapter for consideration for 
promotion by a selection board convened under section 14101(a) 
of this title only if the officer is on the Space Force officer 
list. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORITY TO PRECLUDE FROM CONSIDERATION CERTAIN 
OFFICERS BASED ON TIME OF ENTRY ON OR DEPARTURE FROM 
SUSTAINED DUTY.—The Secretary of the Air Force—
H. R. 2670—504 
‘‘(A) may, by regulation, prescribe a period of time, 
not to exceed one year, from the time an officer on the 
Space Force officer list transfers on or off of sustained 
duty during which the officer shall be ineligible for consid-
eration for promotion; and 
‘‘(B) may, by regulation, provide for the exclusion from 
consideration for promotion by a selection board of an 
officer otherwise eligible to be considered by the board 
who has an established date for removal from the Space 
Force officer list that is not more than 90 days after the 
date on which the board is to be convened. 
‘‘(b) CERTAIN OFFICERS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED.—A selection 
board convened under section 20211 of this title may not consider 
for promotion to the next higher grade any of the following officers: 
‘‘(1) An officer whose name is on a promotion list for that 
grade as a result of recommendation for promotion to that 
grade by an earlier selection board convened under that section 
or section 20151 of this title, under section 14101 or 14502 
of this title, or under chapter 36 of this title. 
‘‘(2) An officer who is recommended for promotion to that 
grade in the report of an earlier selection board convened 
under a provision referred to in paragraph (1), in the case 
of such a report that has not yet been approved by the Presi-
dent. 
‘‘(3) An officer who has been nominated by the President 
for promotion to that grade under any other provision of law, 
if that nomination is pending before the Senate. 
‘‘(4) An officer in the grade of first lieutenant who is on 
an approved all-fully-qualified-officers list under section 
20238(a)(4) of this title. 
‘‘(5) An officer excluded under 20232 of this title. 
‘‘(6) An officer who has failed of promotion to a higher 
grade the maximum number of times specified for opportunities 
for promotion for such grade within the competitive category 
concerned pursuant to section 20234 of this title. 
‘‘(c) CERTAIN COLONELS.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORITY TO PRECLUDE FROM CONSIDERATION.—The 
Secretary of Defense may authorize the Secretary of the Air 
Force to preclude from consideration by selection boards for 
promotion to the grade of brigadier general, officers in the 
grade of colonel who— 
‘‘(A) have been considered and not selected for pro-
motion to the grade of brigadier general or by at least 
two selection boards; and 
‘‘(B) are determined, in accordance with standards and 
procedures prescribed pursuant to paragraph (2), as not 
being exceptionally well qualified for promotion. 
‘‘(2) REGULATIONS.—If the Secretary of Defense authorizes 
the Secretary of the Air Force to have the authority described 
in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall prescribe by regulation 
the standards and procedures for the exercise of such authority. 
Those regulations shall apply uniformly among the military 
departments and shall include the following provisions: 
‘‘(A) A requirement that the Secretary of the Air Force 
may exercise such authority in the case of a particular 
selection board only if the Secretary of Defense approves 
the exercise of that authority for that board.
H. R. 2670—505 
‘‘(B) A requirement that an officer may be precluded 
from consideration by a selection board under this para-
graph only upon the recommendation of a preselection 
board of officers convened by the Secretary of the military 
department concerned and composed of at least three offi-
cers all of whom are serving in a grade higher than the 
grade of such officer. 
‘‘(C) A requirement that such a preselection board may 
not recommend that an officer be precluded from such 
consideration unless the Secretary of the Air Force has 
given the officer advance written notice of the convening 
of such board and of the military records that will be 
considered by the board and has given the officer a reason-
able period before the convening of the board in which 
to submit comments to the board. 
‘‘(D) A requirement that the Secretary of the Air Force 
shall provide general guidance to the board in accordance 
with standards and procedures prescribed by the Secretary 
of Defense in those regulations. 
‘‘(E) A requirement that the preselection board may 
recommend that an officer be precluded from consideration 
by a selection board only on the basis of the general guid-
ance provided by the Secretary Air Force, information in 
the officer’s official military personnel records that has 
been described in the notice provided the officer as required 
pursuant to subparagraph (C), and any communication to 
the board received from that officer before the board con-
venes. 
‘‘(d) BRIGADIER GENERALS.— 
‘‘(1) OFFICERS NOT ON SPACE FORCE OFFICER LIST.—A briga-
dier general who is not eligible for consideration for promotion 
because the officer is not on the Space Force officer list (as 
required by paragraph (1) of subsection (a) for such eligibility) 
is nevertheless eligible for consideration for promotion to the 
grade of major general by a selection board convened under 
section 20211(a) of this title if— 
‘‘(A) as of the date of the convening of the promotion 
board, the officer has been in an inactive status for less 
than the minimum threshold established in paragraph (2) 
of subsection (a); and 
‘‘(B) immediately before the date of the officer’s most 
recent transfer to an inactive status, the officer had 
continuously served on the Space Force officer list for at 
least one year. 
‘‘(2) OFFICERS
NOT
MEETING
MINIMUM
PARTICIPATION 
THRESHOLD.—A brigadier general who is on the Space Force 
officer list but who is not eligible for consideration for promotion 
because the officer’s service does not meet the minimum partici-
pation threshold established under subsection (a)(2) is neverthe-
less eligible for consideration for promotion to the grade of 
major general by a promotion board convened under section 
20211(a) of this title if— 
‘‘(A) the officer was transferred from an inactive status 
to the reserve active-status list during the one-year period 
preceding the date of the convening of the promotion board;
H. R. 2670—506 
‘‘(B) immediately before the date of the officer’s most 
recent transfer to an active status, the officer had been 
in an inactive status for less than one year; and 
‘‘(C) immediately before the date of the officer’s most 
recent transfer to an inactive status, the officer had 
continuously served for at least one year on the reserve 
active-status list or the active-duty list (or a combination 
of the reserve active-status list and the active-duty list). 
‘‘(e) OFFICERS ON EDUCATIONAL DELAY.—An officer on the Space 
Force officer list is ineligible for consideration for promotion, but 
shall remain on the Space Force officer list, while the officer— 
‘‘(1) is pursuing a program of graduate level education 
in an educational delay status approved by the Secretary con-
cerned; and 
‘‘(2) is receiving from the Secretary financial assistance 
in connection with the pursuit of that program of education 
while in that status. 
‘‘(f) CERTAIN OFFICERS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED FOR SELECTION 
FOR PROMOTION.—The Secretary of the Air Force may provide that 
an officer who is in a space force active status, but is in a duty 
status in which the only points the officer accrues under section 
12732(a)(2) of this title are pursuant to subparagraph (C)(i) of 
that section, shall not be considered for selection for promotion 
until completion of two years of service in such duty status. Any 
such officer may remain on the Space Force officer list. 
‘‘§ 20232. Authority to allow officers to opt out of selection 
board consideration 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of the Air Force may provide 
that an officer on the Space Force officer list may, upon the officer’s 
request and with the approval of the Secretary, be excluded from 
consideration by a selection board convened under section 20211 
of this title to consider officers for promotion to the next higher 
grade. 
‘‘(b) CRITERIA.—The Secretary may only approve a request 
under subsection (a) as follows: 
‘‘(1) COMPLETION OF CERTAIN ASSIGNMENTS.—If— 
‘‘(A) the basis for the request is to allow an officer 
to complete a broadening assignment, an advanced edu-
cation assignment, another assignment of significant value 
to the Department, or a career progression requirement 
delayed by such an assignment; 
‘‘(B) the Secretary determines the exclusion from 
consideration is in the best interest of the Space Force; 
and 
‘‘(C) the officer has not previously failed of selection 
for promotion to the grade for which the officer requests 
the exclusion from consideration. 
‘‘(2) COMPLETION OF CERTAIN EDUCATION.—If— 
‘‘(A) the basis for the request is to allow an officer 
to complete advanced education or professional military 
education; 
‘‘(B) the Secretary determines that it is in the best 
interests of the Space Force for the officer to continue 
to serve in current position and grade; and 
‘‘(C) the officer has not previously opted out of a pro-
motion board under this section.
H. R. 2670—507 
‘‘(3) SERVICE IN CRITICAL SKILL POSITION.—If— 
‘‘(A) the officer is serving in a critical skill position 
that cannot be filled by another Space Force officer serving 
in the same grade; 
‘‘(B) the Secretary determines that it is in the best 
interests of the Space Force for the officer to continue 
to serve in their current position and grade; and 
‘‘(C) the officer has not previously opted out of a pro-
motion board under this section. 
‘‘§ 20233. Eligibility for consideration for promotion: designa-
tion as joint qualified officer required before pro-
motion to brigadier general; exceptions 
‘‘(a) GENERAL RULE.—An officer on the Space Force officer 
list may not be appointed to the grade of brigadier general unless 
the officer has been designated as a joint qualified officer in accord-
ance with section 661 of this title. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTIONS.—Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary of 
Defense may waive subsection (a) in the following circumstances: 
‘‘(1) When necessary for the good of the service. 
‘‘(2) In the case of an officer whose proposed selection 
for promotion is based primarily upon scientific and technical 
qualifications for which joint requirements do not exist. 
‘‘(3) In the case of an officer selected by a promotion board 
for appointment to the grade of brigadier general while serving 
in a joint duty assignment if— 
‘‘(A) the officer’s total consecutive service in joint duty 
assignments is not less than two years; and 
‘‘(B) the officer has successfully completed a program 
of education described in subsections (b) and (c) of section 
2155 of this title. 
‘‘(4) In the case of an officer who— 
‘‘(A) is selected by a promotion board for appointment 
to the grade of brigadier general; 
‘‘(B) is not exempted under subsection (g); and 
‘‘(C) has successfully completed the education require-
ments prescribed in subparagraph (A) of section 661(c)(1) 
of this title but has not been afforded the opportunity 
to complete the experience requirements described in 
subparagraph (B) of that section. 
‘‘(c) WAIVER
TO BE INDIVIDUAL.—A waiver may be granted 
under subsection (b) only on a case-by-case basis in the case of 
an individual officer. 
‘‘(d) SPECIAL RULE FOR GOOD-OF-THE-SERVICE WAIVER.—In the 
case of a waiver under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary of Defense 
shall provide that the first duty assignment as a general officer 
of the officer for whom the waiver is granted shall be in a joint 
duty assignment. 
‘‘(e) LIMITATION ON DELEGATION OF WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The 
authority of the Secretary of Defense to grant a waiver under 
subsection (b)(4) may only be delegated as provided in section 
619a(e) of this title. 
‘‘(f) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe 
regulations to carry out this section. The regulations shall specifi-
cally identify for purposes of subsection (b)(2) those categories of 
officers for which selection for promotion to brigadier general is
H. R. 2670—508 
based primarily upon scientific and technical qualifications for 
which joint requirements do not exist. 
‘‘(g) EXEMPTION.—Subsection (a) shall not apply to an officer 
who transfers to the Space Force from a reserve component before 
the first day of the sixth fiscal year beginning after the date 
of the enactment of this section, and who, as of the date of the 
transfer, is serving in the grade of major, lieutenant colonel, or 
colonel or, in the case of the Navy or Coast Guard, lieutenant 
commander, commander, or captain. 
‘‘§ 20234. Opportunities for consideration for promotion 
‘‘(a) SPECIFICATION OF NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONSID-
ERATION FOR PROMOTION.—The Secretary of the Air Force shall 
specify the number of opportunities for consideration for promotion 
to be afforded to Space Force officers for promotion to each grade 
above the grade of captain . 
‘‘(b) LIMITED AUTHORITY
OF SECRETARY
OF
THE AIR FORCE 
TO MODIFY NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES.—The Secretary of the Air 
Force may modify the number of opportunities for consideration 
for promotion to be afforded officers within a competitive category 
for promotion to a particular grade, as previously specified by 
the Secretary pursuant subsection (a), not more frequently than 
once every five years. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF DEFENSE TO MODIFY NUMBER 
OF OPPORTUNITIES.—The Secretary of Defense may modify the 
number of opportunities for consideration for promotion to be 
afforded officers of the Space Force within a competitive category 
for promotion to a particular grade, as previously specified or modi-
fied pursuant to any provision of this section, at the discretion 
of the Secretary. 
‘‘(d) LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES SPECIFIED.— 
The number of opportunities for consideration for promotion to 
be afforded officers of the Space Force within a competitive category 
for promotion to a particular grade, as specified or modified pursu-
ant to any provision of this section, may not exceed five opportuni-
ties. 
‘‘(e) EFFECT OF CERTAIN REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF OPPORTUNI-
TIES SPECIFIED.—If, by reason of a reduction in the number of 
opportunities for consideration for promotion under this section, 
an officer would no longer have one or more opportunities for 
consideration for promotion that were available to the officer before 
the reduction, the officer shall be afforded one additional oppor-
tunity for consideration for promotion after the reduction. 
‘‘§ 20235. Space Force officer list 
‘‘(a) SINGLE LIST.—The Secretary of the Air Force shall main-
tain a single list of all Space Force officers serving in a space 
force active status. The list shall be known as the ‘Space Force 
officer list’. 
‘‘(b) ORDER OF OFFICERS ON LIST.—Officers shall be carried 
on the Space Force officer list in the order of seniority of the 
grade in which they are serving. Officers serving in the same 
grade shall be carried in the order of their rank in that grade. 
‘‘(c) EFFECT OF SERVICE IN A TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT.—An 
officer whose position on the Space Force officer list results from 
service under a temporary appointment or in a grade held by 
reason of assignment to a position has, when that appointment
H. R. 2670—509 
or assignment ends, the grade and position on the Space Force 
officer list that the officer would have held if the officer had not 
received that appointment or assignment. 
‘‘§ 20236. Competitive categories 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT TO ESTABLISH COMPETITIVE CATEGORIES FOR 
PROMOTION.—Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of 
Defense, the Secretary of the Air Force shall establish at least 
one competitive category for promotion for officers on the Space 
Force officer list. Each officer whose name appears on the Space 
Force officer list shall be carried in a competitive category of officers. 
Officers in the same competitive category shall compete among 
themselves for promotion. 
‘‘(b) SINGLE COMPETITIVE CATEGORY FOR PROMOTION TO GEN-
ERAL OFFICER GRADES.—The Secretary of the Air Force shall estab-
lish a single competitive category for all officers on the Space 
Force officer list who will be considered by a selection board con-
vened under section 20211 of this title for promotion to the grade 
of brigadier general or major general. 
‘‘§ 20237. Numbers to be recommended for promotion 
‘‘(a) PROMOTION TO GRADES BELOW BRIGADIER GENERAL.— 
‘‘(1) DETERMINATION
OF
MAXIMUM
NUMBER.—Before con-
vening a selection board under section 20211 of this title to 
consider officers for recommendation for promotion to a grade 
below brigadier general and in any competitive category, the 
Secretary of the Air Force shall determine the maximum 
number of officers in that competitive category that the board 
may recommend for promotion. 
‘‘(2) DETERMINATIONS.—In order to make the determination 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall determine— 
‘‘(A) the number of positions needed to accomplish mis-
sion objectives which require officers of that competitive 
category in the grade to which the board will recommend 
officers for promotion; 
‘‘(B) the estimated number of officers needed to fill 
vacancies in those positions during the period in which 
it is anticipated that officers selected for promotion will 
be promoted; and 
‘‘(C) the number of officers in a space force active 
status authorized by the Secretary of the Air Force to 
serve both on sustained duty and not on sustained duty 
in the grade and competitive category under consideration. 
‘‘(b) PROMOTION
TO BRIGADIER GENERAL
AND MAJOR GEN-
ERAL.— 
‘‘(1) DETERMINATION OF MAXIMUM NUMBERS.—Before con-
vening a selection board under section 20211 of this title to 
consider officers for recommendation for promotion to the grade 
of brigadier general or major general, the Secretary of the 
Air Force shall determine the maximum number of officers 
serving in a space force active status on sustained duty, and 
the maximum number of officers serving in a space force active 
status not on sustained duty, that the board may recommend 
for promotion. 
‘‘(2) DETERMINATIONS.—In order to make the determina-
tions under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall determine—
H. R. 2670—510 
‘‘(A) the number of positions needed to accomplish mis-
sion objectives which require officers serving in a space 
force active status on sustained duty, and in a space force 
active status not on sustained duty, in the grade to which 
the board will recommend officers for promotion; and 
‘‘(B) the estimated number of officers on sustained 
duty and not on sustained duty needed to fill vacancies 
in those positions over the 24-month period beginning on 
the date on which the selection board convenes. 
‘‘§ 20238. Establishment of promotion zones 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Before convening a selection board under 
section 20211 of this title to consider officers for promotion to 
any grade above first lieutenant or lieutenant (junior grade), the 
Secretary of the Air Force shall establish a promotion zone for 
officers serving in each grade and competitive category to be consid-
ered by the board. 
‘‘(b) DETERMINATION OF NUMBER.—The Secretary of the Air 
Force shall determine the number of officers in the promotion 
zone for officers serving in any grade and competitive category 
from among officers who are eligible for promotion in that grade 
and competitive category. Such determination shall be made on 
the basis of an estimate of— 
‘‘(1) the number of officers needed in that competitive cat-
egory in the next higher grade in each of the next five years; 
‘‘(2) the number of officers to be serving in that competitive 
category in the next higher grade in each of the next five 
years; 
‘‘(3) in the case of a promotion zone for officers to be 
promoted to a grade to which section 523 of this title is 
applicable, the number of officers authorized for such grade 
under such section to be on sustained duty on the last day 
of each of the next five fiscal years; and 
‘‘(4) the number of officers that should be placed in that 
promotion zone in each of the next five years to provide to 
officers in those years relatively similar opportunity for pro-
motion. 
‘‘§ 20239. Promotions: how made 
‘‘(a) PROMOTION LISTS.— 
‘‘(1) PLACEMENT OF NAMES ON PROMOTION LIST.—When the 
report of a selection board convened under section 20211 of 
this title is approved by the President, the Secretary of the 
Air Force shall place the names of all officers approved for 
promotion within a competitive category on a single list for 
that competitive category, to be known as a promotion list, 
in the order of the seniority of such officers on the Space 
Force officer list or based on particular merit, as determined 
by the promotion board, or as modified by the Secretary of 
the Air Force under section 20217 of this title. 
‘‘(2) TIME OF ESTABLISHMENT OF PROMOTION LIST.—A pro-
motion list is considered to be established under this section 
as of the date of the approval of the report of the selection 
board under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(b) PROMOTIONS; HOW MADE; ORDER.—
H. R. 2670—512 
subparagraph (C)(ii) of such section shall be applied by sub-
stituting ‘Space Force officer list’ for ‘active-duty list’. 
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL PAY AND ALLOWANCES PRECLUDED.—Except 
as provided in paragraph (2) or as otherwise specifically author-
ized by law, an officer is not entitled to additional pay or 
allowances if the effective date of the officer’s promotion is 
adjusted to reflect a date earlier than the actual date of the 
officer’s promotion. 
‘‘(e) DELAY OF PROMOTIONS TO GENERAL OFFICER GRADES TO 
COMPLY WITH STRENGTH LIMITATIONS.—Under regulations pre-
scribed by the Secretary of Defense, the promotion of an officer 
on the Space Force officer list to the grade of brigadier general 
or major general shall be delayed if that promotion would cause 
any strength limitation of section 526 of this title to be exceeded. 
The delay shall expire when the Secretary of the Air Force deter-
mines that the delay is no longer required to ensure compliance 
with the strength limitation. 
‘‘(f) AUTHORITY TO DELAY APPOINTMENTS FOR SPECIFIED REA-
SONS.—The provisions of section 14311 of this title shall apply 
to the appointment of an officer under this section in the same 
manner as they apply to an appointment of an officer under that 
section, and any reference in that section to an reserve active- 
status list shall be treated for purposes of applicability to an officer 
of the Space Force as referring to the Space Force officer list. 
‘‘§ 20240. Acceptance of promotions; oath of office 
‘‘(a) ACCEPTANCE.—An officer who is appointed to a higher 
grade under section 20239 of this title is considered to have accepted 
the appointment on the date on which the appointment is made 
unless the officer expressly declines the appointment. 
‘‘(b) OATH.—An officer who has served continuously since taking 
the oath of office prescribed in section 3331 of title 5 is not required 
to take a new oath upon appointment to a higher grade under 
section 20239 of this title. 
‘‘§ 20241. Removal of officers from a list of officers rec-
ommended for promotion 
‘‘(a) REMOVAL BY PRESIDENT.—The President may remove the 
name of any officer from a promotion list at any time before the 
date on which the officer is promoted. 
‘‘(b) REMOVAL FOR WITHHOLDING OF SENATE ADVICE AND CON-
SENT.—If the Senate does not give its advice and consent to the 
appointment to the next higher grade of an officer whose name 
is on a list of officers approved by the President for promotion 
(except in the case of promotions to a grade to which appointments 
may be made by the President alone), the name of that officer 
shall be removed from the list. 
‘‘(c) REMOVAL AFTER 18 MONTHS.—(1) If an officer whose name 
is on a list of officers approved for promotion under section 20238(a) 
of this title to a grade for which appointment is required by section 
20201(a) of this title to be made by and with the advice and 
consent of the Senate is not appointed to that grade under such 
section during the officer’s promotion eligibility period, the officer’s 
name shall be removed from the list unless as of the end of such 
period the Senate has given its advice and consent to the appoint-
ment.
H. R. 2670—513 
‘‘(2) Before the end of the promotion eligibility period with 
respect to an officer under paragraph (1), the President may extend 
that period for purposes of paragraph (1) by an additional 12 
months. 
‘‘(3) In this subsection, the term ‘promotion eligibility period’ 
means, with respect to an officer whose name is on a list of officers 
approved for promotion under section 20238(a) of this title to a 
grade for which appointment is required by section 20201(a) of 
this title to be made by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate, the period beginning on the date on which the list is 
so approved and ending on the first day of the eighteenth month 
following the month during which the list is so approved. 
‘‘(d) ADMINISTRATIVE REMOVAL.—Under regulations prescribed 
by the Secretary of the Air Force, if an officer on the Space Force 
officer list is discharged or dropped from the rolls or transferred 
to a retired status after having been recommended for promotion 
to a higher grade under this chapter, but before being promoted, 
the officer’s name shall be administratively removed from the list 
of officers recommended for promotion by a selection board. 
‘‘(e) CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY FOR PROMOTION.—(1) An officer 
whose name is removed from a list under subsection (a), (b), or 
(c) continues to be eligible for consideration for promotion. If that 
officer is recommended for promotion by the next selection board 
convened for that officer’s grade and competitive category and the 
officer is promoted, the Secretary of the Air Force may, upon the 
promotion, grant the officer the same date of rank, the same effec-
tive date for the pay and allowances of the grade to which promoted, 
and the same position on the Space Force officer list, as the officer 
would have had if the officer’s name had not been removed from 
the list. 
‘‘(2) If such an officer who is in a grade below the grade 
of colonel is not recommended for promotion by the next selection 
board convened for the officer’s grade and competitive category, 
or if the officer’s name is again removed from the list of officers 
recommended for promotion, or if the Senate again does not give 
its advice and consent to his promotion, the officer shall be consid-
ered for all purposes to have failed of selection for promotion to 
the next higher grade. 
‘‘(f) APPLICABILITY OF PREVIOUS EXECUTIVE ORDER.—Except as 
otherwise provided by the President by Executive order, any Execu-
tive order issued before the date of the enactment of this section 
relating to functions of the President under section 14310 of this 
title shall apply in the same manner to functions of the President 
under this section. 
‘‘§ 20242. Authority to vacate promotions to grade of briga-
dier general 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—The President may vacate the appointment 
of a Space Force officer to the grade of brigadier general if the 
period of time during which the officer has served in that grade 
after promotion to that grade is less than 18 months. 
‘‘(b) EFFECT OF PROMOTION BEING VACATED.—An officer whose 
promotion to the grade of brigadier general is vacated under this 
section holds the grade of colonel. Upon assuming the grade of 
colonel under this section, the officer shall have the same position 
on the Space Force officer list as the officer would have had if 
the officer had not served in the higher grade.
H. R. 2670—514 
‘‘§ 20243. General officers ceasing to occupy positions 
commensurate with grade 
‘‘(a) GENERAL OFFICERS.—Within 60 days after an officer of 
the Space Force on the Space Force officer list in a general officer 
grade ceases to occupy a position commensurate with that grade 
(or commensurate with a higher grade), the Secretary of the Air 
Force shall transfer or discharge the officer in accordance with 
whichever of the following the officer elects: 
‘‘(1) Transfer the officer in grade to the Space Force retired 
list, if the officer is qualified and applies for the transfer. 
‘‘(2) Transfer the officer in grade to a Space Force inactive 
status, if the officer is qualified. 
‘‘(3) Discharge the officer from the officer’s appointment 
and, if the officer is qualified and applies therefor, appoint 
the officer in the grade held by the officer as a before the 
officer’s appointment in a general officer grade. 
‘‘(4) Discharge the officer from the officer’s appointment. 
‘‘(b) CREDIT
FOR
SERVICE
IN
GRADE.—An officer who is 
appointed under subsection (a)(3) shall be credited with an amount 
of service in the grade in which appointed that is equal to the 
amount of prior service in an active status in that grade and 
in any higher grade. 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER IV—FAILURE OF SELECTION FOR 
PROMOTION AND INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION 
‘‘§ 20251. Failure of selection for promotion 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in this section, sections 
14501, 14503, and 14504 and section 631 and 632 of this title 
shall apply to promotions of officers on the Space Force officer 
list. For the purpose of such applicability— 
‘‘(1) any reference in those sections to the reserve active- 
status list or the active-duty list shall apply to the Space 
Force officer list; and 
‘‘(2) any reference in those sections to a board convened 
under section 14201 or 611 of this title shall apply to a board 
convened under section 20211 of this title. 
‘‘(b) INAPPLICABILITY OF FAILURE OF SELECTION FOR PROMOTION 
TO OFFICERS ABOVE PROMOTION ZONE.—The reference in section 
14501 of this title to an officer above the promotion zone shall 
not apply in the promotion of officers on the Space Force officer 
list. 
‘‘(c) RETIREMENT AUTHORITIES.—In applying section 631 or 632 
of this title to such an officer, the reference in subsection (a)(3) 
of that section to qualifying for retirement under certain sections 
of this title shall be deemed to refer to qualifying for retirement 
under any provision of law other than chapter 61 of this title. 
‘‘(d) EFFECT OF FAILURE OF SELECTION.—In the administration 
of this chapter pursuant to subsection (a)— 
‘‘(1) an officer on the Space Force officer list shall not 
be deemed to have failed twice of selection for promotion for 
purposes of section 629(e)(2) or 14502(b) of this title until 
the officer has failed selection of promotion to the next higher 
grade the maximum number of times specified for opportunities 
for promotion to such grade within the competitive category 
concerned under section 20234 of this title; and
H. R. 2670—515 
‘‘(2) any reference in section 631(a) or 632(a) of this title, 
or in sections 14504 through 14506 of this title, to an officer 
who has failed of selection for promotion to the next higher 
grade for the second time shall be deemed to refer instead 
to an officer on the Space Force officer list who has failed 
of selection for promotion to the next higher grade for the 
maximum number of times specified for opportunities for pro-
motion to such grade within the competitive category concerned 
under section 20234 of this title. 
‘‘§ 20251. Special selection boards; correction of errors 
‘‘(a) PERSONS NOT CONSIDERED BY PROMOTION BOARD BECAUSE 
OF ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR.— 
‘‘(1) CONVENING OF BOARD.—In the case of an officer or 
former officer who the Secretary of the Air Force determines 
was not considered for selection for promotion by a selection 
board convened under section 20211 of this title because of 
administrative error, the Secretary shall convene a special 
selection board under this subsection to determine whether 
that officer or former officer should be recommended for pro-
motion. 
‘‘(2) BOARD COMPOSITION; OATH.—Any such board shall be 
convened under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of 
Defense and shall be appointed and composed in accordance 
with section 20212 of this title and shall include the representa-
tion of competitive categories required by that section. The 
members of a board convened under this subsection shall be 
required to take an oath in the same manner as prescribed 
in section 14103 of this title. 
‘‘(3) RECORD CONSIDERED BY BOARD.—A special selection 
board convened under paragraph (1) shall consider the record 
of the officer or former officer as that record would have 
appeared to the selection board that should have considered 
the officer or former officer. That record shall be compared 
with a sampling of the records of those officers of the same 
grade and competitive category who were recommended for 
promotion, and those officers of the same grade and competitive 
category who were not recommended for promotion, by that 
board. 
‘‘(4) EFFECT.—If a special selection board convened under 
paragraph (1) does not recommend for promotion an officer 
or former officer in a grade below the grade of colonel whose 
name was referred to it for consideration, the officer or former 
officer shall be considered to have failed of selection for pro-
motion. 
‘‘(b) OFFICERS CONSIDERED
BUT NOT SELECTED; MATERIAL 
ERROR.— 
‘‘(1) CONVENING OF BOARD.—In the case of an officer or 
former officer who was eligible for promotion and was consid-
ered for selection for promotion by a selection board convened 
under section 20211 of this title but was not selected, the 
Secretary of the Air Force may, under regulations prescribed 
by the Secretary of Defense, convene a special selection board 
under this subsection to determine whether the officer or former 
officer should be recommended for promotion, if the Secretary 
must determine that—
H. R. 2670—516 
‘‘(A) the action of the selection board that considered 
the officer or former officer was contrary to law in a matter 
material to the decision of the board or involved material 
error of fact or material administrative error; or 
‘‘(B) the board did not have before it for its consider-
ation material information. 
‘‘(2) BOARD COMPOSITION; OATH.—A special selection board 
convened under paragraph ((1) shall be appointed and composed 
in accordance with section 20212 of this title (including the 
representation of competitive categories required by that sec-
tion), and the members of sch a board shall take an oath 
in the same manner as prescribed in section 14103 of this 
title. 
‘‘(3) RECORD CONSIDERED BY BOARD.—The special selection 
board shall consider the record of the officer or former officer 
as that record, if corrected, would have appeared to the board 
that considered the officer or former officer. That record shall 
be compared with the records of a sampling of those officers 
of the same grade and competitive category who were rec-
ommended for promotion, and those officers of the same grade 
and competitive category who were not recommended for pro-
motion, by that board. 
‘‘(4) EFFECT.—If a special selection board convened under 
paragraph (1) does not recommend for promotion a officer or 
former officer whose name was referred to it for consideration, 
the officer or former officer incurs no additional failure of 
selection for promotion. 
‘‘(c) REPORT OF BOARD.—Each special selection board convened 
under this section shall submit to the Secretary of the Air Force 
a written report, signed by each member of the board, containing 
the name of each officer or former officer it recommends for pro-
motion and certifying that the board has carefully considered the 
record of each officer or former officer whose name was referred 
to it. 
‘‘(d) APPLICABLE PROVISIONS.—The provisions of sections 20215 
and 20216 of this title apply to the report and proceedings of 
a special selection board convened under this section in the same 
manner as they apply to the report and proceedings of a selection 
board convened under section 20211 of this title. 
‘‘(e) APPOINTMENT
OF
OFFICERS
RECOMMENDED
FOR
PRO-
MOTION.— 
‘‘(1) PROMOTION.—An officer or former officer whose name 
is placed on a promotion list as a result of a recommendation 
for promotion by a special selection board convened under this 
section shall, as soon as practicable, be appointed to the next 
higher grade in accordance with the law and policies which 
would have been applicable had the officer or former officer 
been recommended for promotion by the board which should 
have considered or which did consider the officer of former 
officer. 
‘‘(2) STATUS OF PROMOTED OFFICER.—An officer who is pro-
moted to the next higher grade as the result of the recommenda-
tion of a special selection board convened under this section 
shall, upon such promotion, have the same date of rank, the 
same effective date for the pay and allowances of that grade, 
and the same position on the Space Force officer list as the 
officer would have had if the officer had been recommended
H. R. 2670—517 
for promotion to that grade by the selection board which should 
have considered, or which did consider, the officer. 
‘‘(3) CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORD.—If the report of 
a special selection board convened under this section, as 
approved by the President, recommends for promotion to the 
next higher grade an officer not currently eligible for promotion 
or a former officer whose name was referred to it for consider-
ation, the Secretary of the Air Force may act under section 
1552 of this title to correct the military record of the officer 
or former officer to correct an error or remove an injustice 
resulting from not being selected for promotion by the board 
which should have considered, or which did consider, the officer. 
‘‘(f) PRESCRIBING OF CIRCUMSTANCES FOR CONSIDERATION BY 
BOARD.—The Secretary of Defense may prescribe by regulation— 
‘‘(1) the circumstances under which consideration by a spe-
cial selection board is contingent upon application for consider-
ation by an officer or former officer; and 
‘‘(2) time limits within which of officer or former officer 
must make such application in order to be considered by a 
special selection board under this section. 
‘‘(g) CONVENING
OF BOARDS.—A board convened under this 
section— 
‘‘(1) shall be convened under regulations prescribed by the 
Secretary of Defense; 
‘‘(2) shall be composed in accordance with section 20212 
of this title and regulations prescribed by the Secretary of 
the Air Force; and 
‘‘(3) shall be subject to the provisions of section 613 of 
this title. 
‘‘(h) LIMITATION OF OTHER JURISDICTION.—No official or court 
of the United States shall have power or jurisdiction— 
‘‘(1) over any claim based in any way on the failure of 
an officer or former officer of the armed forces to be selected 
for promotion by a selection board convened under this chapter 
until— 
‘‘(A) the claim has been referred to a special selection 
board by the Secretary of the Air Force and acted upon 
by that board; or 
‘‘(B) the claim has been rejected by the Secretary with-
out consideration by a special selection board; or 
‘‘(2) to grant any relief on such a claim unless the officer 
or former officer has been selected for promotion by a special 
selection board convened under this section to consider the 
officer or former officer’s claim. 
‘‘(i) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—(1) A court of the United States may 
review a determination by the Secretary of the Air Force under 
subsection (a)(1), (b)(1), or (e)(3) not to convene a special selection 
board. If a court finds the determination to be arbitrary or capri-
cious, not based on substantial evidence, or otherwise contrary 
to law, it shall remand the case to the Secretary, who shall provide 
for consideration of the officer or former officer by a special selection 
board under this section. 
‘‘(2) If a court finds that the action of a special selection board 
which considers an officer or former officer was contrary to law 
or involved material error of fact or material administrative error, 
it shall remand the case to the Secretary, who shall provide the
H. R. 2670—518 
officer or former officer reconsideration by a new special selection 
board. 
‘‘(j) DESIGNATION OF BOARDS.—The Secretary of the Air Force 
may designate a promotion board convened under section 20201(a) 
of this title as a special selection board convened under this section. 
‘‘§ 20252a. Special selection review boards: reference 
‘‘Section 628a of this title, relating to the convening of a special 
selection review board when credible information of an adverse 
nature was not furnished to a promotion board, applies with respect 
to persons recommended by a selection board for promotion to 
a grade at or below the grade of major general in the Space 
Force. 
‘‘§ 20253. Retirement: retirement for years of service 
‘‘Sections 633 through 636 of this title shall apply to the retire-
ment of officers on the Space Force officer list in the same manner 
as to officers of the Regular Air Force. 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER V—CONTINUATION ON ACTIVE DUTY AND 
SELECTIVE EARLY RETIREMENT; OTHER PROVISIONS 
‘‘§ 20261 Selection of officers for continuation on the Space 
Force officer list 
‘‘Section 14701 of this title shall apply in continuation or reten-
tion on the Space Force officer in the same manner as to continu-
ation on the reserve active-status list. 
‘‘§ 20262. Retirement: selective early retirement 
‘‘Sections 638 and 638a of this title shall apply to the retirement 
of officers on the Space Force officer list in the same manner 
as to officers of the Regular Air Force. 
‘‘§ 20263. Entitlement of officers discharged or retired under 
this chapter to separation pay or retired pay 
‘‘(a) SEPARATION PAY.—An officer who is discharged under this 
chapter is entitled, if eligible therefor, to separation pay under 
section 1174 of this title. 
‘‘(b) RETIRED PAY.—An officer who is retired under this chapter 
is entitled to retired pay computed under chapter 71 or 1223 of 
this title, as applicable. 
‘‘§ 20264. Other administrative authorities 
‘‘The following provisions of this title shall apply to officers 
on the Space Force officer list in the same manner as to officers 
subject to those provisions: 
‘‘(1) Section 14518, relating to continuation of officers to 
complete disciplinary action. 
‘‘(2) Section 14519, relating to deferment of retirement 
or separation for medical reasons. 
‘‘(3) Section 14704, relating to the selective early removal 
from the reserve active-status list.’’. 
(d) TEMPORARY (‘‘BREVET’’) PROMOTIONS FOR OFFICERS WITH 
CRITICAL SKILLS.—Section 605 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended as follows: 
(1) COVERAGE OF SPACE FORCE OFFICERS.—Subsections (a), 
(b)(2)(A), (f)(1), and (f)(2) are amended by striking ‘‘or Marine
H. R. 2670—519 
Corps,’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, 
or Space Force,’’. 
(2) DISAGGREGATION OF AIR FORCE MAXIMUM NUMBERS.— 
Subsection (g) is amended— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as para-
graphs (4) and (5), respectively; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the fol-
lowing new paragraphs (2) and (3): 
‘‘(2) In the case of the Air Force— 
‘‘(A) as captain 95; 
‘‘(B) as major, 305; 
‘‘(C) as lieutenant colonel, 165; and 
‘‘(D) as colonel, 75. 
‘‘(3) In the case of the Space Force— 
‘‘(A) as captain, 5; 
‘‘(B) as major, 20; 
‘‘(C) as lieutenant colonel, 10; and 
‘‘(D) as colonel, 5.’’. 
SEC. 1717. ENLISTED MEMBERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle F of title 10, United States Code, 
as amended by section 1716, is further amended by adding at 
the end the following new chapter: 
‘‘CHAPTER 2007—ENLISTED MEMBERS 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘20301. Original enlistments: qualifications; grade. 
‘‘20302. Enlisted members: term of enlistment. 
‘‘20303. Reference to chapter 31. 
‘‘§ 20301. Original enlistments: qualifications; grade 
‘‘(a) ORIGINAL ENLISTMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT.—The Secretary of the Air Force 
may accept original enlistments in the Space Force of qualified, 
effective, and able-bodied persons. 
‘‘(2) AGE.—A person accepted for original enlistment shall 
be not less than seventeen years of age. However, no person 
under eighteen years of age may be originally enlisted without 
the written consent of the person’s parent or guardian, if the 
person has a parent or guardian entitled to the person’s custody 
and control. 
‘‘(b) GRADE.—A person is enlisted in the Space Force in the 
grade prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force. 
‘‘§ 20302. Enlisted members: term of enlistment 
‘‘(a) TERM OF ORIGINAL ENLISTMENTS.—The Secretary of the 
Air Force may accept original enlistments of persons for the dura-
tion of their minority or for a period of at least two but not 
more than eight years in the Space Force. 
‘‘(b) TERM OF REENLISTMENTS.—The Secretary of the Air Force 
may accept a reenlistment in the Space Force for a period deter-
mined in accordance with paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of section 
505(d) of this title. 
‘‘§ 20303. Reference to chapter 31 
‘‘For other provisions of this title applicable to enlistments 
in the Space Force, see chapter 31 of this title.’’.
H. R. 2670—520 
(b) AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 10 CHAPTER RELATING TO ENLIST-
MENTS.—Chapter 31 of such title is amended as follows: 
(1) RECRUITING CAMPAIGNS.—Section 503(a) is amended by 
inserting ‘‘and the Space Force’’ after ‘‘Regular Coast Guard’’. 
(2) 
QUALIFICATIONS, 
TERM, 
GRADE.—Section 
505 
is 
amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Regular Space Force,’’ each place it 
appears; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(e) ENLISTMENTS IN THE SPACE FORCE.—For enlistments in 
the Space Force, see sections 20301 and 20302 of this title.’’. 
(3) EXTENSION OF ENLISTMENTS DURING WAR.—Section 506 
is amended by striking ‘‘Regular’’ before ‘‘Space Force’’. 
(4) REENLISTMENT.—Section 508 is amended striking ‘‘Reg-
ular’’ before ‘‘Space Force’’ in subsections (b) and (c). 
(5) ENLISTMENT
INCENTIVES
FOR
PURSUIT
OF
SKILLS
TO 
FACILITATE NATIONAL SERVICE.—Section 510(c) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘or the Space Force’’ 
after ‘‘Selected Reserve’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) 
as subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively; 
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph (D): 
‘‘(D) in the Space Force;’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (F), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘subparagraphs (A) through (D)’’ and inserting 
‘‘subparagraphs (A) through (E)’’. 
(6) COLLEGE
FIRST
PROGRAM.—Section 511(b)(1)(A), is 
amended by inserting ‘‘or as a member of the Space Force,’’ 
after ‘‘reserve component,’’. 
(7) 
DELAYED
ENTRY
PROGRAM.—Section 
513(a) 
is 
amended— 
(A) by inserting, ‘‘, or who is qualified under section 
20301 of this title and applicable regulations for enlistment 
in the Space Force,’’ after ‘‘armed force’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘, or be enlisted as a member of 
the Space Force,’’ after ‘‘Coast Guard Reserve’’. 
(8) EFFECT
UPON
ENLISTED
STATUS
OF
ACCEPTANCE
OF 
APPOINTMENT
AS
CADET
OR
MIDSHIPMAN.—Section 516(b) is 
amended by inserting ‘‘or in the Space Force,’’ after ‘‘armed 
force’’. 
SEC. 1718. RETENTION AND SEPARATION GENERALLY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle F of title 10, United States Code, 
as amended by section 1717, is further amended by adding at 
the end the following new chapter: 
‘‘CHAPTER 2009—RETENTION AND SEPARATION 
GENERALLY 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘20401. Applicability of certain provisions of law related to separation. 
‘‘20402. Enlisted members: standards and qualifications for retention. 
‘‘20403. Officers: standards and qualifications for retention. 
‘‘20404. Selection of officers for early retirement or discharge. 
‘‘20404. Force shaping authority.
H. R. 2670—521 
‘‘§ 20401. Applicability of certain provisions of law related 
to separation 
‘‘(a) OFFICER SEPARATION.—Except as specified in this section 
or otherwise modified in this chapter, the provisions of chapter 
59 of this title applicable to officers of a regular component shall 
apply to officers of the Space Force. 
‘‘(b) Except as specified in this section or otherwise modified 
in this chapter, the provisions of sections 1169, 1170, 1171, 1173, 
1174(b) 1176(a) of chapter 59 of this title applicable to enlisted 
members of a regular component shall apply to enlisted members 
of the Space Force. 
‘‘(c) The provisions of section 1172 of this title pertaining to 
a person enlisted under section 518 of this title shall apply to 
an enlisted member of the Space Force. 
‘‘(d) The provisions of section 1174 of this title— 
‘‘(1) pertaining to a regular officer shall apply to a Space 
Force officer serving on sustained duty; 
‘‘(2) pertaining to a regular enlisted member shall apply 
to an enlisted member of the Space Force serving on sustained 
duty; and 
‘‘(3) pertaining to other members shall apply to members 
of the Space Force not serving on sustained duty. 
‘‘(e) The provisions of section 1175 of this title pertaining to 
a voluntary appointment, enlistment, or transfer to a reserve compo-
nent shall apply to the voluntary release from active duty of a 
member of the Space Force on sustained duty. 
‘‘(f) The provisions of section 1176 of this title— 
‘‘(1) pertaining to a regular enlisted member shall apply 
to an enlisted member of the Space Force serving on sustained 
duty; and 
‘‘(2) pertaining to a reserve enlisted member serving in 
an active status shall apply to an enlisted member of the 
Space Force serving in a space force active status or on sus-
tained duty. 
‘‘§ 20402. Enlisted members: standards and qualifications for 
retention 
‘‘(a) STANDARDS
AND QUALIFICATIONS
FOR RETENTION.—The 
Secretary of the Air Force shall, by regulation, prescribe— 
‘‘(1) standards and qualifications for the retention of 
enlisted members of the Space Force; and 
‘‘(2) equitable procedures for the periodic determination 
of the compliance of each such member with those standards 
and qualifications. 
‘‘(b) EFFECT
OF FAILURE
TO COMPLY WITH STANDARDS
AND 
QUALIFICATIONS.—If an enlisted member serving in Space Force 
active status fails to comply with the standards and qualifications 
prescribed under subsection (a), the member shall— 
‘‘(1) if qualified, be transferred to Space Force inactive 
status; 
‘‘(2) if qualified, be retired in accordance with section 20603 
of this title; or 
‘‘(3) have the member’s enlistment terminated. 
‘‘§ 20403. Officers: standards and qualifications for retention 
‘‘(a) STANDARDS AND QUALIFICATIONS.—To be retained in an 
active status, a Space Force officer must—
H. R. 2670—523 
this section shall be considered to be involuntary for purposes 
of any other provision of law. 
‘‘§ 20405. Force shaping authority 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of the Air Force may, solely 
for the purpose of restructuring the Space Force— 
‘‘(1) discharge an officer described in subsection (b); or 
‘‘(2) involuntarily release such an officer from sustained 
duty. 
‘‘(b) COVERED OFFICERS.— 
‘‘(1) The authority under this section may be exercised 
in the case of an officer of the Space Force serving on sustained 
duty 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 the minimum service obligation applicable to 
that officer. 
‘‘(2) In this subsection, the term ‘minimum service obliga-
tion’, with respect to a member of the Space Force, means 
the initial period of required active duty service applicable 
to the member, together with any additional period of required 
active duty service incurred by that member during the mem-
ber’s initial period of required active duty service. 
‘‘(c) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of the Air Force shall pre-
scribe regulations for the exercise of the Secretary’s authority under 
this section.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 647 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘(other than an officer 
of the Space Force)’’ after ‘‘in the case of an officer’’; 
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘Regular Marine Corps, 
of Regular Space Force’’ and inserting ‘‘or Regular Marine 
Corps’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(e) SPACE FORCE.—For a similar provision with respect to 
officers of the Space Force, see section 20405 of this title.’’. 
SEC. 1719. SEPARATION OF OFFICERS FOR SUBSTANDARD PERFORM-
ANCE OF DUTY OR FOR CERTAIN OTHER REASONS. 
Subtitle F of title 10, United States Code, as amended by 
section 1718, is further amended by adding at the end the following 
new chapter: 
‘‘CHAPTER 2011—SEPARATION OF OFFICERS FOR SUB-
STANDARD PERFORMANCE OF DUTY OR FOR CER-
TAIN OTHER REASONS 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘20501. Authority to establish procedures to consider the separation of officers for 
substandard performance of duty and for certain other reasons. 
‘‘20502. Retention boards. 
‘‘20503. Removal of officer: action by Secretary upon recommendation of retention 
board. 
‘‘20504. Rights and procedures. 
‘‘20505. Officer considered for removal: voluntary retirement or discharge. 
‘‘20506. Officers eligible to serve on retention boards.
H. R. 2670—524 
‘‘§ 20501. Authority to establish procedures to consider the 
separation of officers for substandard perform-
ance of duty and for certain other reasons 
‘‘(a) PROCEDURES
FOR
REVIEW
OF
RECORD
OF
OFFICERS 
RELATING TO STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE OF DUTY.— 
‘‘(1) The Secretary of the Air Force shall prescribe, by 
regulation, procedures for the review at any time of the record 
of any commissioned officer (other than a retired officer) of 
the Space Force in a space force active status to determine 
whether the officer shall be required, because of a reason stated 
in paragraph (2), to show cause for the officer’s retention in 
a space force active status. 
‘‘(2) The reasons referred to in paragraph (1) are the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) The officer’s performance of duty has fallen below 
standards prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. 
‘‘(B) The officer has failed to satisfy the standards 
and qualifications established under section 20403 of this 
title by the Secretary of the Air Force. 
‘‘(b) PROCEDURES
FOR
REVIEW
OF
RECORD
OF
OFFICERS 
RELATING TO CERTAIN OTHER REASONS.— 
‘‘(1) The Secretary of the Air Force shall prescribe, by 
regulation, procedures for the review at any time of the record 
of any commissioned officer (other than a retired officer) of 
the Space Force in a space force active status to determine 
whether the officer should be required, because of a reason 
stated in paragraph (2), to show cause for the officer’s retention 
in a space force active status. 
‘‘(2) The reasons referred to in paragraph (1) are the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) Misconduct. 
‘‘(B) Moral or professional dereliction. 
‘‘(C) The officer’s retention is not clearly consistent 
with the interests of national security. 
‘‘(c) SECRETARY
OF DEFENSE LIMITATIONS.—Regulations pre-
scribed by the Secretary of the Air Force under this section are 
subject to such limitations as the Secretary of Defense may pre-
scribe. 
‘‘§ 20502. Retention boards 
‘‘(a) CONVENING OF BOARDS TO CONSIDER OFFICERS REQUIRED 
TO SHOW CAUSE.—The Secretary of the Air Force shall convene 
retention boards at such times and places as the Secretary may 
prescribe to receive evidence and make findings and recommenda-
tions as to whether an officer who is required under section 20501 
of this title to show cause for retention in a space force active 
status should be retained in a space force active status. Each 
retention board shall be composed of not less than three officers 
having the qualifications prescribed by section 20506 of this title. 
‘‘(b) FAIR AND IMPARTIAL HEARING.—A retention board shall 
give a fair and impartial hearing to each officer required under 
section 20501 of this title to show cause for retention in a space 
force active status. 
‘‘(c) EFFECT OF BOARD DETERMINATION THAN AN OFFICER HAS 
FAILED TO ESTABLISH THAT THE OFFICER SHOULD BE RETAINED.— 
‘‘(1) If a retention board determines that the officer has 
failed to establish that the officer should be retained in a
H. R. 2670—525 
space force active status, the board shall recommend to the 
Secretary of the Air Force one of the following: 
‘‘(A) That the officer be transferred to an inactive 
status. 
‘‘(B) That the officer, if qualified under any provision 
of law, be retired. 
‘‘(C) That the officer be discharged from the Space 
Force. 
‘‘(2) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the 
Air Force, an officer as to whom a retention board makes 
a recommendation under paragraph (1) that the officer not 
be retained in a space force active status may be required 
to take leave pending the completion of the officer’s case under 
this chapter. The officer may be required to begin such leave 
at any time following the officer’s receipt of the report of the 
retention board, including the board’s recommendation for 
removal from a space force active status, and the expiration 
of any period allowed for submission by the officer of a rebuttal 
to that report. The leave may be continued until the date 
on which action by the Secretary of the Air Force on the 
officer’s case is completed or may be terminated at any earlier 
time. 
‘‘(d) EFFECT OF BOARD DETERMINATION THAN AN OFFICER HAS 
ESTABLISHED THAT THE OFFICER SHOULD BE RETAINED.— 
‘‘(1) If a retention board determines that the officer has 
established that the officer should be retained in a space force 
active status, the officer’s case is closed. 
‘‘(2) An officer who is required to show cause for retention 
in a space force active status under subsection (a) of section 
20501 of this title and who is determined under paragraph 
(1) to have established that the officer should be retained 
in a space force active status may not again be required to 
show cause for retention in a space force active status under 
such subsection within the one-year period beginning on the 
date of that determination. 
‘‘(3)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), an officer who is 
required to show cause for retention in a space force active 
status under subsection (b) of section 20501 of this title and 
who is determined under paragraph (1) to have established 
that the officer should be retained in a space force active 
status may again be required to show cause for retention at 
any time. 
‘‘(B) An officer who has been required to show cause for 
retention in a space force active status under subsection (b) 
of section 20501 of this title and who is thereafter retained 
in an active status may not again be required to show cause 
for retention in a space force active status under such sub-
section solely because of conduct which was the subject of 
the previous proceedings, unless the findings or recommenda-
tions of the retention board that considered the officer’s pre-
vious case are determined to have been obtained by fraud 
or collusion. 
‘‘(4) In the case of an officer described in paragraph (2) 
or paragraph (3)(A), the retention board may recommend that 
the officer be required to complete additional training, profes-
sional education, or such other developmental programs as
H. R. 2670—526 
may be available to correct any identified deficiencies and 
improve the officer’s performance within the Space Force. 
‘‘§ 20503. Removal of officer: action by Secretary upon rec-
ommendation of retention board 
‘‘The Secretary of the Air Force may remove an officer from 
space force active status if the removal of such officer from space 
force active status is recommended by a retention board convened 
under section 20502 of this title. 
‘‘§ 20504. Rights and procedures 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Under regulations prescribed by the Sec-
retary of the Air Force, each officer required under section 20501 
of this title to show cause for retention in a space force active 
status— 
‘‘(1) shall be notified in writing, at least 30 days before 
the hearing of the officer’s case by a retention board, of the 
reasons for which the officer is being required to show cause 
for retention in a space force active status; 
‘‘(2) shall be allowed a reasonable time, as determined 
by the board, to prepare the officer’s showing of cause for 
retention in a space force active status; 
‘‘(3) shall be allowed to appear either in person or through 
electronic means and to be represented by counsel at pro-
ceedings before the board; and 
‘‘(4) shall be allowed full access to, and shall be furnished 
copies of, records relevant to the officer’s case, except that 
the board shall withhold any record that the Secretary deter-
mines should be withheld in the interest of national security. 
‘‘(b) SUMMARY OF RECORDS WITHHELD IN INTEREST OF NATIONAL 
SECURITY.—When a record is withheld under subsection (a)(4), the 
officer whose case is under consideration shall, to the extent that 
the interest of national security permits, be furnished a summary 
of the record so withheld. 
‘‘§ 20505. Officer considered for removal: voluntary retire-
ment or discharge 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—At any time during proceedings under this 
chapter with respect to the removal of an officer from a space 
force active status , the Secretary of the Air Force may grant 
a request by the officer— 
‘‘(1) for voluntary retirement, if the officer is qualified 
for retirement; or 
‘‘(2) for discharge in accordance with subsection (b)(2). 
‘‘(b) RETIREMENT OR DISCHARGE.—An officer removed from a 
space force active status under section 20503 of this title shall— 
‘‘(1) if eligible for voluntary retirement under any provision 
of law on the date of such removal, be retired in the grade 
and with the retired pay for which the officer would be eligible 
if retired under such provision; and 
‘‘(2) if ineligible for voluntary retirement under any provi-
sion of law on the date of such removal— 
‘‘(A) be honorably discharged in the grade then held, 
in the case of an officer whose case was brought under 
subsection (a) of section 20501 of this title; or
H. R. 2670—527 
‘‘(B) be discharged in the grade then held, in the case 
of an officer whose case was brought under subsection 
(b) of section 20501 of this title. 
‘‘(c) SEPARATION PAY
FOR DISCHARGED OFFICER.—An officer 
who is discharged under subsection (b)(2) is entitled, if eligible 
therefor, to separation pay under section 1174(a)(2) of this title. 
‘‘§ 20506. Officers eligible to serve on retention boards 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The provisions of section 1187 of this title 
apply to the membership of boards convened under this chapter 
in the same manner as to the membership of boards convened 
under chapter 60 of this title. 
‘‘(b) RETIRED AIR FORCE OFFICERS.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORITY.—In applying subsection (b) of section 1187 
of this title to a board convened under this chapter, the Sec-
retary of the Air Force may appoint retired officers of the 
Air Force, in addition to retired officers of the Space Force, 
to complete the membership of the board. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—A retired officer of the Air Force may 
be appointed to a board under paragraph (1) only if the officer 
served in a space-related career field of the Air Force for 
sufficient time such that the Secretary of the Air Force deter-
mines that the retired Air Force officer has adequate knowledge 
concerning the standards of performance and conduct required 
of an officer of the Space Force.’’. 
SEC. 1719A. RETIREMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle F of title 10, United States Code, 
as amended by section 1719, is further amended by adding at 
the end the following new chapter: 
‘‘CHAPTER 2013—VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT FOR 
LENGTH OF SERVICE 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘20601. Officers: voluntary retirement for length of service. 
‘‘20602. Officers: computation of years of service for voluntary retirement. 
‘‘20603. Enlisted members: voluntary retirement for length of service. 
‘‘20604. Enlisted members: computation of years of service for voluntary retirement. 
‘‘20605. Applicability of other provisions of law relating to retirement. 
‘‘§ 20601. Officers: voluntary retirement for length of service 
‘‘(a) TWENTY YEARS OR MORE.—The Secretary of the Air Force 
may, upon the officer’s request, retire a commissioned officer of 
the Space Force who has at least 20 years of service computed 
under section 20602 of this title, at least 10 years of which have 
been active service as a commissioned officer. 
‘‘(b) THIRTY YEARS OR MORE.—A commissioned officer of the 
Space Force who has at least 30 years of service computed under 
section 20602 of this title may be retired upon the officer’s request, 
in the discretion of the President. 
‘‘(c) FORTY YEARS OR MORE.—Except as provided in section 
20503 of this title, a commissioned officer of the Space Force who 
has at least 40 years of service computed under section 20602 
of this title shall be retired upon the officer’s request.
H. R. 2670—529 
‘‘(8) Provisions pertaining to service in a reserve component 
shall apply to service in a space force active status not on 
sustained duty. 
‘‘(9) Provisions pertaining to a member of the Ready 
Reserve shall apply to a member of the Space Force who is 
in a space force active status prior to being ordered to active 
duty. 
‘‘(10) Provisions pertaining to a member of the Retired 
Reserve shall apply to a member of the Space Force who has 
retired under chapter 1223 of this title. 
‘‘(b) PROVISIONS OF LAW.—The provisions of this title referred 
to in subsection (a) are the following: 
‘‘(1) Chapter 61, relating to retirement or separation for 
physical disability. 
‘‘(2) Chapter 63, relating to retirement for age. 
‘‘(3) Chapter 69, relating to retired grade. 
‘‘(4) Chapter 71, relating to computation of retired pay. 
‘‘(5) Chapter 941, relating to retirement from the Air Force 
for length of service. 
‘‘(6) Chapter 945, relating to computation of retired pay. 
‘‘(7) Chapter 1223, relating to retired pay for non-regular 
service. 
‘‘(8) Chapter 1225, relating to retired grade.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Title 10, United States Code, 
is amended as follows: 
(1) RETIRED MEMBERS ORDERED TO ACTIVE DUTY.—Section 
688(b) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Regular Marine 
Corps, or Regular Space Force’’ and inserting ‘‘or Regular 
Marine Corps’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) A retired member of the Space Force.’’. 
(2) RETIRED GRADE.—Section 9341 is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘or the Space Force’’ both places it 
appears in subsection (a); 
(B) by striking ‘‘or a Regular or Reserve of the Space 
Force’’ in subsection (b); and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) SPACE FORCE.—(1) The retired grade of a commissioned 
officer of the Space Force who retires other than for physical dis-
ability is determined under section 1370 or 1370a of this title, 
as applicable to the officer. 
‘‘(2) Unless entitled to a higher retired grade under some other 
provision of law, a member of the Space Force not covered by 
paragraph (1) who retires other than for physical disability retires 
in the grade that the member holds on the date of the member’s 
retirement.’’. 
(3) RETIRED GRADE OF ENLISTED MEMBERS AFTER 30 YEARS 
OF SERVICE.—Section 9344(b)(2) is amended by striking ‘‘Reg-
ular’’ before ‘‘Space Force’’. 
(4) RETIRED LISTS.—Section 9346 is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘or the Regular Space 
Force’’ and inserting ‘‘and a separate retired list containing 
the name of each retired commissioned officer of the Space 
Force (other than an officer whose name is on the list 
maintained under subsection (b)(2))’’; 
(B) in subsection (b)—
H. R. 2670—530 
(i) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(b)’’; 
(ii) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; 
(iii) in subparagraph (A), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘, or for commissioned officers of the Space 
Force other than of the Regular Space Force’’; 
(iv) in subparagraph (B), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘or the Space Force’’; and 
(v) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall maintain a retired list containing 
the name of— 
‘‘(A) each person entitled to retired pay who as a 
member of the Space Force qualified for retirement under 
section 20601 of this title; and 
‘‘(B) each retired warrant officer or enlisted member 
of the Space Force who is advanced to a commissioned 
grade.’’; 
(C) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘or the Space Force’’ 
and inserting ‘‘and a separate retired list containing the 
name of each retired warrant officer of the Space Force’’; 
and 
(D) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘or the Regular Space 
Force’’ and inserting ‘‘and a separate retired list containing 
the name of each retired enlisted member of the Space 
Force’’. 
Subtitle B—Conforming Amendments Re-
lated to Space Force Military Personnel 
System 
SEC. 1721. AMENDMENTS TO DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE PROVI-
SIONS OF TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE. 
(a) PROVISIONS RELATING TO PERSONNEL.—Part II of subtitle 
D of title 10, United States Code, is amended as follows: 
(1) GENDER-FREE
BASIS
FOR
ACCEPTANCE
OF
ORIGINAL 
ENLISTMENTS.— 
(A) Section 9132 by striking ‘‘Regular’’ before ‘‘Space 
Force’’. 
(B) The heading of such section is amended by striking 
the fifth word. 
(2) REENLISTMENT AFTER SERVICE AS AN OFFICER.— 
(A) Section 9138(a) is amended by striking ‘‘Regular’’ 
before ‘‘Space Force’’ both places it appears. 
(B) The heading of section 9138 is amended by striking 
the fifth word. 
(3) WARRANT OFFICERS: ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT; QUALIFICA-
TIONS.—Section 9160 is amended by striking ‘‘Regular’’ before 
‘‘Space Force’’. 
(4) SERVICE AS AN OFFICER TO BE COUNTED AS ENLISTED 
SERVICE.—Section 9252 is amended by striking ‘‘Regular’’ before 
‘‘Space Force’’. 
(5) CHAPTER HEADING.— 
(A) The heading of chapter 915 is amended to read 
as follows:
H. R. 2670—531 
‘‘CHAPTER 915—APPOINTMENTS IN THE REGULAR AIR 
FORCE AND IN THE SPACE FORCE’’. 
(B) The tables of chapters at the beginning of subtitle 
D, and at the beginning of part II of subtitle D of such 
title, are each amended by striking the item relating to 
chapter 915 and inserting the following new item: 
‘‘915. Appointments in the Regular Air Force and in the Space Force ............. 9151’’. 
(b) PROVISIONS RELATING TO TRAINING GENERALLY.—Section 
9401 of such title is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘or the Regular Space Force’’ after 
‘‘Regular Air Force’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or one of the Space Force in a space 
force active status not on sustained duty,’’ after ‘‘on the 
active-duty list,’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘or Reserve of the Space Force’’ and 
inserting ‘‘or member of the Space Force in a space force 
active status not on sustained duty’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘the Reserve’s consent’’ and inserting 
‘‘the member’s consent’’; and 
(3) in subsection (f)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘the Regular Space Force’’ and inserting 
‘‘of Space Force members on sustained duty’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘the Space Force Reserve’’ and inserting 
‘‘of Space Force members in an active status not on sus-
tained duty’’. 
(c) PROVISIONS RELATING
TO
THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY.— 
Chapter 953 of such title is amended as follows: 
(1) PERMANENT PROFESSORS; DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS.— 
Section 9436 is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘the equivalent grade in’’ both places 
it appears; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘or the Space Force’’ after ‘‘Regular 
Air Force’’ the first place it appears; 
(iii) by striking ‘‘and a permanent’’ and all that 
follows through ‘‘in the Regular Air Force’’; and 
(B) in subsection (b)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘the equivalent grade in’’ both places 
it appears and inserting ‘‘the grade of lieutenant 
colonel in’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘Regular Space Force has the grade 
equivalent to the grade of colonel in the Regular Air 
Force’’ and inserting ‘‘Space Force has the grade of 
colonel in the Space Force’’. 
(2) 
APPOINTMENT
OF
CADETS.—Section 
9442(b) 
is 
amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(C), by inserting ‘‘, or the Space 
Force,’’ after ‘‘members of reserve components’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘Regular’’ before 
‘‘Space Force’’. 
(3) AGREEMENT OF CADETS TO SERVE AS OFFICERS.—Section 
9448(a) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘Regular’’ before 
‘‘Space Force’’; and
H. R. 2670—532 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
inserting ‘‘, or to terminate the officer’s order to sus-
tained duty in the Space Force’’ after ‘‘resign as a 
regular officer’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘or as a 
Reserve in the Space Force for service in the Space 
Force Reserve’’ and inserting ‘‘or will accept further 
assignment in a space force active status’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ‘‘, or the 
Space Force,’’ after ‘‘that reserve component’’. 
(4) HAZING.—Section 9452(c) is amended by striking 
‘‘Marine Corps, or Space Force,’’ and inserting, ‘‘or Marine 
Corps, or in the Space Force,’’. 
(5) COMMISSION
UPON
GRADUATION.—Section 9453(b) is 
amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘or in the equivalent grade in the Reg-
ular Space Force’’; and 
(B) by inserting before the period the following: ‘‘or 
a second lieutenant in the Space Force under section 531 
or 20201 of this title’’. 
(d) PROVISIONS RELATING TO SCHOOLS AND CAMPS.—Chapter 
957 of such title is amended as follows: 
(1) PURPOSE.—Section 9481 is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘to qualify them for appointment’’ and 
inserting ‘‘to qualify them for— 
‘‘(1) appointment’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘or the Space Force Reserve.’’ and 
inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) appointment as officers, or enlistment as noncommis-
sioned officers, for service in the Space Force in a space force 
active status.’’. 
(2) OPERATION.—Section 9482(4) is amended by striking 
‘‘or the Regular Space Force’’ and inserting ‘‘or members of 
the Space Force in an active status’’. 
SEC. 1722. AMENDMENTS TO SUBTITLE A OF TITLE 10, UNITED STATES 
CODE. 
(a) PROVISIONS RELATING TO ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL MILI-
TARY POWERS.—Part I of subtitle A of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended as follows: 
(1) 
ANNUAL
DEFENSE
MANPOWER
REPORT.—Section 
115a(d)(3)(F) is amended by inserting before the period the 
following: ‘‘or, in the case of the Space Force, officers ordered 
to active duty other than under section 20105(b) of this title’’. 
(2) SUSPENSION OF END-STRENGTH AND OTHER STRENGTH 
LIMITATIONS IN TIME OF WAR OR NATIONAL EMERGENCY.—Section 
123a(a)(2) is amended by inserting ‘‘or the Space Force’’ after 
‘‘a reserve component’’. 
(3) 
DEPUTY
COMMANDER
OF
USNORTHCOM.—Section 
164(e)(4) is amended— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ after ‘‘(4)’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘shall be a’’ and all that follows and 
inserting ‘‘shall be—
H. R. 2670—533 
‘‘(i) a qualified officer of a reserve component who is eligible 
for promotion to the grade of lieutenant general or, in the 
case of the Navy, vice admiral; or 
‘‘(ii) a qualified officer of the Space Force whose prior 
service includes service in a space force active status other 
than sustained duty and who is eligible for promotion to the 
grade of lieutenant general.’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new subpara-
graph: 
‘‘(B) The requirement in subparagraph (A) does not apply when 
the officer serving as commander of the combatant command 
described in that subparagraph is (i) a reserve component officer, 
or (ii) an officer of the Space Force whose prior service includes 
service in a space force active status other than sustained duty.’’. 
(4) READINESS
REPORTS.—Section 482(a) is amended by 
inserting ‘‘and the Space Force’’ after ‘‘active and reserve compo-
nents’’ in paragraphs (1) and (2). 
(b) DOPMA OFFICER PERSONNEL PROVISIONS.—Chapter 36 of 
such title is amended as follows: 
(1) NONDISCLOSURE OF BOARD PROCEEDINGS.—Section 613a 
is amended by striking ‘‘573, 611, or 628’’ and inserting ‘‘573, 
611, 628, or 20211’’ in subsections (a) and (c). 
(2) INFORMATION FURNISHED TO SELECTION BOARDS.—Sec-
tion 615(a) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘or 20211’’ after 
‘‘section 611(a)’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘regular 
officer’’ and all that follows and inserting ‘‘regular 
officer or an officer in the Space Force, a grade above 
captain or, in the case of the Navy, lieutenant.’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (D)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘major general,’’ and inserting 
‘‘major general or’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘or, in the case of the Space 
Force, the equivalent grade,’’. 
(3) ELIGIBILITY FOR CONSIDERATION FOR PROMOTION: TIME- 
IN-GRADE
AND
OTHER
REQUIREMENTS.—Section 
619(a) 
is 
amended by striking ‘‘Marine Corps, or Space Force’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘or Marine Corps’’. 
(4) AUTHORITY TO VACATE PROMOTIONS TO GRADES OF BRIGA-
DIER GENERAL AND REAR ADMIRAL (LOWER HALF).—Section 625(b) 
is amended by striking ‘‘Marine Corps, or Space Force’’ and 
inserting ‘‘or Marine Corps’’. 
(5) SPECIAL
SELECTION
REVIEW
BOARD.—Section 628a is 
amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)(1)(A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘major general,’’ and inserting 
‘‘major general or’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘, or an equivalent grade in the 
Space Force’’; 
(B) in subsection (e)(2), by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new sentence: ‘‘However, in the case of an officer 
on the Space Force officer list, the provisions of sections 
618, 20215, and 20216 of this title apply to the report 
and proceedings of a special selection review board con-
vened under this section in the same manner as they
H. R. 2670—534 
apply to report and proceedings of a promotion board con-
vened under section 20211 of this title.’’, and 
(C) in subsection (f)(1), by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new sentence: ‘‘However, if the report of a special 
selection review board convened under this section rec-
ommends the sustainment of the recommendation for pro-
motion to the next higher grade of an officer on the Space 
Force officer list who was referred to it for review under 
this section, and the President approves the report, the 
officer shall, as soon as practicable, be appointed to the 
grade in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) of section 
20251 of this title.’’. 
(6) RETIREMENT FOR YEARS OF SERVICE.— 
(A) 
LIEUTENANT
COLONELS.—Section 
633(a) 
is 
amended— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘Except as’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘Regular Marine Corps, or Regular 
Space Force’’ and inserting ‘‘or Regular Marine Corps’’; 
and 
(iii) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(2) Except as provided under section 637(b) or 637a of this 
title, each officer of the Space Force who holds the grade of lieuten-
ant colonel who is not on a list of officers recommended for pro-
motion to the grade of colonel shall, if not earlier retired, be retired 
on the first day of the month after the month in which the officer 
completes 28 years of active commissioned service.’’. 
(B) COLONELS.—Section 634(a) is amended— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘Except as’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘Regular Marine Corps, or Regular 
Space Force’’ and inserting ‘‘or Regular Marine Corps’’; 
and 
(iii) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(2) Except as provided under section 637(b) or 637a of this 
title, each officer of the Space Force who holds the grade of colonel 
who is not on a list of officers recommended for promotion to 
the grade of brigadier general shall, if not earlier retired, be retired 
on the first day of the month after the month in which the officer 
completes 30 years of active commissioned service.’’. 
(C) BRIGADIER GENERALS.—Section 635 is amended— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘(a) ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, AND 
MARINE CORPS.—’’ before ‘‘Except as’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘Regular Marine Corps, or Regular 
Space Force’’ and inserting ‘‘or Regular Marine Corps’’; 
and 
(iii) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(b) SPACE FORCE.—Except as provided under section 637(b) 
or 637a of this title, each officer of the Space Force who holds 
the grade of brigadier general who is not on a list of officers 
recommended for promotion to the grade of major general shall, 
if not earlier retired, be retired as specified in subsection (a).’’. 
(D) OFFICERS IN GRADES ABOVE BRIGADIER GENERAL.— 
Section 636(a) is amended— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘Except as’’;
H. R. 2670—535 
(ii) by striking ‘‘Regular Marine Corps, or Regular 
Space Force’’ and inserting ‘‘or Regular Marine Corps’’; 
and 
(iii) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(2) Except as provided in subsection (b) or (c) and under 
section 637(b) or 637a of this title, each officer of the Space Force 
who holds the grade of major general shall, if not earlier retired, 
be retired as specified in paragraph (1).’’. 
(E) SECTION HEADINGS.— 
(i) The heading of section 633 is amended by 
striking ‘‘lieutenant colonels and’’ and inserting 
‘‘and Space Force lieutenant colonels; regular 
Navy’’. 
(ii) The heading of section 634 is amended by 
striking ‘‘colonels and’’ and inserting ‘‘and Space 
Force colonels; regular’’. 
(iii) The heading of section 635 is amended by 
striking ‘‘brigadier generals and’’ and inserting ‘‘and 
Space Force brigadier generals; regular Navy’’. 
(iv) The heading of section 636 is amended by 
striking ‘‘officers in grades above brigadier gen-
eral and’’ and inserting ‘‘and Space Force officers 
in grades above brigadier general; regular Navy 
officers in grades above’’. 
(c) MANAGEMENT POLICIES FOR JOINT QUALIFIED OFFICERS.— 
Section 661(a) of such title is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Marine Corps, and Space Force’’ and 
inserting ‘‘and Marine Corps’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘, and officers of the Space Force on the 
Space Force officer list,’’ after ‘‘active-duty list’’. 
(d) LEAVE.—Chapter 40 of such title is amended as follows: 
(1) ENTITLEMENT
AND
ACCUMULATION.—Section 701 is 
amended— 
(A) in subsection (h)— 
(i) by inserting at the end of paragraph (2) the 
following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) A member of the Space Force in a space force active 
status, not on sustained duty.’’; and 
(ii) in paragraphs (5)(B) and (6), by inserting ‘‘, 
or of the Space Force,’’ after ‘‘member of a reserve 
component’’; and 
(B) in subsection (i), by inserting ‘‘, or of the Space 
Force,’’ after ‘‘member of a reserve component’’. 
(2) PAYMENT
UPON
DISAPPROVAL
OF
CERTAIN
BOARD
OF 
INQUIRY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXCESS LEAVE REQUIRED TO 
BE
TAKEN.—Section 707a(a)(1) is amended by inserting ‘‘or 
20503’’ after ‘‘section 1182(c)(2)’’. 
(3) CAREER FLEXIBILITY TO ENHANCE RETENTION OF MEM-
BERS.—Section 710 is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘or of the Space 
Force’’ after ‘‘regular components’’; 
(B) in subsection (b)(2), by inserting ‘‘, or a Space 
Force officer in a space force active status not on active 
duty under section 20105(b) of this title,’’ after ‘‘officer’’; 
(C) in subsection (c)(1), by inserting before the period 
at the end the following: ‘‘or, in the case of a member
H. R. 2670—536 
of the Space Force on sustained duty, to accept release 
from sustained duty orders and to serve in a space force 
active status’’; and 
(D) in subsection (g)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘chapter 36 or 
1405’’ and inserting ‘‘chapter 36, 1405, or 2005’’. 
(e) LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF OFFICES WHO MAY BE FROCKED 
TO A HIGHER GRADE.—Section 777(d)(2) of such title is amended 
by inserting ‘‘, or for the Space Force, the Space Force officer 
list,’’ after ‘‘active-duty list’’. 
(f) UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE.—Chapter 47 of such 
title (the Uniform Code of Military Justice), is amended as follows: 
(1) PERSONS
SUBJECT
TO
UCMJ.—Section 802 (article 2) 
is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘and members 
of the Space Force on active duty under section 20105 
of this title,’’ after ‘‘regular component of the armed 
forces,’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (3)(A)(i), by inserting ‘‘or the 
Space Force’’ after ‘‘reserve component’’; 
(iii) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘, or retired 
members of the Space Force who qualified for a non- 
regular retirement and are receiving retired pay,’’ after 
‘‘a reserve component’’; and 
(iv) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(14) Retired members of the Space Force who qualified 
for a regular retirement under section 20603 of this title and 
are receiving retired pay.’’; and 
(B) in subsection (d)— 
(i) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘or the Space 
Force’’ after ‘‘reserve component’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘or the Space 
Force’’ after ‘‘a reserve component’’; and 
(iii) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘or the Space 
Force’’ after ‘‘in a regular component of the armed 
forces’’. 
(2) JURISDICTION TO TRY CERTAIN PERSONNEL.—Subsection 
(d) of section 803 (article 3) is amended by inserting, ‘‘or the 
Space Force’’ after ‘‘reserve component’’. 
(3) ARTICLES TO BE EXPLAINED.—Section 937 (article 137) 
is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)(1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of subparagraph 
(A); 
(ii) by striking the period at the end of subpara-
graph (B) and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) the member’s initial entrance on active duty or into 
a space force active status.’’; 
(B) in subsection (a)(2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph 
(A); 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subpara-
graph (C); and
H. R. 2670—537 
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph: 
‘‘(B) after a member of Space Force has completed six 
months of sustained duty or in the case of a member not 
on sustained duty, after the member has completed basic or 
recruit training; and’’; 
(C) in subsection (b)(1)(B), by inserting ‘‘or the Space 
Force’’ after ‘‘in a reserve component’’; and 
(D) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘or to a member 
of a reserve component,’’ and inserting ‘‘, to a member 
of a reserve component, or to a member of the Space 
Force,’’. 
(f) RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE OF CIVIL FUNCTIONS BY OFFI-
CERS
ON ACTIVE DUTY.—Section 973(b)(1) of such title 10 is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph (B); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (C) 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) to an officer on the Space Force officer list serving 
on active duty under section 20105(b) of this title or under 
a call or order to active duty for a period in excess of 270 
days.’’. 
(h) USE
OF COMMISSARY STORES
AND MWR RETAIL FACILI-
TIES.—Section 1063 of such title is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in the heading, by inserting ‘‘AND SPACE FORCE’’ 
after ‘‘RESERVE’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or the Space Force’’ after ‘‘reserve 
component’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections 
(e) and (f), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new sub-
section (d): 
‘‘(d) MEMBERS OF THE SPACE FORCE.—A member of the Space 
Force in a space force active status who is not on sustained duty 
shall be permitted to use commissary stores and MWR retail facili-
ties under the same conditions as specified in subsection (a) for 
a member of the Selected Reserve.’’; and 
(4) in subsection (e), as redesignated by paragraph (2), 
by striking ‘‘subsection (a) or (b)’’ in paragraph (1) and inserting 
‘‘subsection (a), (b), or (d)’’. 
(i) MEMBERS INVOLUNTARY SEPARATED.— 
(1) ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN BENEFITS AND SERVICES.—Sec-
tion 1141 of such title is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph (3); 
(B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph 
(4) and inserting a semicolon; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(5) in the case of an officer of the Space Force (other 
than a retired officer), the officer is involuntarily discharged 
or released from active duty under other than adverse condi-
tions, as characterized by the Secretary of the Air Force; and 
‘‘(6) in the case of an enlisted member of the Space Force, 
the member is— 
‘‘(A) denied reenlistment; or
H. R. 2670—538 
‘‘(B) involuntarily discharged or released from active 
duty under other than adverse conditions, as characterized 
by the Secretary of the Air Force.’’. 
(2) SEPARATION PAY.—Section 1174(a)(2) of such title is 
amended by striking ‘‘, Marine Corps, or Space Force’’ both 
places it appears and inserting ‘‘or Marine Corps’’. 
(j) BOARDS
FOR
THE CORRECTION
OF MILITARY RECORDS.— 
Chapter 79 of such title is amended as follows: 
(1) REVIEW OF ACTIONS OF SELECTION BOARDS AND CORREC-
TION OF MILITARY RECORDS.—Section 1558 is amended— 
(A) inserting ‘‘, or the Space Force,’’ after ‘‘reserve 
component’’ each place it appears; and 
(B) in subsection (b)— 
(i) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking ‘‘section 628 
or 14502’’ and inserting ‘‘section 628, 14502, or 20252’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘or 14705’’ 
and inserting ‘‘14507, or 20403’’; and 
(iii) in paragraph (2)(B)(i), by striking ‘‘or 14101(a)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘14101(a), or 20211’’. 
(2) TITLE OF AIR FORCE SERVICE REVIEW AGENCY.— 
(A) Sections 1555(c)(3) and 1557(f)(3) are amended by 
inserting ‘‘the Department of’’ after ‘‘Air Force,’’. 
(B) Section 1556(a) is amended by inserting ‘‘the 
Department of’’ after ‘‘the Army Review Boards Agency,’’. 
(C) Section 1559(c)(3) is amended by inserting ‘‘the 
Department of the’’ after ‘‘Air Force,’’. 
(k) MILITARY FAMILY PROGRAMS.—Chapter 88 of such title is 
amended as follows: 
(1) MEMBERS OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MILITARY READI-
NESS COUNCIL.—Section 1781a(b)(1)(B)(iii) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘member and’’ and inserting ‘‘member,’’; 
and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘, and one of whom shall be the spouse 
or parent of a member of the Space Force’’ after ‘‘parent 
of a reserve component member’’. 
(2) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE POLICY AND PLANS FOR MILI-
TARY FAMILY READINESS.—Section 1781b is amended— 
(A) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ‘‘military families 
of members of the regular components and military families 
of members of the reserve components’’ and inserting ‘‘mili-
tary families of members of the regular components, the 
reserve components, and the Space Force’’; and 
(B) in subsection (c)(2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘both’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘military families of members of 
the regular components and military families of mem-
bers of the reserve components’’ and inserting ‘‘military 
families of members of the regular components, mem-
bers of the reserve components, and members of the 
Space Force’’. 
(l) TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS.— 
(1) PAYMENT OF TUITION FOR OFF-DUTY TRAINING OR EDU-
CATION.—Section 2007 of such title is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(g) The provisions of this section pertaining to members of 
the Ready Reserve, the Selected Reserve, or the Individual Ready
H. R. 2670—539 
Reserve also apply to members of the Space Force in a space 
force active status who are not on active duty.’’. 
(2) ROTC FINANCIAL ASSISTANT PROGRAM FOR SPECIALLY 
SELECTED MEMBERS.—Section 2107 of such title is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Navy,’’ and inserting ‘‘Navy or’’; 
and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘or as an officer in the equivalent 
grade in the Space Force’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following a new subsection: 
‘‘(k) APPLICABILITY
TO SPACE FORCE.—(1) Provisions of this 
section referring to a regular commission, regular officer, or a 
commission in a regular component shall be treated as also referring 
to the commission of an officer, or an officer, who is a commissioned 
officer in the Space Force serving on active duty pursuant to section 
20105(b) of this title. 
‘‘(2) Provisions of this section referring to a reserve commission, 
reserve officer, or a commission in a reserve component shall be 
treated as also referring to the commission of an officer, or an 
officer, who is a commissioned officer in the Space Force not serving 
on active duty pursuant to section 20105(b) of this title.’’. 
(3) DUTY
AS
ROTC
ADMINISTRATORS
AND
INSTRUCTORS.— 
Section 2111 of such title is amended by adding at the end 
the following new sentence: ‘‘The Secretary of the Air Force 
may detail members of the Space Force in the same manner 
as regular and reserve members of the Air Force.’’. 
SEC. 1723. TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE (VETERANS’ BENEFITS). 
(a) DEFINITIONS.— 
(1) GENERAL DEFINITIONS.—Section 101 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (23), by inserting ‘‘, or for members 
of the Space Force in a space force active status (as defined 
in section 101(e)(1) of title 10),’’ in subparagraphs (A) and 
(B) after ‘‘(including commissioned officers of the Reserve 
Corps of the Public Health Service)’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (27)— 
(i) by striking subparagraph (E); and 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (F), (G), and 
(H) as subparagraphs (E), (F), and (G), respectively. 
(2) DEFINITIONS FOR PURPOSES OF SGLI.—Section 1965 of 
such title is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ‘‘, or by members 
of the Space Force in a space force active status (as defined 
in section 101(e)(1) of title 10) but not on sustained duty 
under section 20105 of title 10,’’ after ‘‘for Reserves’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)(A), by inserting ‘‘, or for members 
of the Space Force in a space force active status (as defined 
in section 101(e)(1) of title 10),’’ after ‘‘(including commis-
sioned officers of the Reserve Corps of the Public Health 
Service)’’. 
(b) PERSONS ELIGIBLE
FOR INTERMENT
IN NATIONAL CEME-
TERIES.—Section 2402(a) of such title is amended in paragraph 
(2), by inserting ‘‘ any member of the Space Force,’’ after ‘‘a Reserve 
component of the Armed Forces,’’. 
(c) EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.—
H. R. 2670—540 
(1) MONTGOMERY GI BILL.—Section 3011(a)(3)(D) of such 
title is amended by inserting ‘‘or for further service in the 
Space Force in a space force active status not on sustained 
duty under section 20105 of title 10’’ after ‘‘of the Armed 
Forces,’’. 
(2) POST 9-11 GI BILL.—Section 3311(c)(3) of such title is 
amended by inserting ‘‘, or for further service in the Space 
Force in a space force active status not on sustained duty 
under section 20105 of title 10,’’ after ‘‘of the Armed Forces’’ 
the second place it appears. 
Subtitle C—Transition Provisions 
SEC. 1731. TRANSITION PERIOD. 
In this subtitle, the term ‘‘transition period’’ means the period 
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending 
on the last day of the fourth fiscal year beginning after the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 1732. CHANGE OF DUTY STATUS OF MEMBERS OF THE SPACE 
FORCE. 
(a) CHANGE OF DUTY STATUS.— 
(1) CONVERSION
OF
STATUS
AND
ORDER
TO
SUSTAINED 
DUTY.—During the transition period, the Secretary of the Air 
Force shall change the duty status of each member of the 
Regular Space Force to space force active status and shall, 
at the same time, order the member to sustained duty under 
section 20105 of title 10, United States Code, as added by 
section 1715. Any such order may be made without regard 
to any otherwise applicable requirement that such an order 
be made only with the consent of the member or as specified 
in an enlistment agreement or active-duty service commitment. 
(2) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section, the terms 
‘‘space force active status’’ and ‘‘sustained duty’’ have the 
meanings given those terms by subsection (e) of section 101 
of title 10, United States Code, as added by section 1713(a). 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE OF CHANGE OF DUTY STATUS.—The change 
of a member’s duty status and order to sustained duty in accordance 
with subsection (a) shall be effective on the date specified by the 
Secretary of the Air Force, but not later than the last day of 
the transition period. 
SEC. 1733. TRANSFER TO THE SPACE FORCE OF MEMBERS OF THE 
RESERVE COMPONENTS OF THE AIR FORCE. 
(a) TRANSFER OF MEMBERS.— 
(1) OFFICERS.—During the transition period, the Secretary 
of Defense may, with the officer’s consent, transfer a covered 
officer of a reserve component of the Air Force to, and appoint 
the officer in, the Space Force. 
(2) ENLISTED MEMBERS.—During the transition period, the 
Secretary of the Air Force may transfer each covered enlisted 
member of a reserve component of the Air Force to the Space 
Force, other than those members who do not consent to the 
transfer. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE OF TRANSFERS.—Each transfer under 
this subsection shall be effective on the date specified by the 
Secretary of Defense, in the case of an officer, or the Secretary
H. R. 2670—541 
of the Air Force, in the case of an enlisted member, but not 
later than the last day of the transition period. 
(b) REGULATIONS.—Transfers under subsection (a) shall be car-
ried out under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. 
In the case of an officer, applicable regulations shall include those 
prescribed pursuant to section 716 of title 10, United States Code. 
(c) TERM
OF INITIAL ENLISTMENT
IN SPACE FORCE.—In the 
case of a covered enlisted member who is transferred to the Space 
Force in accordance with subsection (a), the Secretary of the Air 
Force may accept the initial enlistment of the member in the 
Space Force for a period of less than 2 years, but only if the 
period of enlistment in the Space Force is not less than the period 
remaining, as of the date of the transfer, in the member’s term 
of enlistment in a reserve component of the Air Force. 
(d) END
STRENGTH
ADJUSTMENTS
UPON
TRANSFERS
FROM 
RESERVE COMPONENTS OF THE AIR FORCE.—During the transition 
period, upon the transfer of a mission of the Air Force Reserve 
to the Space Force— 
(1) the end strength authorized for the Space Force pursu-
ant to section 115(a)(1)(A) of title 10, United States Code, 
for the fiscal year during which the transfer occurs shall be 
increased by the number of billets associated with that mission; 
and 
(2) the end strength authorized for the reserve components 
of the Air Force pursuant to section 115(a)(2) of such title 
for such fiscal year shall be decreased by the same number. 
(e) ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.—For purposes of the transfer 
of covered members of the Air Force Reserve in accordance with 
subsection (a)— 
(1) the Air Force Reserve, the Air National Guard, and 
the Space Force shall be considered to be components of the 
same Armed Force; and 
(2) the Space Force officer list shall be considered to be 
an active-duty list of an Armed Force. 
(f) RETRAINING
AND
REASSIGNMENT
FOR
MEMBERS
NOT 
TRANSFERRING.—If a covered member of a reserve component of 
the Air Force does not consent to transfer to the Space Force 
in accordance with subsection (a), the Secretary of the Air Force 
may, as determined appropriate by the Secretary in the case of 
the individual member, provide the member retraining and 
reassignment within a reserve component of the Air Force. 
(g) COVERED DEFINED.—For purposes of this section, the term 
‘‘covered’’, with respect to a member of a reserve component of 
the Air Force, means— 
(1) a member who, as of the date of the enactment of 
this Act, holds an Air Force specialty code for a specialty 
held by members of the Space Force; and 
(2) any other member designated by the Secretary of the 
Air Force for the purposes of this section. 
SEC. 1734. PLACEMENT OF OFFICERS ON THE SPACE FORCE OFFICER 
LIST. 
(a) PLACEMENT ON LIST.—Officers of the Space Force whose 
duty status is changed in accordance with section 1732, and officers 
of the reserve components of the Air Force who transfer to the 
Space Force in accordance with 1733, shall be placed on the Space
H. R. 2670—542 
Force officer list in an order determined by their respective grades 
and dates of rank. 
(b) OFFICERS OF SAME GRADE AND DATE OF RANK.—Among 
officers of the same grade and date of rank, placement on the 
Space Force officer list shall be in the order of their rank as 
determined in accordance with section 741(c) of title 10, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 1735. DISESTABLISHMENT OF REGULAR SPACE FORCE. 
(a) DISESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of the Air Force shall 
disestablish the Regular Space Force not later than the end of 
the transition period, once there are no longer any members 
remaining in the Regular Space Force. The Regular Space Force 
shall be disestablished upon the completion of the change of duty 
status of all members of the Space Force pursuant to section 1742 
and certification by the Secretary of the Air Force to the congres-
sional defense committees that there are no longer any members 
of the Regular Space Force. 
(b) PUBLICATION OF NOTICE IN FEDERAL REGISTER.—The Sec-
retary shall publish in the Federal Register notice of the disestab-
lishment of the Regular Space Force, including the date thereof, 
together with any certification submitted pursuant to subsection 
(a). 
(c) CONFORMING REPEAL.— 
(1) REPEAL.—Section 9085 of title 10, United States Code, 
relating to the composition of the Regular Space Force, is 
repealed. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by this sub-
section shall take effect on the date on which the certification 
is submitted under subsection (a). 
SEC. 1736. END STRENGTH FLEXIBILITY. 
(a) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY TO VARY END STRENGTHS.— 
(1) AUTHORITY.—Notwithstanding section 115(g) of title 10, 
United States Code, upon determination by the Secretary of 
the Air Force that such action would enhance manning and 
readiness in essential units or in critical specialties, the Sec-
retary may vary the end strength authorized by Congress for 
a fiscal year as follows: 
(A) Increase the end strength authorized pursuant to 
section 115(a)(1)(A) of such title for a fiscal year for the 
Space Force by a number equal to not more than 5 percent 
of such authorized end strength. 
(B) Decrease the end strength authorized pursuant 
to section 115(a)(1)(A) of such title for a fiscal year for 
the Space Force by a number equal to not more than 
10 percent of such authorized end strength. 
(2) TERMINATION.—The authority provided under para-
graph (1) shall terminate on the last day of the transition 
period. 
(b) TEMPORARY EXEMPTION FOR THE SPACE FORCE FROM END 
STRENGTH GRADE RESTRICTIONS.—Sections 517 and 523 of title 
10, United States Code, shall not apply to the Space Force during 
the transition period. 
SEC. 1737. PROMOTION AUTHORITY FLEXIBILITY. 
(a) PROMOTION AUTHORITY FLEXIBILITY.—During the transition 
period, the Secretary of the Air Force may convene selection boards
H. R. 2670—543 
to consider officers on the space force officer list for promotion, 
and may promote Space Force officers selected by such boards, 
in accordance with any of the following provisions of title 10, United 
States Code: 
(1) Chapter 36. 
(2) Part III of subtitle E. 
(3) Chapter 2005, as added by section 1716. 
(b) COORDINATION OF PROVISIONS.— 
(1) For a selection board convened pursuant to subsection 
(a) to consider members of the Space Force for promotion in 
accordance with chapter 36 of such title— 
(A) provisions that apply to an officer of a regular 
component of the Armed Forces shall apply to an officer 
of the Space Force; and 
(B) the space force officer list shall be considered to 
be an active-duty list. 
(2) For a selection board convened pursuant to pursuant 
to subsection (a) to consider members of the Space Force for 
promotion in accordance with part III of subtitle E of such 
title— 
(A) provisions that apply to an officer of a reserve 
component of the Armed Forces shall apply to an officer 
of the Space Force; and 
(B) the space force officer list shall be considered to 
be a reserve active-status list. 
(3) For a selection board convened pursuant to subsection 
(a) to consider members of the Space Force for promotion in 
accordance with either chapter 36 or part III of subtitle E 
of such title— 
(A) section 20213 of such title shall apply to the com-
position of the selection board; 
(B) the provisions of chapter 2005 of such title 
regarding officers on the space force officer list eligible 
to be considered for promotion to the grade of brigadier 
general or major general shall apply; 
(C) section 20216 of such title shall apply; and 
(D) the provisions of chapter 36 or part III of subtitle 
E of such title, as the case may be, regarding failure 
of selection for promotion shall apply. 
(c) EFFECT
OF USING NEW CHAPTER 2005 AUTHORITIES.—If 
the Secretary of the Air Force convenes a selection board under 
chapter 2005 of title 10, United States Code, as added by section 
1716, to consider officers on the space force officer list in a particular 
grade and competitive category for selection for promotion to the 
next higher grade, the Secretary may not convene a future selection 
board pursuant to subsection (a) to consider officers of the same 
grade and competitive category under chapter 36 or part III of 
subtitle E of such title. 
Subtitle D—Other Amendments Related to 
the Space Force 
SEC. 1741. TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE. 
(a) AMENDMENTS RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF GRADES 
FOR OFFICERS OF THE SPACE FORCE.—Title 10, United States Code, 
is amended as follows:
H. R. 2670—544 
(1) COMMISSIONED
OFFICER
GRADES.—Section 9151 is 
amended by inserting ‘‘and in the Space Force’’ after ‘‘in the 
Regular Air Force’’. 
(2) RANK.—Section 741(a) is amended in the table by 
striking ‘‘and Marine Corps’’ and inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, and 
Space Force’’. 
(3) DEFINITION OF GENERAL OFFICER.—Section 101(b)(4) is 
amended by striking ‘‘or Marine Corps’’ and inserting ‘‘Marine 
Corps, or Space Force’’. 
(4) TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS TO POSITIONS DESIGNATED 
TO CARRY THE GRADE OF GENERAL OR LIEUTENANT GENERAL.— 
Section 601(e) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘or Marine Corps,’’ and inserting 
‘‘Marine Corps, or Space Force or’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘or the commensurate grades in the 
Space Force,’’. 
(5) RETIRED GRADE OF OFFICERS.—Section 1370 is amended 
as follows: 
(A) Subsection (a)(2) is amended by striking ‘‘major 
general’’ and all that follows in subparagraphs (A) and 
(B) and inserting ‘‘major general or rear admiral.’’. 
(B) Subsection (b) is amended— 
(i) in paragraph (1)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘or Marine Corps’’ and all that 
follows through ‘‘the Space Force,’’ and inserting 
‘‘Marine Corps, or, Space Force or lieutenant in 
the Navy,’’; and 
(II) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘major 
general’’ and all that follow through ‘‘Space Force’’ 
and inserting ‘‘major general or rear admiral’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘or Marine Corps’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘Space Force,’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, or Space Force or captain 
in the Navy,’’; 
(iii) in paragraph (5)— 
(I) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘or Marine 
Corps’’ and all that follows through ‘‘Space Force,’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, or Space Force or 
lieutenant commander in the Navy,’’; 
(II) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘or 
Marine Corps’’ and all that follows through ‘‘Space 
Force,’’ and inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, or Space 
Force or commander or captain in the Navy,’’; and 
(III) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘or 
Marine Corps’’ and all that follows through ‘‘Space 
Force,’’ and inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, or Space 
Force or rear admiral (lower half) or rear admiral 
in the Navy,’’; and 
(iv) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘, or an equivalent 
grade in the Space Force,’’. 
(C) Subsection (c)(1) is amended by ‘‘or Marine Corps’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘Space Force’’ and inserting 
‘‘Marine Corps, or Space Force or vice admiral or admiral 
in the Navy’’. 
(D) Subsection (d) is amended— 
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘or Marine Corps’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘Space Force’’ and
H. R. 2670—545 
inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, or Space Force or rear 
admiral in the Navy’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘or Marine Corps’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘Space Force,’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, or Space Force or captain 
in the Navy,’’. 
(E) Subsection (e)(2) is amended by striking ‘‘or Marine 
Corps’’ and all that follows through ‘‘Space Force,’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, or Space Force or vice admiral 
or admiral in the Navy,’’. 
(F) Subsection (f) is amended— 
(i) in paragraph (3)— 
(I) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘or Marine 
Corps’’ and all that follows through ‘‘Space Force,’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, or Space Force or 
rear admiral in the Navy’’; and 
(II) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘ ‘or 
Marine Corps’ and all that follows through ‘Space 
Force’ and inserting ″Marine Corps, or Space Force 
or vice admiral or admiral in the Navy’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (6)— 
(I) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘or Marine 
Corps’’ and all that follows through ‘‘Space Force,’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, or Space Force or 
rear admiral in the Navy’’; and 
(II) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘or 
Marine Corps’’ and all that follows through ‘‘Space 
Force,’’ and inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, or Space 
Force or vice admiral or admiral in the Navy’’. 
(6) 
HONORARY
PROMOTIONS.—Sections 
1563(c)(1) 
and 
1563a(a)(1) are each amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘general,’’ and inserting ‘‘general or’’; 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘, or an equivalent grade in the Space 
Force’’. 
(7) AIR
FORCE
INSPECTOR
GENERAL.—Section 9020(a) is 
amended by striking ‘‘the general, flag, or equivalent officers 
of’’. 
(b) OTHER
TITLE
10 AMENDMENTS.—Such title is further 
amended as follows: 
(1) LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF RETIRED MEMBERS ORDERED 
TO ACTIVE DUTY.—Section 690(a) is amended by striking ‘‘or 
Marine Corps,’’ and inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, or Space Force,’’. 
(2) THE UNIFORM.—Section 772(i) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘an Air Force School’’ and inserting 
‘‘an Air Force or Space Force school’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘aviation badges of the Air Force’’ and 
inserting ‘‘aviation or space badges of the Air Force or 
Space Force’’. 
(3) MEMBERSHIP IN MILITARY UNIONS, ORGANIZING OF MILI-
TARY UNIONS, AND RECOGNITION OF MILITARY UNIONS PROHIB-
ITED.—Section 976(a) is amended by inserting ‘‘or the Space 
Force’’ in paragraph (1)(C) after ‘‘member of a Reserve compo-
nent’’. 
(4) LIMITATION
ON
ENLISTED
AIDES.—Section 981 is 
amended—
H. R. 2670—546 
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘Marine Corps, Air 
Force,’’ and inserting ‘‘Air Force, Marine Corps, Space 
Force,’’; 
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘and Marine Corps’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, and Space Force’’; and 
(C) in subsection (c)(1), by inserting ‘‘Space Force,’’ 
after ‘‘Marine Corps,’’. 
(5) DEFINITION
OF
VETERAN
FOR
PURPOSES
OF
FUNERAL 
HONORS.—Section 1491(h)(1) is amended by striking ‘‘or air 
service’’ and inserting ‘‘air, or space service’’. 
(6) HOUSING FOR RECRUITS.—Section 9419(d) is amended 
by inserting ‘‘or the Space Force’’ after ‘‘training program of 
the Air Force’’. 
(7) CHARTER OF CHIEF OF SPACE OPERATIONS.—Section 9082 
is amended as follows: 
(A) CROSS-REFERENCE CORRECTION.—Subsection (d)(5) 
is amended by striking ‘‘sections’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘of law’’ and inserting ‘‘sections 171 and 3104 
of this title and other provisions of law’’. 
(B) ELAPSED-TIME
PROVISION.—Subsection (e)(1) is 
amended by striking ‘‘Commencing’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘the Chief’’ and inserting ‘‘The Chief’’. 
SEC. 1742. OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW. 
(a) TRADE ACT OF 1974.—Section 233(i)(1) of the Trade Act 
of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2293(i)(1)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, or a 
member of the Space Force,’’ after ‘‘a member of a reserve compo-
nent of the Armed Forces’’. 
(b) TITLE 28, UNITED STATES CODE (JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL 
PROCEDURE).—Section 631(c) of title 28, United States Code is 
amended by inserting ‘‘members of the Space Force’’ after ‘‘Coast 
Guard’’ the second place it appears. 
(c) SERVICEMEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF ACT.—The Servicemembers 
Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.) is amended as follows: 
(1) MILITARY
SERVICE
DEFINED.—Section 101(2)(A) (50 
U.S.C. 3911(2)(A)) is amended by inserting ‘‘Space Force,’’ after 
‘‘Marine Corps,’’. 
(2) SAME RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS AS RESERVES ORDERED 
TO REPORT FOR MILITARY SERVICE.—Section 106 (50 U.S.C. 3911) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) The provisions of subsection (a) apply to a member of 
the Space Force who is ordered to report for military service in 
the same manner as to a member of a reserve component who 
is ordered to report for military service.’’. 
(3) EXERCISE OF RIGHTS UNDER SCRA.—Section 108(5) (50 
U.S.C. 3919(5)) is amended by inserting before the period at 
the end the following: ‘‘or as a member of the Space Force’’. 
TITLE XVIII—OTHER DEFENSE 
MATTERS 
Subtitle A—Other Defense Matters 
Sec. 1801. Technical and conforming amendments. 
Sec. 1802. Extension of authority to engage in certain commercial activities. 
Sec. 1803. Modification to requirements relating to combating military reliance on 
Russian energy. 
Sec. 1804. U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day Act of 2023.
H. R. 2670—547 
Sec. 1805. Improvements to Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense 
Joint Executive Committee. 
Sec. 1806. Access to and use of military post offices by United States citizens em-
ployed overseas by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization who perform 
functions in support of military operations of the Armed Forces. 
Sec. 1807. Extension of admission to Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands for certain nonimmigrant H–2B workers. 
Sec. 1808. Support for execution of bilateral agreements concerning illicit 
transnational maritime activity in Africa. 
Sec. 1809. National Cold War Center designation. 
Sec. 1810. Revision of requirement for transfer of certain aircraft to State of Cali-
fornia for wildfire suppression purposes. 
Sec. 1811. Limitation on funds for Wuhan Institute of Virology and EcoHealth Alli-
ance, Inc. 
Subtitle B—Drone Security 
Sec. 1821. Short title. 
Sec. 1822. Definitions. 
Sec. 1823. Prohibition on procurement of covered unmanned aircraft systems from 
covered foreign entities. 
Sec. 1824. Prohibition on operation of covered unmanned aircraft systems from cov-
ered foreign entities. 
Sec. 1825. Prohibition on use of Federal funds for procurement and operation of 
covered unmanned aircraft systems from covered foreign entities. 
Sec. 1826. Prohibition on use of Government-issued purchase cards to purchase 
covered unmanned aircraft systems from covered foreign entities. 
Sec. 1827. Management of existing inventories of covered unmanned aircraft sys-
tems from covered foreign entities. 
Sec. 1828. Comptroller General report. 
Sec. 1829. Government-wide policy for procurement of unmanned aircraft systems. 
Sec. 1830. State, local, and territorial law enforcement and emergency service ex-
emption. 
Sec. 1831. Study. 
Sec. 1832. Exceptions. 
Sec. 1833. Sunset. 
Subtitle C—Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena 
Sec. 1841. Unidentified anomalous phenomena records collection at the National 
Archives and Records Administration. 
Sec. 1842. Review, identification, transmission to the National Archives, and public 
disclosure of unidentified anomalous phenomena records by government 
offices. 
Sec. 1843. Grounds for postponement of public disclosure of unidentified anomalous 
phenomena records. 
Subtitle D—World Trade Center Health Program 
Sec. 1851. Flexibility and funding for the World Trade Center Health Program. 
Sec. 1852. Extension of certain direct spending reductions. 
Sec. 1853. Medicare improvement fund. 
Subtitle A—Other Defense Matters 
SEC. 1801. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 
(a) TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE.—Title 10, United States 
Code, is amended as follows: 
(1) In the subtitle analysis for subtitle A— 
(A) by striking the item relating to chapter 113 and 
inserting the following new item: 
‘‘113. Defense Civilian Training Corps .........................................................2200g’’; 
(B) by striking the item relating to chapter 207 and 
inserting the following new item: 
‘‘207. Budgeting and Appropriations ............................................................. 3131’’; 
(C) by striking the item relating to chapter 225 and 
inserting the following new item: 
‘‘225. øReserved¿ ................................................................................................. 3271’’;
H. R. 2670—548 
(D) by striking the item relating to chapter 272 and 
inserting the following new item: 
‘‘272. øReserved¿ ................................................................................................. 3721’’; 
(E) by striking the item relating to chapter 287 and 
inserting the following new item: 
‘‘287. Other Contracting Programs ................................................................ 3901’’; 
(F) by striking the item relating to chapter 305 and 
inserting the following new item: 
‘‘305. Universities ............................................................................................... 4141’’; 
(G) by inserting after the item relating to chapter 
307 the following new items: 
‘‘SUBPART F—MAJOR SYSTEMS, MAJOR DEFENSE ACQUISITION 
PROGRAMS, AND WEAPON SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT 
‘‘321. General Matters ........................................................................................4201
‘‘322. Major Systems and Major Defense Acquisition Programs Gen-
erally ........................................................................................................4211
‘‘323. Life-Cycle and Sustainment ..................................................................4321
‘‘324. Selected Acquisition Reports ................................................................4350
‘‘325. Cost Growth-Unit Cost Reports (Nunn-McCurdy) ...........................4371
‘‘326. Weapon Systems Development And Related Matters .....................
4401’’; and 
(H) by striking the item relating to chapter 383 and 
inserting the following new item: 
‘‘383. Development, Application, and Support of Dual-Use Tech-
nologies ................................................................................................... 4831’’. 
(2) Section 172(c) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘performs’’ and 
inserting ‘‘perform’’; 
(B) in paragraph (11), by striking ‘‘establishes’’ and 
inserting ‘‘establish’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (13), by striking ‘‘conducts’’ and 
inserting ‘‘conduct’’. 
(3) Section 231 is amended— 
(A) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘plan and cer-
tification’’ and inserting ‘‘plans and certifications’’; and 
(B) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ‘‘such plan and 
certification’’ and inserting ‘‘such plans and certifications’’. 
(4) Section 386(b) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (2)(E), by striking ‘‘bi-lateral’’ and 
inserting ‘‘bilateral’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) in subparagraph (E)(iii), by inserting ‘‘and’’ after 
the semicolon; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (H), by striking ‘‘sections’’ and 
inserting ‘‘section’’. 
(5) Section 392a is amended— 
(A) in subsection (b)(2)(B) by striking ‘‘designed’’ and 
inserting ‘‘designated’’; and 
(B) in subsection (c)(4)(A), by striking ‘‘clause (ii)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subparagraph (B)’’. 
(6) The second section 398 (relating to pilot program for 
sharing cyber capabilities and related information with foreign 
operational partners) is redesignated as section 398a. 
(7) Section 398a, as so redesignated, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (b)— 
(i) in paragraph (1)(A) by striking ‘‘paragraph (a)’’ 
inserting ‘‘subsection (a)’’;
H. R. 2670—549 
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘paragraph (a)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘paragraph (1)’’; and 
(iii) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘clause (1)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘paragraph (1)’’; and 
(B) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘paragraph (a)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subsection (a)’’. 
(8) Section 491(c) is amended by striking ‘‘the a’’ and 
inserting ‘‘a’’. 
(9) Section 526a is amended by redesignating the second 
subsection (i) as subsection (j). 
(10) Section 701(l)(1)(B) is amended by redesignating 
clauses (A) through (C) as clauses (i) through (iii). 
(11) Section 1074h(c)(1) is amended by striking ‘‘section 
491 of title 14’’ and inserting ‘‘section 2732 of title 14’’. 
(12) Section 1076a(d)(1)(E)(i) is amended by inserting ‘‘)’’ 
after ‘‘subsection (e)(3)’’. 
(13) The section heading for section 1090a is amended 
by striking the period after ‘‘disorders’’. 
(14) Section 1090b(e)(1)(B)(ii) is amended by striking 
‘‘ensure’’ and inserting ‘‘ensuring’’. 
(15) Section 1134a(b) is amended by striking ‘‘section 491 
of title 14’’ and inserting ‘‘section 2732 of title 14’’. 
(16) Section 1370a is amended— 
(A) in subsection (e), by inserting ‘‘to’’ before ‘‘ ‘active 
duty’ ’’; and 
(B) in subsection (f)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘1370e(e)’’ and inserting ‘‘1370(e)’’; 
and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘reference to ‘chapter 71’ of this 
title’’ and inserting ‘‘reference to ‘chapter 71 of this 
title’ ’’. 
(17) Section 1789(c)(3) is amended by striking ‘‘subpara-
graph (A) or (B)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (1) or (2)’’. 
(18) Section 2200g(a) is amended by inserting ‘‘IN GEN-
ERAL.—’’ before ‘‘The Secretary’’. 
(19) Section 2228(c)(2) is amended by striking ‘‘;;’’ and 
inserting ‘‘;’’. 
(20) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 134 
is amended by striking the item relating to section 2249. 
(21) Section 2275(g)(3) is amended by striking ‘‘sections’’ 
and inserting ‘‘section’’. 
(22) Section 2700(2) is amended by striking ‘‘The term’’ 
and inserting ‘‘The terms’’. 
(23) Section 2864(f) is amended by redesignating paragraph 
(6) as paragraph (4). 
(24) Section 2878(f)(2)(D)(iii) is amended by striking ‘‘An 
report’’ and inserting ‘‘A report’’. 
(25) The item relating to section 3106 in the table of 
sections at the beginning of chapter 205 is amended by inserting 
a period at the end. 
(26) Section 3304(g) is amended by inserting ‘‘under’’ before 
‘‘this section’’. 
(27) Section 3323(b)(2) is amended by striking the period 
after ‘‘notwithstanding’’. 
(28) Section 3601(b)(4) is amended by inserting ‘‘note’’ 
before ‘‘prec.’’. 
(29) Section 3702 is amended—
H. R. 2670—550 
(A) in subsection (a)(4) is amended by striking 
‘‘subparagraph (C)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (3)’’; and 
(B) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘subparagraphs (B) 
and (C) of such paragraph’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraphs (1) 
and (2) of such subsection’’. 
(30) Section 4014(b) is amended by striking ‘‘section 4142(b) 
of this title’’ and inserting ‘‘section 4125(b) of this title’’. 
(31) Section 4024 is amended by striking ‘‘section 2303(a) 
of this title’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘section 3063 
of this title’’. 
(32) By striking the second section 4094. 
(33) Section 4092(c)(2) is amended by striking ‘‘the the’’ 
and inserting ‘‘the’’. 
(34) Section 4273(b)(5)(A) is amended by striking ‘‘4736’’ 
and inserting ‘‘4376’’. 
(35) Section 4351(c)(1)(B)(iv) is amended by striking ‘‘sec-
tion 4355(4) of this title’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (e)(4)’’. 
(36) Section 4820(b) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘subchapters’’ and inserting ‘‘chapters’’; 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘subchapter’’ and inserting ‘‘chapter’’. 
(37) Section 4902(k)(5) is amended by inserting ‘‘the’’ before 
‘‘mentor’’. 
(38) Section 8062 is amended by redesignating the second 
subsection (g) as subsection (h). 
(39) Chapter 863 is amended by redesignating the second 
section 8696 (relating to battle force ship employment, mainte-
nance, and manning baseline plans) as section 8697. 
(b) COORDINATION WITH OTHER AMENDMENTS MADE BY THIS 
ACT.—For purposes of applying amendments made by provisions 
of this Act other than this section, the amendments made by this 
section shall be treated as having been enacted immediately before 
any such amendments by other provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 1802. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO ENGAGE IN CERTAIN 
COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES. 
Section 431(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘December 31, 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2024’’. 
SEC. 1803. MODIFICATION TO REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO COM-
BATING MILITARY RELIANCE ON RUSSIAN ENERGY. 
Section 1086 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ‘‘main operating bases’’ 
and inserting ‘‘operating bases’’; and 
(2) in each of subsections (b) and (g), by striking ‘‘main 
operating base’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘operating 
base’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘MAIN’’; 
(B) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the fol-
lowing new paragraph (1): 
‘‘(1) IDENTIFICATION OF INSTALLATIONS.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees 
a list of operating bases within the area of responsibility of 
the United States European Command ranked according to
H. R. 2670—551 
mission criticality and vulnerability to energy disruption as 
follows: 
‘‘(A) In the case of a main operating base, by not 
later than June 1, 2023. 
‘‘(B) In the case of any operating base other than 
a main operating base, by not later than June 1, 2024.’’; 
and 
(C) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ after ‘‘para-
graph (1)’’. 
SEC. 1804. U.S. HOSTAGE AND WRONGFUL DETAINEE DAY ACT OF 2023. 
(a) DESIGNATION.— 
(1) HOSTAGE AND WRONGFUL DETAINEE DAY.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 1 of title 36, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(i) by redesignating the second section 146 
(relating to Choose Respect Day) as section 147; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 148. U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day 
‘‘(a) DESIGNATION.—March 9 is U.S. Hostage and Wrongful 
Detainee Day. 
‘‘(b) PROCLAMATION.—The President is requested to issue each 
year a proclamation calling on the people of the United States 
to observe U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day with appro-
priate ceremonies and activities.’’. 
(B) TECHNICAL
AND
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—The 
table of sections for chapter 1 of title 36, United States 
Code, is amended by striking the item relating to the 
second section 146 and inserting the following new items: 
‘‘147. Choose Respect Day. 
‘‘148. U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day.’’. 
(2) HOSTAGE AND WRONGFUL DETAINEE FLAG.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 9 of title 36, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section: 
‘‘§ 904. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag 
‘‘(a) DESIGNATION.—The Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag 
championed by the Bring Our Families Home Campaign is des-
ignated as the symbol of the commitment of the United States 
to recognizing, and prioritizing the freedom of, citizens and lawful 
permanent residents of the United States held as hostages or wrong-
fully detained abroad. 
‘‘(b) REQUIRED DISPLAY.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Hostage and Wrongful Detainee 
flag shall be displayed at the locations specified in paragraph 
(3) on the days specified in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) DAYS SPECIFIED.—The days specified in this paragraph 
are the following: 
‘‘(A) U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day, March 
9. 
‘‘(B) Flag Day, June 14. 
‘‘(C) Independence Day, July 4. 
‘‘(D) Any day on which a citizen or lawful permanent 
resident of the United States—
H. R. 2670—552 
‘‘(i) returns to the United States from being held 
hostage or wrongfully detained abroad; or 
‘‘(ii) dies while being held hostage or wrongfully 
detained abroad. 
‘‘(3) LOCATIONS SPECIFIED.—The locations specified in this 
paragraph are the following: 
‘‘(A) The Capitol. 
‘‘(B) The White House. 
‘‘(C) The buildings containing the official office of— 
‘‘(i) the Secretary of State; and 
‘‘(ii) the Secretary of Defense. 
‘‘(c) DISPLAY TO BE IN A MANNER VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.— 
Display of the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag pursuant to 
this section shall be in a manner designed to ensure visibility 
to the public. 
‘‘(d) LIMITATION.—This section may not be construed or applied 
so as to require any employee to report to work solely for the 
purpose of providing for the display of the Hostage and Wrongful 
Detainee flag.’’. 
(B) TECHNICAL
AND
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—The 
table of sections for chapter 9 of title 36, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘904. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag.’’. 
SEC. 1805. IMPROVEMENTS TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS- 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE JOINT EXECUTIVE COM-
MITTEE. 
Section 320 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraphs: 
‘‘(C) the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employ-
ment and Training and such other officers and employees of 
the Department of Labor as the Secretary of Labor may des-
ignate; and 
‘‘(D) such officers and employees of other Executive agencies 
as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of 
Defense jointly determine, with the consent of the heads of 
the Executive agencies of such officers and employees, necessary 
to carry out the goals and objectives of the Committee.’’; 
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) The co-chairs of the Committee are the Deputy Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs and the Under Secretary of Defense for Per-
sonnel and Readiness.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘Job Training and Post- 
Service Placement Executive Committee’’ and inserting ‘‘Transi-
tion Executive Committee’’; 
(3) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph:
H. R. 2670—553 
‘‘(6) Develop, implement, and oversee such other joint 
actions, initiatives, programs, and policies as the two Secre-
taries determine appropriate and consistent with the purpose 
of the Committee.’’; and 
(4) in subsection (e)— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘JOB 
TRAINING
AND POST-SERVICE PLACEMENT’’ and inserting 
‘‘TRANSITION’’; 
(B) in the matter before paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Job Training and Post-Service 
Placement’’ and inserting ‘‘Transition’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘, in addition to such other activi-
ties as may assigned to the committee under subsection 
(d)(6)’’ after ‘‘shall’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘, transition from 
life in the Armed Forces to civilian life,’’ after ‘‘job training’’. 
SEC. 1806. ACCESS TO AND USE OF MILITARY POST OFFICES BY UNITED 
STATES CITIZENS EMPLOYED OVERSEAS BY THE NORTH 
ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION WHO PERFORM FUNC-
TIONS IN SUPPORT OF MILITARY OPERATIONS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES. 
(a) REQUIREMENT TO AUTHORIZE USE OF POST OFFICE.—Section 
406 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘may 
authorize the use’’ and inserting ‘‘shall authorize the use’’. 
(b) BRIEFING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than March 1, 2024, 
the Secretary of Defense shall brief the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and House of Representatives on the revision 
of the Financial Management Regulation to authorize individuals 
under subparagraph (A) of section 406(c)(1) of title 39, United 
States Code, as amended by subsection (a), to utilize the authority 
provided under such subparagraph. If there is a determination 
that this authority is not feasible for a legal or financial reason, 
the Secretary shall include the background for those determinations 
in the briefing. 
SEC. 1807. EXTENSION OF ADMISSION TO GUAM OR THE COMMON-
WEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS FOR CER-
TAIN NONIMMIGRANT H–2B WORKERS. 
Section 6(b)(1)(B) of the Joint Resolution entitled ‘‘A Joint Reso-
lution to approve the ‘Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth 
of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United 
States of America’, and for other purposes’’, approved March 24, 
1976 (48 U.S.C. 1806(b)(1)(B)), is amended, in the matter preceding 
clause (i), by striking ‘‘December 31, 2024’’ and inserting ‘‘December 
31, 2029’’. 
SEC. 1808. SUPPORT FOR EXECUTION OF BILATERAL AGREEMENTS 
CONCERNING 
ILLICIT 
TRANSNATIONAL 
MARITIME 
ACTIVITY IN AFRICA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, in coordination 
with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, and in consultation 
with the Secretary of State, may provide assistance to the Coast 
Guard for the execution of existing maritime law enforcement agree-
ments between the United States and friendly African countries 
that were established to combat transnational organized illegal 
maritime activity, including illegal, unreported, and unregulated 
fishing.
H. R. 2670—554 
(b) EFFECT ON MILITARY TRAINING AND READINESS.—The Sec-
retary of Defense shall ensure that the provision of assistance 
under this section does not negatively affect military training, oper-
ations, readiness, or other military requirements. 
(c) FUNDS.—If the Secretary of Defense provides assistance 
under subsection (a) during any fiscal year, the Secretary shall 
provide such assistance using amounts available for that fiscal 
year for the Department of Defense for operation and maintenance. 
(d) ASSISTANCE DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘assistance’’ 
means any of the following: 
(1) The use of surface and air assets as bases of operations 
and information collection platforms. 
(2) Communication infrastructure. 
(3) Information sharing. 
(4) The provision of logistic support, supplies, and services 
(as such term is defined in section 2350 of title 10, United 
States Code). 
SEC. 1809. NATIONAL COLD WAR CENTER DESIGNATION. 
(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are— 
(1) to designate the museum located at Blytheville/Eaker 
Air Force Base in Blytheville, Arkansas, including its future 
and expanded exhibits, collections, and educational programs, 
as a ‘‘National Cold War Center’’; 
(2) to recognize the preservation, maintenance, and 
interpretation of the artifacts, documents, images, and history 
collected by the Center; 
(3) to enhance the knowledge of the American people of 
the experience of the United States during the Cold War years; 
and 
(4) to ensure that all future generations understand the 
sacrifices made to preserve freedom and democracy, and the 
benefits of peace for all future generations in the 21st century 
and beyond. 
(b) DESIGNATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The museum located at Blytheville/Eaker 
Air Force Base in Blytheville, Arkansas, is designated as a 
‘‘National Cold War Center’’. 
(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall 
preclude the designation of other national centers or museums 
in the United States interpreting the Cold War. 
(c) EFFECT OF DESIGNATION.—The National Cold War Center 
designated by this section is not a unit of the National Park System, 
and the designation of the center as a National Cold War Center 
shall not be construed to require or permit Federal funds to be 
expended for any purpose related to the designation made by this 
section. 
SEC. 1810. REVISION OF REQUIREMENT FOR TRANSFER OF CERTAIN 
AIRCRAFT TO STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR WILDFIRE 
SUPPRESSION PURPOSES. 
(a) TRANSFER OF EXCESS COAST GUARD HC-130H AIRCRAFT.— 
(1) TRANSFER TO STATE OF CALIFORNIA.—The Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall transfer to the State of California 
without reimbursement— 
(A) the 7 HC–130H aircraft specified in paragraph 
(2); and
H. R. 2670—555 
(B) initial spares and necessary ground support equip-
ment for such aircraft. 
(2) AIRCRAFT
SPECIFIED.—The aircraft specified in this 
paragraph are the HC–130H Coast Guard aircraft with serial 
numbers 1706, 1708, 1709, 1713, 1714, 1719, and 1721. 
(3) TIMING; AIRCRAFT
MODIFICATIONS.—Subject to para-
graph (4), the transfers under paragraph (1)— 
(A) shall be made as soon as practicable after the 
date of the enactment of this Act; and 
(B) may be carried out without further modifications 
to the aircraft by the United States. 
(4) DEMILITARIZATION.—The Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity shall ensure that before an aircraft specified under para-
graph (2) is transferred under paragraph (1), such aircraft 
is demilitarized, as determined necessary by the Secretary. 
(b) CONDITIONS OF TRANSFER.—Aircraft transferred to the State 
of California under this section— 
(1) may be used only for wildfire suppression purposes, 
including search and rescue or emergency operations pertaining 
to wildfires; 
(2) may not be flown outside of, or otherwise removed 
from, the United States unless dispatched by the National 
Interagency Fire Center in support of an international agree-
ment to assist in wildfire suppression efforts or for other dis-
aster-related response purposes approved by the Governor of 
California in writing in advance; and 
(3) may only be disposed of by the State of California 
pursuant to the statutes and regulations governing the disposal 
of aircraft provided to the State of California pursuant to the 
Department of Defense excess personal property program under 
section 2576a of title 10, United States Code. 
(c) CALCULATION
OF INITIAL SPARES.—For purposes of sub-
section (a)(1)(B), initial spares shall be calculated based on shelf 
stock support for 7 HC–130H aircraft each flying 400 hours each 
year. 
(d) TRANSFER
OF RESIDUAL KITS
AND PARTS HELD
BY AIR 
FORCE.—The Secretary of the Air Force may transfer to the State 
of California, without reimbursement, any residual kits and parts 
held by the Secretary of the Air Force that were procured in 
anticipation of the transfer of the aircraft specified in subsection 
(a)(2). 
(e) COSTS AFTER TRANSFER.—Any cost associated with the oper-
ation, maintenance, sustainment, or disposal of any aircraft, initial 
spare, or ground support equipment transferred to the State of 
California under this section that are incurred after the date on 
which such aircraft, initial spare, or ground support equipment 
is transferred shall be borne by the State of California. 
(f) REPEAL
OF
PRIOR
PROVISIONS
OF
LAW
RELATING
TO 
TRANSFER.—The following provisions of law are repealed: 
(1) Subsections (a), (c), (d), and (f) of section 1098 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public 
Law 113–66; 127 Stat. 881), as amended by subsections (a), 
(b), (c), and (d) of section 1083 of the John S. McCain National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 
115–232; 132 Stat. 1989).
H. R. 2670—556 
(2) Subsections (e) and (f) of section 1083 of the John 
S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2019 (Public Law 115–232; 132 Stat. 1989). 
SEC. 1811. LIMITATION ON FUNDS FOR WUHAN INSTITUTE OF 
VIROLOGY AND ECOHEALTH ALLIANCE, INC. 
(a) WUHAN INSTITUTE OF VIROLOGY.—None of the funds author-
ized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available 
for fiscal year 2024 for the Department of Defense may be made 
available for the Wuhan Institute of Virology for any purpose. 
(b) ECOHEALTH ALLIANCE, INC..—None of the funds authorized 
to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for 
fiscal year 2024 for the Department of Defense may be used to 
fund any work to be performed in China by EcoHealth Alliance, 
Inc., including— 
(1) work to be performed by any subsidiary of EcoHealth 
Alliance Inc, any organization that is directly controlled by 
EcoHealth Alliance Inc, or any organization or individual that 
is a subgrantee or subcontractor of EcoHealth Alliance Inc.; 
or 
(2) any grant for the performance of any such work. 
Subtitle B—Drone Security 
SEC. 1821. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘American Security Drone 
Act of 2023’’. 
SEC. 1822. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle: 
(1) COVERED FOREIGN ENTITY.—The term ‘‘covered foreign 
entity’’ means an entity included on a list developed and main-
tained by the Federal Acquisition Security Council and pub-
lished in the System for Award Management (SAM). This list 
will include entities in the following categories: 
(A) An entity included on the Consolidated Screening 
List. 
(B) Any entity that is subject to extrajudicial direction 
from a foreign government, as determined by the Secretary 
of Homeland Security. 
(C) Any entity the Secretary of Homeland Security, 
in coordination with the Attorney General, Director of 
National Intelligence, and the Secretary of Defense, deter-
mines poses a national security risk. 
(D) Any entity domiciled in the People’s Republic of 
China or subject to influence or control by the Government 
of the People’s Republic of China or the Communist Party 
of the People’s Republic of China, as determined by the 
Secretary of Homeland Security. 
(E) Any subsidiary or affiliate of an entity described 
in subparagraphs (A) through (D). 
(2) COVERED UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘cov-
ered unmanned aircraft system’’ has the meaning given the 
term ‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ in section 44801 of title 49, 
United States Code. 
(3) INTELLIGENCE; INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.—The terms 
‘‘intelligence’’ and ‘‘intelligence community’’ have the meanings
H. R. 2670—557 
given those terms in section 3 of the National Security Act 
of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003). 
SEC. 1823. PROHIBITION ON PROCUREMENT OF COVERED UNMANNED 
AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS FROM COVERED FOREIGN ENTITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided under subsections (b) 
through (f), the head of an executive agency may not procure 
any covered unmanned aircraft system that is manufactured or 
assembled by a covered foreign entity, which includes associated 
elements related to the collection and transmission of sensitive 
information (consisting of communication links and the components 
that control the unmanned aircraft) that enable the operator to 
operate the aircraft in the National Airspace System. The Federal 
Acquisition Security Council, in coordination with the Secretary 
of Transportation, shall develop and update a list of associated 
elements. 
(b) EXEMPTION.—The Secretary of Homeland Security, the Sec-
retary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General 
are exempt from the restriction under subsection (a) if the procure-
ment is required in the national interest of the United States 
and— 
(1) is for the sole purposes of research, evaluation, training, 
testing, or analysis for electronic warfare, information warfare 
operations, cybersecurity, or development of unmanned aircraft 
system or counter-unmanned aircraft system technology; 
(2) is for the sole purposes of conducting counterterrorism 
or counterintelligence activities, protective missions, or Federal 
criminal or national security investigations, including forensic 
examinations, or for electronic warfare, information warfare 
operations, cybersecurity, or development of an unmanned air-
craft system or counter-unmanned aircraft system technology; 
or 
(3) is an unmanned aircraft system that, as procured or 
as modified after procurement but before operational use, can 
no longer transfer to, or download data from, a covered foreign 
entity and otherwise poses no national security cybersecurity 
risks as determined by the exempting official. 
(c) DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND FEDERAL AVIATION 
ADMINISTRATION EXEMPTION.—The Secretary of Transportation is 
exempt from the restriction under subsection (a) if the operation 
or procurement is deemed to support the safe, secure, or efficient 
operation of the National Airspace System or maintenance of public 
safety, including activities carried out under the Federal Aviation 
Administration’s Alliance for System Safety of UAS through 
Research Excellence (ASSURE) Center of Excellence (COE) and 
any other activity deemed to support the safe, secure, or efficient 
operation of the National Airspace System or maintenance of public 
safety, as determined by the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee. 
(d) NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD EXEMPTION.— 
The National Transportation Safety Board, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Homeland Security, is exempt from the restriction 
under subsection (a) if the operation or procurement is necessary 
for the sole purpose of conducting safety investigations. 
(e) NATIONAL OCEANIC
AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION 
EXEMPTION.—The Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security, is exempt from the restriction under
H. R. 2670—558 
subsection (a) if the procurement is necessary for the purpose 
of meeting NOAA’s science or management objectives or operational 
mission. 
(f) WAIVER.—The head of an executive agency may waive the 
prohibition under subsection (a) on a case-by-case basis— 
(1) with the approval of the Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget, after consultation with the Federal 
Acquisition Security Council; and 
(2) upon notification to— 
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and Govern-
mental Affairs of the Senate; 
(B) the Committee on Oversight and Accountability 
in the House of Representatives; and 
(C) other appropriate congressional committees of juris-
diction. 
SEC. 1824. PROHIBITION ON OPERATION OF COVERED UNMANNED AIR-
CRAFT SYSTEMS FROM COVERED FOREIGN ENTITIES. 
(a) PROHIBITION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date that is two years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, no Federal depart-
ment or agency may operate a covered unmanned aircraft 
system manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity. 
(2) APPLICABILITY TO CONTRACTED SERVICES.—The prohibi-
tion under paragraph (1) applies to any covered unmanned 
aircraft systems that are being used by any executive agency 
through the method of contracting for the services of covered 
unmanned aircraft systems. 
(b) EXEMPTION.—The Secretary of Homeland Security, the Sec-
retary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General 
are exempt from the restriction under subsection (a) if the operation 
is required in the national interest of the United States and— 
(1) is for the sole purposes of research, evaluation, training, 
testing, or analysis for electronic warfare, information warfare 
operations, cybersecurity, or development of unmanned aircraft 
system or counter-unmanned aircraft system technology; 
(2) is for the sole purposes of conducting counterterrorism 
or counterintelligence activities, protective missions, or Federal 
criminal or national security investigations, including forensic 
examinations, or for electronic warfare, information warfare 
operations, cybersecurity, or development of an unmanned air-
craft system or counter-unmanned aircraft system technology; 
or 
(3) is an unmanned aircraft system that, as procured or 
as modified after procurement but before operational use, can 
no longer transfer to, or download data from, a covered foreign 
entity and otherwise poses no national security cybersecurity 
risks as determined by the exempting official. 
(c) DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND FEDERAL AVIATION 
ADMINISTRATION EXEMPTION.—The Secretary of Transportation is 
exempt from the restriction under subsection (a) if the operation 
is deemed to support the safe, secure, or efficient operation of 
the National Airspace System or maintenance of public safety, 
including activities carried out under the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration’s Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excel-
lence (ASSURE) Center of Excellence (COE) and any other activity 
deemed to support the safe, secure, or efficient operation of the
H. R. 2670—559 
National Airspace System or maintenance of public safety, as deter-
mined by the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee. 
(d) NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD EXEMPTION.— 
The National Transportation Safety Board, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Homeland Security, is exempt from the restriction 
under subsection (a) if the operation is necessary for the sole 
purpose of conducting safety investigations. 
(e) NATIONAL OCEANIC
AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION 
EXEMPTION.—The Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security, is exempt from the restriction under 
subsection (a) if the procurement is necessary for the purpose 
of meeting NOAA’s science or management objectives or operational 
mission. 
(f) WAIVER.—The head of an executive agency may waive the 
prohibition under subsection (a) on a case-by-case basis— 
(1) with the approval of the Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget, after consultation with the Federal 
Acquisition Security Council; and 
(2) upon notification to— 
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and Govern-
mental Affairs of the Senate; 
(B) the Committee on Oversight and Accountability 
in the House of Representatives; and 
(C) other appropriate congressional committees of juris-
diction. 
(g) REGULATIONS
AND GUIDANCE.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Home-
land Security, in consultation with the Attorney General and the 
Secretary of Transportation, shall prescribe regulations or guidance 
to implement this section. 
SEC. 1825. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR PROCURE-
MENT AND OPERATION OF COVERED UNMANNED AIR-
CRAFT SYSTEMS FROM COVERED FOREIGN ENTITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date that is two years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, except as provided 
in subsection (b), no Federal funds awarded through a contract, 
grant, or cooperative agreement, or otherwise made available may 
be used— 
(1) to procure a covered unmanned aircraft system that 
is manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity; or 
(2) in connection with the operation of such a drone or 
unmanned aircraft system. 
(b) EXEMPTION.—The Secretary of Homeland Security, the Sec-
retary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General 
are exempt from the restriction under subsection (a) if the procure-
ment or operation is required in the national interest of the United 
States and— 
(1) is for the sole purposes of research, evaluation, training, 
testing, or analysis for electronic warfare, information warfare 
operations, cybersecurity, or development of unmanned aircraft 
system or counter-unmanned aircraft system technology; 
(2) is for the sole purposes of conducting counterterrorism 
or counterintelligence activities, protective missions, or Federal 
criminal or national security investigations, including forensic 
examinations, or for electronic warfare, information warfare
H. R. 2670—560 
operations, cybersecurity, or development of an unmanned air-
craft system or counter-unmanned aircraft system technology; 
or 
(3) is an unmanned aircraft system that, as procured or 
as modified after procurement but before operational use, can 
no longer transfer to, or download data from, a covered foreign 
entity and otherwise poses no national security cybersecurity 
risks as determined by the exempting official. 
(c) DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND FEDERAL AVIATION 
ADMINISTRATION EXEMPTION.—The Secretary of Transportation is 
exempt from the restriction under subsection (a) if the operation 
or procurement is deemed to support the safe, secure, or efficient 
operation of the National Airspace System or maintenance of public 
safety, including activities carried out under the Federal Aviation 
Administration’s Alliance for System Safety of UAS through 
Research Excellence (ASSURE) Center of Excellence (COE) and 
any other activity deemed to support the safe, secure, or efficient 
operation of the National Airspace System or maintenance of public 
safety, as determined by the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee. 
(d) NATIONAL OCEANIC
AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION 
EXEMPTION.—The Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security, is exempt from the restriction under 
subsection (a) if the operation or procurement is necessary for 
the purpose of meeting NOAA’s science or management objectives 
or operational mission. 
(e) WAIVER.—The head of an executive agency may waive the 
prohibition under subsection (a) on a case-by-case basis— 
(1) with the approval of the Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget, after consultation with the Federal 
Acquisition Security Council; and 
(2) upon notification to— 
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and Govern-
mental Affairs of the Senate; 
(B) the Committee on Oversight and Accountability 
in the House of Representatives; and 
(C) other appropriate congressional committees of juris-
diction. 
(f) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory 
Council shall prescribe regulations or guidance, as necessary, to 
implement the requirements of this section pertaining to Federal 
contracts. 
SEC. 1826. PROHIBITION ON USE OF GOVERNMENT-ISSUED PURCHASE 
CARDS TO PURCHASE COVERED UNMANNED AIRCRAFT 
SYSTEMS FROM COVERED FOREIGN ENTITIES. 
Effective immediately, Government-issued Purchase Cards may 
not be used to procure any covered unmanned aircraft system 
from a covered foreign entity. 
SEC. 1827. MANAGEMENT OF EXISTING INVENTORIES OF COVERED 
UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS FROM COVERED FOR-
EIGN ENTITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—All executive agencies must account for 
existing inventories of covered unmanned aircraft systems manufac-
tured or assembled by a covered foreign entity in their personal
H. R. 2670—561 
property accounting systems, within one year of the date of enact-
ment of this Act, regardless of the original procurement cost, or 
the purpose of procurement due to the special monitoring and 
accounting measures necessary to track the items’ capabilities. 
(b) CLASSIFIED TRACKING.—Due to the sensitive nature of mis-
sions and operations conducted by the United States Government, 
inventory data related to covered unmanned aircraft systems manu-
factured or assembled by a covered foreign entity may be tracked 
at a classified level, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland 
Security or the Secretary’s designee. 
(c) EXCEPTIONS.—The Department of Defense, the Department 
of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, the Department 
of Transportation, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration may exclude from the full inventory process, covered 
unmanned aircraft systems that are deemed expendable due to 
mission risk such as recovery issues, or that are one-time-use cov-
ered unmanned aircraft due to requirements and low cost. 
(d) INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY EXCEPTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall apply to any element of the intelligence community. 
SEC. 1828. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT. 
Not later than 275 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit 
to Congress a report on the amount of commercial off-the-shelf 
drones and covered unmanned aircraft systems procured by Federal 
departments and agencies from covered foreign entities, except that 
nothing in this section shall apply to any element of the intelligence 
community. 
SEC. 1829. GOVERNMENT-WIDE POLICY FOR PROCUREMENT OF 
UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management 
and Budget, in coordination with the Department of Homeland 
Security, Department of Transportation, the Department of Justice, 
and other Departments as determined by the Director of the Office 
of Management and Budget, and in consultation with the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, shall establish a govern-
ment-wide policy for the procurement of an unmanned aircraft 
system— 
(1) for non-Department of Defense and non-intelligence 
community operations; and 
(2) through grants and cooperative agreements entered into 
with non-Federal entities. 
(b) INFORMATION SECURITY.—The policy developed under sub-
section (a) shall include the following specifications, which to the 
extent practicable, shall be based on industry standards and tech-
nical guidance from the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology, to address the risks associated with processing, storing, 
and transmitting Federal information in an unmanned aircraft 
system: 
(1) Protections to ensure controlled access to an unmanned 
aircraft system. 
(2) Protecting software, firmware, and hardware by 
ensuring changes to an unmanned aircraft system are properly 
managed, including by ensuring an unmanned aircraft system 
can be updated using a secure, controlled, and configurable 
mechanism.