10 U.S.C. § 12301 (ARMED FORCES)
§ 12301. Reserve components generally
(a) In time of war or of national emergency declared by Congress, or when otherwise authorized by law, an authority designated by the Secretary concerned may, without the consent of the persons affected, order any unit, and any member not assigned to a unit organized to serve as a unit, of a reserve component under the jurisdiction of that Secretary to active duty for the duration of the war or emergency and for six months thereafter. However a member on an inactive status list or in a retired status may not be ordered to active duty under this subsection unless the Secretary concerned, with the approval of the Secretary of Defense in the case of the Secretary of a military department, determines that there are not enough qualified Reserves in an active status or in the inactive National Guard in the required category who are readily available.
(b) At any time, an authority designated by the Secretary concerned may, without the consent of the persons affected, order any unit, and any member not assigned to a unit organized to serve as a unit, in an active status in a reserve component under the jurisdiction of that Secretary to active duty for not more than 15 days a year. However, units and members of the Army National Guard of the United States or the Air National Guard of the United States may not be ordered to active duty under this subsection without the consent of the governor of the State (or, in the case of the District of Columbia National Guard, the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard).
(c) So far as practicable, during any expansion of the active armed forces that requires that units and members of the reserve components be ordered to active duty as provided in subsection (a), members of units organized and trained to serve as units who are ordered to that duty without their consent shall be so ordered with their units. However, members of those units may be reassigned after being so ordered to active duty.
(d) At any time, an authority designated by the Secretary concerned may order a member of a reserve component under his jurisdiction to active duty, or retain him on active duty, with the consent of that member. However, a member of the Army National Guard of the United States or the Air National Guard of the United States may not be ordered to active duty under this subsection without the consent of the governor or other appropriate authority of the State concerned.
(e) The period of time allowed between the date when a Reserve ordered to active duty as provided in subsection (a) is alerted for that duty and the date when the Reserve is required to enter upon that duty shall be determined by the Secretary concerned based upon military requirements at that time.
(f) The consent of a Governor described in subsections (b) and (d) may not be withheld (in whole or in part) with regard to active duty outside the United States, its territories, and its possessions, because of any objection to the location, purpose, type, or schedule of such active duty.
(g)
(1) A member of a reserve component may be ordered to active duty without his consent if the Secretary concerned determines that the member is in a captive status. A member ordered to active duty under this section may not be retained on active duty, without his consent, for more than 30 days after his captive status is terminated.
(2) The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section. Such regulations shall apply uniformly among the armed forces under the jurisdiction of the Secretary. A determination for the purposes of this subsection that a member is in a captive status shall be made pursuant to such regulations.
(3) In this section, the term “captive status” means the status of a member of the armed forces who is in a missing status (as defined in section 551(2) of title 37) which occurs as the result of a hostile action and is related to the member’s military status.
(h)
(1) When authorized by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department may, with the consent of the member, order a member of a reserve component to active duty—
(A) to receive authorized medical care;
(B) to be medically evaluated for disability or other purposes; or
(C) to complete a required Department of Defense health care study, which may include an associated medical evaluation of the member.
(2) A member ordered to active duty under this subsection may, with the member’s consent, be retained on active duty, if the Secretary concerned considers it appropriate, for medical treatment for a condition associated with the study or evaluation, if that treatment of the member is otherwise authorized by law.
(3) A member of the Army National Guard of the United States or the Air National Guard of the United States may be ordered to active duty under this subsection only with the consent of the Governor or other appropriate authority of the State concerned.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 27, § 672; Pub. L. 85–861, §§ 1(13), 33(a)(5), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1440, 1564; Pub. L. 96–357, § 6, Sept. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 1182; Pub. L. 96–584, § 1, Dec. 23, 1980, 94 Stat. 3377; Pub. L. 99–500, § 101(c) [title IX, § 9122], Oct. 18, 1986, 100 Stat. 1783–82, 1783–127, and Pub. L. 99–591, § 101(c) [title IX, § 9122], Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3341–82, 3341–127; Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title V, §§ 522, 524(a), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3871; Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title XII, § 1234(a)(1), (2), Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 2059; renumbered § 12301 and amended Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §§ 1662(e)(2), 1675(c)(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2992, 3017; Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title V, § 512, Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 592; Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, § 514(a), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1882.)
text: Historical and Revision Notes
1956 Act
Revised section
Source (U.S. Code)
Source (Statutes at Large)
672(a)
672(b)
672(c)
672(d)
50:961(a).
50:961(c).
50:961(g).
50:961(d).
50:962 (1st sentence).
July 9, 1952, ch. 608, §§ 233 (less (b) and (f)), 234 (1st sentence), 66 Stat. 489, 490.
672(e)
50:961(e).
In subsection (a), the word “hereafter” is omitted as surplusage. The words “there are not enough * * * who are” are substituted for the words “adequate numbers of * * * are not”. The words “without the consent of the persons affected” and “under the jurisdiction of that Secretary” are inserted for clarity. The words “and the members thereof” are omitted as surplusage.
In subsection (b), the words “without the consent of the persons affected” are substituted for the words “without his consent”, since units as well as individuals are covered by the revised subsection. The words “and the members thereof”, “and required to perform”, “or required to serve on”, and “in the service of the United States” are omitted as surplusage.
In subsections (b) and (d), the words “active duty for training” are omitted as covered by the words “active duty”.
In subsection (c), the words “to active duty” are substituted for the words “into the active military service of the United States”, in 50:961(g) (1st and last sentences). The words “to serve” are substituted for the words “for the purpose of serving”. The words “without their consent” are substituted for the word “involuntarily”. The words “to that duty” are substituted for the words “into active duty”. The last sentence of the revised subsection is substituted for 50:961(g) (last sentence).
In subsection (d), the words “the consent of that member” are substituted for the words “his consent”. The words “under his jurisdiction” are inserted for clarity. 50:962 (last 15 words of 1st sentence) is omitted as covered by 50:961(d).
In subsection (e), the words “to active duty (other than for training)” are substituted for the words “into the active military service of the United States”. The words “period of” are omitted as surplusage. The word “requirements” is substituted for the word “condition” for clarity.
text: 1958 Act
Revised section
Source (U.S. Code)
Source (Statutes at Large)
672(a)
50:961(a).
Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 665, § 2(e), 69 Stat. 599.
The word “hereafter” is omitted as surplusage. The words “there are not enough . . . who are” are substituted for the words “adequate numbers of . . . are not”. The words “without the consent of the persons affected” and “under the jurisdiction of that Secretary” are inserted for clarity.
The changes are necessary to reflect section 101(b) of the Armed Forces Reserve Act of 1952 (50 U.S.C. 901(b)), which defines the term “active duty” to exclude active duty for training. This definition applied to the source law for these sections [sections 672 and 673], section 233(a), (b)(1), and (c) of the Armed Forces Reserve Act of 1952 (50 U.S.C. 961(a), (b)(1), (c)).
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Codification
text: Pub. L. 99–591 is a corrected version of Pub. L. 99–500.
heading: Amendments
text: 2004—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–375, § 514(a)(1), struck out “(other than for training)” after “that Secretary to active duty”.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–375, § 514(a)(2), substituted “as provided in subsection (a)” for “(other than for training)” and “so ordered to active duty” for “ordered to active duty (other than for training)”.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 108–375, § 514(a)(3), substituted “as provided in subsection (a)” for “(other than for training)”.
1999—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 106–65 added subsec. (h).
1994—Pub. L. 103–337, § 1662(e)(2), renumbered section 672 of this title as this section.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–337, § 1675(c)(1)(A), substituted “(or, in the case of the District of Columbia National Guard, the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard)” for “or Territory or Puerto Rico or the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard, as the case may be”.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–337, § 1675(c)(1)(B), struck out “or Territory, Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia, whichever is” after “authority of the State”.
1988—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–456, § 1234(a)(2), substituted “or Puerto Rico” for “, Puerto Rico, or the Canal Zone,”.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–456, § 1234(a)(1), struck out “the Canal Zone,” after “Puerto Rico,”.
1986—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 99–500 and Pub. L. 99–591, § 101(c) [§ 9122], Pub. L. 99–661, § 522, amended section identically adding subsec. (f).
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 99–661, § 524(a), added subsec. (g).
1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–357 struck out cl. (1) designation for second sentence and cl. (2) prohibition against ordering a member of the Standby Reserve to active duty unless the Director of Selective Service determined that the member was available for active duty.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 96–584 substituted provisions respecting determination of the allowable time in terms of military requirements for provisions authorizing a reasonable time.
1958—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 85–861, §§ 1(13), 33(a)(5), inserted “(other than for training)” after “active duty”, substituted “inactive National Guard” for “inactive Army National Guard or in the inactive Air National Guard”, and inserted provisions prohibiting a member of the Standby Reserve from being ordered to active duty under this subsection unless the Director of Selective Service determines that the member is available for active duty.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 85–861, § 33(a)(5), inserted “(other than for training)” after “active duty”.
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date of 1994 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 103–337 effective Dec. 1, 1994, except as otherwise provided, see section 1691 of Pub. L. 103–337, set out as an Effective Date note under section 10001 of this title.
heading: Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title V, § 524(b), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3872, provided that: “Section 672(g) [now 12301(g)] of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), does not authorize a member of a reserve component to be ordered to active duty for a period before the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 14, 1986].”
heading: Effective Date of 1958 Amendment
text: Amendment by section 33(a)(5) of Pub. L. 85–861 effective Aug. 10, 1956, see section 33(g) of Pub. L. 85–861, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.
heading: Rule of Construction for Duplicate Authorization and Appropriation Provisions of Public Laws 99–500, 99–591, and 99–661
text: For rule of construction for certain duplicate provisions of Public Laws 99–500, 99–591, and 99–661, see Pub. L. 100–26, § 6, Apr. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 274, set out as a note under section 2302 of this title.
heading: Quarantine Lodging for Members of the Reserve Components Who Perform Certain Service in Response to the COVID–19 Emergency
text: Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title V, § 517, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3590, provided that:
“(a) In General.—
The Secretary of Defense may provide, to a member of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who performs a period of covered service, housing for not fewer than 14 days immediately after the end of such period of covered service.
“(b) Definitions.—
In this section:
“(1) The term ‘active service’ has the meaning given that term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.
“(2) The term ‘covered service’ means active service performed in response to the covered national emergency.
“(3) The term ‘covered national emergency’ means the national emergency declared on March 13, 2020, by the President under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) with respect to COVID–19.”
heading: Limitations on Cancellations of Deployment of Certain Reserve Component Units and Involuntary Mobilizations of Certain Reserves
text: Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title V, § 513, Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 752, provided that:
“(a) Limitation on Cancellation of Deployment of Certain Units Within 180 Days of Scheduled Deployment.—
“(1) Limitation.—
The deployment of a unit of a reserve component of the Armed Forces described in paragraph (2) may not be cancelled during the 180-day period ending on the date on which the unit is otherwise scheduled for deployment without the approval, in writing, of the Secretary of Defense.
“(2) Covered deployments.—
A deployment of a unit of a reserve component described in this paragraph is a deployment whose cancellation as described in paragraph (1) is due to the deployment of a unit of a regular component of the Armed Forces to carry out the mission for which the unit of the reserve component was otherwise to be deployed.
“(3) Notice to congress and governors on approval of cancellation of deployment.—
On approving the cancellation of deployment of a unit under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] and the Governor concerned a notice on the approval of cancellation of deployment of the unit.
“(b) Advance Notice to Certain Reserves on Involuntary Mobilization.—
“(1) Advance notice required.—
The Secretary concerned may not provide less than 120 days advance notice of an involuntary mobilization to a member of the reserve component of the Armed Forces described in paragraph (2) without the approval, in writing, of the Secretary of Defense.
“(2) Covered reserves.—
A member of a reserve component described in this paragraph is a member as follows:
“(A) A member who is not assigned to a unit organized to serve as a unit.
“(B) A member who is to be mobilized apart from the member’s unit.
“(3) Commencement of applicability.—
This subsection shall apply with respect to members who are mobilized on or after the date that is 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 26, 2013].
“(4) Secretary concerned defined.—
In this subsection, the term ‘Secretary concerned’ has the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(9) of title 10, United States Code.
“(5) Sunset.—
This subsection shall cease to apply as of the date of the completion of the withdrawal of United States combat forces from Afghanistan.
“(c) Nondelegation of Approval.—
The Secretary of Defense may not delegate the approval of cancellations of deployments of units under subsection (a) or the approval of mobilization of Reserves without advance notice under subsection (b).”
heading: Advance Notice to Members of Reserve Components of Deployment in Support of Contingency Operations
text: Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title V, § 515, Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 99, provided that:
“(a) Advance Notice Required.—
The Secretary of a military department shall ensure that a member of a reserve component under the jurisdiction of that Secretary who will be called or ordered to active duty for a period of more than 30 days in support of a contingency operation (as defined in section 101(a)(13) of title 10, United States Code) receives notice in advance of the mobilization date. In so far as is practicable, the notice shall be provided not less than 30 days before the mobilization date, but with a goal of 90 days before the mobilization date.
“(b) Reduction or Waiver of Notice Requirement.—
The Secretary of Defense may waive the requirement of subsection (a), or authorize shorter notice than the minimum specified in such subsection, during a war or national emergency declared by the President or Congress or to meet mission requirements. If the waiver or reduction is made on account of mission requirements, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report detailing the reasons for the waiver or reduction and the mission requirements at issue.”