An Act to establish limitations on the numbers of officers who may serve in various commissioned grades in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, and for other purposes
PL 83-349 (H.R.7103), enacted 05/05/1954

68 
S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 349-MAY 5, 1964 
65 
SEC. 2. Section 7 of the said xict of August 3, 1950, is amended by 
deleting the words: "to the accounts of officers and employees of the 
Panama Canal and the Panama Railroad on the Isthmus of Panama, 
or". 
SEC. 3. This amendatory Act shall be effective two months from the 
date of its enactment as of which time section 84 of title 2 of the 
Canal Zone Code, as added by section 1 of the Act of August 10, 1949 
(ch. 415,63 Stat. 593) ,.is repealed. 
Approved April 30, 1954. 
5 u s e 61k. 
Effective date. 
Public Law 348 
CHAPTER 178 
AN ACT 
To provide for the conveyance of certain real property to the city of Saint 
Joseph, Michigan. 
April 30, 1954 
[H. R. 7402] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That the Admin-
istrator of General Services is authorized and directed to convey to 
the city of Saint Joseph, Michigan, upon payment by such city of 
$3,300, all of the right, title, and interest of the United States in and 
to lot numbered 112 in such city, for use as a parking lot (being a 
portion of the property which was formerly known as the Saint Joseph 
Lighthouse Reservation, Michigan, and which was conditionally con-
veyed to such city by the Secretary of Commerce under the Act of 
May 28,1935), notwithstanding any conditions or limitations imposed 
by section 17 or section 36 of such Act (49 Stat. 307, 311), or by the 
deed of conveyance issued thereunder. 
Approved April 30, 1954. 
Saint 
J o s e p h . , 
Mich. 
Conveyance. 
Public Law 349 
CHAPTER 180 
AN ACT 
To establish limitations on the numbers of officers who may serve in various 
commissioned grades in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, and. 
for other purposes. 
May 5,1954 
[H. R. 7103] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That this Act may Limitation' A^"of 
be cited as the "Officer Grade Limitation Act of 1954". 
'"''^ 
1954. 
TITLE I—AKMY 
SEC. 101. The number of commissioned officers on active duty in 
the Army in each of the following grades on the last day of each fiscal 
year when compared to the total number of commissioned officers on 
active duty in the Army authorized by the Secretary of the Army 
(exclusive of Eeserve officers on active duty for training purposes 
only, and officers serving with other departments or agencies of the 
Government on a reimbursable basis) shall not exceed the numbers 
which are set forth in the following table: 
Co m m 1 s s loned 
officers. 
39777 O—55—pt. 1-
PUBLIC LAW 349-MAY 5, 1954 
[68 ST A T 
Officer strength 
General 
i\ 
350 
4()U 
425 
450 
475 
495 
510 
520 
530 
540 
550 
Colonel 
3,352 
3,752 
4,102 
4,452 
4,752 
5,002 
5,202 
5,402 
5,602 
5,802 
6,002 
Lieutenant 
colonel 
6,940 
8,045 
9,150 
10,205 
11,260 
12,265 
13,270 
14,175 
15,075 
15,875 
16,675 
Major 
50,000-
60,000. 
70,000. 
80,000. 
90,000-
100,000 
110,000 
120,000 
130,000 
140,000 
150,000 
9,350 
10,950 
12,500 
14,050 
15,600 
17,060 
18,370 
19,680 
20,890 
22,095 
23,300 
In the event such authorized strength of commissioned officers on 
active duty falls between two strengths shown in the above table the 
numbers will be determined by mathematical interpolation between 
the numbers prescribed for the two strengths. The numbers author-
ized for any grade prescribed in the above table may be exceeded by 
the cumulative number of vacancies in any higher grades. Not more 
than 50 per centum of the general officer strength may be in a grade 
above brigadier general. 
SEC. 102. When the authorized strength of the Army in commis-
sioned officers on active duty exceeds one hundred and fifty thousand, 
the Secretary of the Army shall, in general conformity with the 
table set forth in section 101 of this title, fix the authorized strength 
in each of the grades covered by that table. 
TITLE II—COMMISSIONED OFFICERS IN THE NAVY AND 
MARINE CORPS 
61 Stat. 831. 
34 use Sa(a). 
Line officers. 
Distribution. 
34 u s e 5a(k). 
SEC. 201. Subsection 303 (a) of the Officer Personnel Act of 1947, 
is amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 303. (a) Of the total number of line officers serving on active 
duty at any one time, exclusive of officers carried by law as additional 
numbers in grade and of fleet admirals, the number of officers who 
may serve in each of the grades above lieutenant shall, except as other-
wise provided by subsection 303 (k) of this Act, be no greater than 
a number appropriate to the total number as set forth in the following 
table: 
"UNRESTRICTED LINE 
" 
'Total line officers, exclusive of officers carried 
by law as extra n umbers and of fleet admirals 
32,000. 
40,000-
60,000-
60,000-
70,000-
80,000-
90,000-
100,000 
125,000 
150,000 
175,000 
200,000 
250,000 
Rear admiral 
and above 
215 
222 
228 
237 
244 
252 
259 
262 
291 
305 
323 
342 
379 
Captain 
1,920 
2,320 
2,758 
3,140 
3,479 
3,782 
4,053 
4,295 
4,792 
5,165 
5,441 
5,640 
5,854 
Commander 
3,840 
4,498 
5,235 
5,851 
6,374 
6,821 
7,205 
7,538 
8,201 
8,683 
9,017 
9,244 
9,504 
Lieutenant 
commander 
5,760 
7,080 
8,650 
10,148 
11,487 
12,752 
13,914 
15,030 
17,500 
19,500 
21,175 
22,560 
24,600 
In the event the total number of such line officers serving on active 
duty falls between two strengths shown in the above table the number 
in each grade shah be determined by proportionate interpolation 
between the respective numbers prescribed for the two strengths. 
Of 
the number of officers determined under this section for each grade 
below captain not to exceed the following percentages may be officers 
designated for limited duty: In the grade of commander, 3.64 per 
centum; in the grade of lieutenant commander 8.62 per centum." 
68 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 349-MAY 5, 1954 
67 
SEC. 202. Subsection 303 (f) of the Officer Personnel Act of 1947 
is amended by deleting all after the words "in each corps" and substi-
tuting therefor the words "a number no greater than a number appro-
priate to the number of officers in that corps serving on active duty, as 
set forth in the following table: 
staff Corps. 
Distribution. 
34 u s e 5a(f). 
'Total number of officers in the corps on active duty 
Supply Corps: 
2,600 
3,000 
4,000 
5,000 
7,000 
9,000 
11,000 
13,000 
15,000 
17,000 
Medical Corps: 
3,000. 
4,000. 
5,000 
7,000 
9,000.. 
11,000 
13,000 
15,000 
Civil Engineer Corps 
1,000 
1,500 
2,000 
3,000 
4,000 
5,000 
7,000 
Dental Corps: 
1,000.... 
2,000 
4,000 
.-
7,000 
Chaplain Corps: 
500 
1,600 
. - . 
2,800 
Number of 
rear admirals 
13 
15 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
15 
18 
19 
ao 
21 
22 
23 
24 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
5 
6 
7 
When the total number of officers on active duty in any corps falls 
between two strengths shown in the appropriate table above the 
number of rear admirals shall be determined by appropriate inter-
polation between the numbers prescribed for the two strengths. 
When 
the number of officers on active duty in a corps is less than the least 
tabulated number in the appropriate table the authorized number of 
rear admirals shall be five-tenths of 1 per centum of the total number 
of officers on active duty in that corps: Provided further^ That such a 
rear admiral serving as a chief of bureau shall upon termination of 
his tenure as chief of bureau be carried in excess until the next 
vacancy occurs in the grade of rear admiral in the corps concerned: 
And provided further, 
That the number of captains in the Medical 
Service Corps and the number of commanders and lieutenant com-
manders in the Nurse Corps shall not exceed 2 per centum, 1.75 per 
centum, and 7.75 per centum, respectively, of the total number of 
officers in the corps concerned serving on active duty at any one time."' 
S E C 203. That portion of subsection 303 (g) of the Officer Personnel 
Act of 1947, as amended, occurring before the second proviso is further 
amended to read as follows: 
"(g) To determine the authorized number of line officers in each 
of the various grades above lieutenant, as provided in this section, 
computations shall be made by the Secretary of the Navy as of the 
date of approval of this Act and thereafter at such times that the 
needs of the service require but not less than once annually, and the 
resulting number in each of such various grades, as so computed, shall, 
subject to the provisions of subsection (k) of this section, be held and 
34 u s e 5a(g). 
Line officers. 
Determination of 
a u t h o r ! zed num-
ber. 
68 
PUBLIC LAW 349-MAY 5, 1954 
[68 ST A T ' 
Limited duty. 
34 u s e 5a(k). 
Temp o r a r y 
pointments. 
34 u s e 4, 5. 
34 u s e 626-1(a). 
Marine eorps. 
Com m i s s i oned 
officers. 
considered for all purposes as the authorized number of officers in 
each of such various grades and shall not be varied between such com-
putations : Provided^ That to determine the authorized number of line 
officers designated for limited duty in each of the various grades above 
lieutenant, the Secretary of the Navy, as of the date of approval of 
this Act and thereafter at such times that the needs of the service 
require but not less than once annually, shall compute the maximum 
number of such officers which may serve in each of such various grades, 
as provided in subsection (a) of this section, and shall determine the 
number of such officers in each of such various grades, not to exceed 
such maximum number, required to meet the needs of the service dur-
ing the ensuing year, and the resulting number in each of such various 
grades, as so determined, shall be held and considered for all purposes 
as the authorized number of such officers in each of such various grades, 
and shall not be varied between such determinations:". 
SEC. 204. Subsection 303 (k) of the Officer Personnel Act of 1947 
is amended to read as follows: 
"(k) Upon determination of the authorized number of officers in 
each of the various grades above lieutenant, with respect to officers 
serving on active duty as provided in this section, and with respect 
to officers holding permanent appointments on the active list of the 
Eegular Navy, as provided in section 103 of title I and section 203 
of title I I of this Act, computations shall be made by the Secretary of 
the Navy to determine the authorized number of officers which may 
serve under temporary appointment in the line in each of the various 
grades above lieutenant and in each grade in a staff corps where com-
putations are prescribed to determine the authorized number. 
At the 
same time, the Secretary of the Navy shall determine within the 
combined grades of lieutenant, lieutenant (junior grade), and ensign, 
the number of officers serving under temporary appointments required 
in each of those grades to meet the needs of the service. 
Should the 
Secretary of the Navy determine, at the time of making the computa-
tions prescribed by subsections (g) and (h) of this section, that in 
any grade above lieutenant a lesser number of officers than the com-
puted number of officers for that grade is required to meet the needs 
of the service, the lesser number shall be held and considered to be the 
authorized number for that grade and the reduction may be applied 
as an increase in the authorized number of such officers m any lower 
grade or grades." 
SEO. 205. Subsection 314 (a) of the Officer Personnel Act of 1947 
is amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 314. (a) Commissioned officers of the Marine Corps shall be 
authorized in number in the same proportion to authorized enlisted 
strength and shall be distributed in grades, promoted, retired, and dis-
charged in like manner and with the same relative conditions in all 
respects as provided for commissioned officers of the line of the Navy, 
by existing law, or by laws hereafter enacted, except as may be neces-
sary to adapt the said provisions to the Marine Corps, or as herein 
otherwise provided. 
Of the total number of officers not restricted 
in the performance of duty serving on active duty at any one time, 
exclusive of officers carried by law as additional numbers in grade, the 
number of officers who may serve in each of the grades above captain 
shall, except as otherwise provided by subsection 303 (k) of this Act, 
be no greater than a number appropriate to the total number as set 
forth in the following table: 
68 S T A T . ] 
PUBUC LAW 349-MAY 5, 1954 
'UNRESTRICTED LINE 
'Total line officers, exclusive of officers carried 
by law as extra numbers 
10,000 
12,500 
15,000 
17,500 
20,000 
22,500 
25,000 
27,500 
30,000 
32,500 
35,000 
Brigadier 
general and 
above 
Colonel 
600 
615 
630 
645 
660 
670 
680 
690 
700 
705 
710 
Lieutenant 
colonel 
1,200 
1,250 
1,295 
1,335 
1,370 
1,400 
1,425 
1,445 
1,460 
1,470 
1,475 
Major 
1,800 
2,175 
2,535 
2,880 
3,210 
3,525 
3,825 
4,110 
4,380 
4,635 
4,875 
In the event the total number of such line officers serving on active 
duty falls between two strengths shown in the above table the number 
in each grade shall be determined by proportionate interpolation 
between the respective numbers prescribed for the two strengths. 
Of the number of officers determined under this section for each grade 
below colonel not to exceed the following percentages may be officers 
designated for limited duty: In the grade of lieutenant colonel, 3.64 
per centum; in the grade of major, 8.62 per centum." 
TITLE III—COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OF T H E AIR 
FORCE 
SEC. 301. The number of commissioned officers of the Air Force on 
active duty in each of the following grades on the last day of each 
fiscal year shall not exceed the numbers, set forth in columns 2, 3, 4, 
and 5 of the following table, applicable to the total number of 
commissioned officers of the Air Force determined by the Secretary 
of the Air Force to be on active duty. 
1. Total commissioned officers on active duty 
2. General 
officers 
312 
324 
336 
349 
363 
380 
398 
416 
434 
452 
470 
478 
486 
495 
3. Colonel 
3,133 
3,540 
3,857 
4,107 
4,299 
4,440 
4,750 
5,020 
5,273 
5,484 
5,665 
5,842 
5,974 
6,075 
4. Lieutenant 
colonel 
6,065 
6,822 
7,427 
7,920 
8,316 
8,620 
9,350 
10,056 
10,725 
11,368 
12,000 
12,608 
13,175 
13, 716 
5. Major 
50,000-
60,000. 
70,000-
80,000-
90,000-
100,000 
110,000 
120,000 
130,000 
140,000 
150,000 
160,000 
170,000 
180,000 
9,455 
11,298 
13,125 
14,936 
16, 740 
18,530 
20,295 
22,056 
23,803 
25, 536 
27,255 
28,976 
30,685 
32,328 
SEC. 302. If the number of commissioned officers on active duty falls 
between two strength figures set forth in column 1 of the table set 
forth in section 301 of this title, the numbers in columns 2, 3, 4, and 5 
of that table shall be determined by mathematical interpolation 
between the numbers prescribed for the two strengths. 
SEC. 303. Not more than 50 per centum of the general officer strength 
may be in a grade above brigadier general. 
SEC. 304. The strength authorized for any grade under the table 
set forth in section 301 of this title may be exceeded by the number 
of officers in that grade who are on active duty for training purposes 
only plus the number assigned to an agency or department, other than 
the Department of the Air Force, on a reimbursable basis. 
70 
PUBLIC LAW 350-MAY 6, 1954 
[68 ST A T . 
SEC. 305. The strength authorized for any grade under section 301, 
302, or 303 of this title which is not utilized for that grade may be 
utilized for any lower grade. 
SEC. 306. Whenever circumstances require that the actual strength of 
the Air Force in commissioned officers on active duty be more than 
one hundred and eighty thousand, the Secretary of the Air Force 
shall, in general conformity with the table set forth in section 301 
of this title, fix the authorized strength of each of the grades covered 
by that table. 
TITLE IV—MISCELLANEOUS PKOVISIONS 
Armed Forces. 
Comm 1 s s i oned 
officer personnel. 
National e m e r-
gency. 
65 Stat. 109. 
34 u s e 3e. 
61 Stat. 798. 
34 u s e 3a note. 
Report. 
SEC. 401. Subsection 631 (a), and that portion of subsection 631 
(b) occurring before the proviso of the Act of August 1,1953 (67 Stat. 
355), are repealed. 
SEC. 402. That portion of title I I of the Act of August 1, 1953, 
appearing under the heading "Retired Pay" (67 Stat. 337), is amended 
by deleting all after the word "necessary" and substituting therefor a 
period. 
SEC. 403. The President may suspend all or any part of the provi-
sions of this Act in time of war, or in time of national emergency 
hereafter declared by the Congress or by the President. 
Notwith-
standing section 426 (c) of the Officer Personnel Act of 1947, as 
amended, the President may suspend all or any part of those provi-
sions of the Officer Personnel Act of 1947, which are amended by this 
Act, which relate to grades above that of lieutenant, only in time of 
war, or in time of national emergency hereafter declared by the 
Congress or by the President. 
SEC. 404, Not later than January 30 of each year, the Secretary of 
the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Secretary of the Air 
Force shall present to the Committees on Armed Services of the House 
of Representatives and the Senate, the estimated active-duty person-
nel requirements for his respective service for the next fiscal year, the 
estimated number of commissioned officers in each grade on active 
duty whether by permanent or temporary appointment, to be pro-
moted during the next fiscal year, and an analysis of the current dis-
tribution by grade of commissioned officers serving on active duty, 
whether by permanent or temporary appointment. 
Approved May 5, 1954. 
May 6,1954 
[H. R. 8127] 
Public Law 350 
CHAPTER 181 
AN ACT 
To amend and supplement the Federal-Aid Road Act approved July 11, 1916 
(39 Stat. 355), as amended and supplemented, to authorize appropriations 
for continuing the construction of highways, and for other purposes. 
F e d e r a l - A i d 
H i g h w a y Act of 
1954. 
23 u s e 9a note. 
^proprlation. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That, for the purpose 
of carrying out the provisions of the Federal-Aid Eoad Act approved 
July 11, 1916 (39 Stat. 355), and all Acts amendatory thereof and 
supplementary thereto, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated 
the sum of $700,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1956, and 
a like sum for the fiscal year ending June 30,1957. 
The sum herein authorized for each fiscal year shall be available for 
expenditure as follows: