Collapse to view only § 7065. Assignment and detail: officers assigned or detailed to basic and special branches

§ 7061. Regulations

The President may prescribe regulations for the government of the Army.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 165, § 3061; renumbered § 7061, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 808(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1838.)
§ 7062. Policy; composition; organized peace establishment
(a) It is the intent of Congress to provide an Army that is capable, in conjunction with the other armed forces, of—
(1) preserving the peace and security, and providing for the defense, of the United States, the Commonwealths and possessions, and any areas occupied by the United States;
(2) supporting the national policies;
(3) implementing the national objectives; and
(4) overcoming any nations responsible for aggressive acts that imperil the peace and security of the United States.
(b) In general, the Army, within the Department of the Army, includes land combat and service forces and such aviation and water transport as may be organic therein. It shall be organized, trained, and equipped primarily for prompt and sustained combat incident to operations on land. It is responsible for the preparation of land forces necessary for the effective prosecution of war except as otherwise assigned and, in accordance with integrated joint mobilization plans, for the expansion of the peacetime components of the Army to meet the needs of war.
(c) The Army consists of—
(1) the Regular Army, the Army National Guard of the United States, the Army National Guard while in the service of the United States and the Army Reserve; and
(2) all persons appointed or enlisted in, or conscripted into, the Army without component.
(d) The organized peace establishment of the Army consists of all—
(1) military organizations of the Army with their installations and supporting and auxiliary elements, including combat, training, administrative, and logistic elements; and
(2) members of the Army, including those not assigned to units;
necessary to form the basis for a complete and immediate mobilization for the national defense in the event of a national emergency.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 166, § 3062; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title X, § 1057(a)(6), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3441; renumbered § 7062, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 808(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1838.)
§ 7063. Basic branches
(a) The Secretary of the Army may assign members of the Army to its basic branches. The basic branches are—
(1) Infantry;
(2) Armor;
(3) Artillery;
(4) Corps of Engineers;
(5) Signal Corps;
(6) Adjutant General’s Corps;
(7) Quartermaster Corps;
(8) Finance Corps;
(9) Ordnance Corps;
(10) Chemical Corps;
(11) Transportation Corps;
(12) Military Police Corps; and
(13) such other basic branches as the Secretary considers necessary.
(b) The Secretary may discontinue or consolidate basic branches of the Army for the duration of any war, or of any national emergency declared by Congress.
(c) The Secretary may not assign to a basic branch any commissioned officer appointed in a special branch.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 166, § 3063; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title V, § 582(a), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1415; renumbered § 7063, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 808(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1838.)
§ 7064. Special branches
(a) The special branches of the Army consist of commissioned officers of the Regular Army appointed therein, other members of the Army assigned thereto by the Secretary of the Army, and the sections prescribed in this chapter. The special branches are—
(1) each corps of the Army Medical Department;
(2) the Judge Advocate General’s Corps;
(3) the Chaplains; and
(4) such other special branches as may be established by the Secretary of the Army under subsection (b).
(b) The Secretary of the Army may establish special branches for the Army and may assign commissioned officers (other than officers of the Regular Army) and members to such branches.
(c) Commissioned officers of the Regular Army may be appointed in a special branch, but the Secretary may not assign any officer of the Regular Army to a special branch.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 167, § 3064; Pub. L. 90–329, June 4, 1968, 82 Stat. 170; Pub. L. 96–513, title II, § 231, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2886; Pub. L. 97–22, § 5(a), July 10, 1981, 95 Stat. 128; renumbered § 7064, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 808(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1838.)
§ 7065. Assignment and detail: officers assigned or detailed to basic and special branches
(a) Commissioned officers of the Army may be detailed as general staff officers and as inspectors general.
(b) Members of the Army may be detailed to duty in particular fields specified by the Secretary, including intelligence, counter-intelligence, and military government.
(c) Members of the Army appointed in or assigned to one branch may be detailed for duty with any other branch.
(d) Members of the Army while not on active duty may be assigned to any basic or special branch, or to such other branches or groups, and to such organizations, as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(e) No officer of the Army may be assigned to perform technical, scientific, or other professional duties unless he is qualified to perform those duties and meets professional qualifications at least as strict as those in effect on June 28, 1950. If the duties to which an officer is assigned involve professional work that is the same as or is similar to that usually performed in civil life by a member of a learned profession, such as engineering, law, medicine, or theology, the officer must have the qualifications, by education, training, or experience, equal to or similar to those usually required of members of that profession, unless the exigencies of the situation prevent.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 167, § 3065; renumbered § 7065, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 808(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1838.)
§ 7067. Army Medical Department
There is an Army Medical Department in the Army. The Army Medical Department consists of—
(1) the Surgeon General;
(2) the Assistant Surgeons General;
(3) the Medical Corps;
(4) the Dental Corps;
(5) the Veterinary Corps;
(6) the Medical Service Corps;
(7) the Army Nurse Corps; and
(8) the Army Medical Specialist Corps.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 168, § 3067; Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(60), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1462; Pub. L. 90–329, June 4, 1968, 82 Stat. 170; renumbered § 7067, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 808(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1838.)
§ 7068. Medical Service Corps: organization; Chief and assistant chiefsThere is a Medical Service Corps in the Army. The Medical Service Corps consists of—
(1) the Chief of the Medical Service Corps, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Army from among the officers of the Medical Service Corps whose regular grade is above captain;
(2) the assistant chiefs of the Medical Service Corps, who shall be designated by the Surgeon General from officers in that Corps and who shall be his consultants on activities relating to their sections;
(3) commissioned officers of the Regular Army appointed therein;
(4) other members of the Army assigned thereto by the Secretary of the Army; and
(5) the following sections—
(A) the Administrative Health Services Section;
(B) the Medical Allied Sciences Section;
(C) the Preventive Medicine Sciences Section;
(D) the Clinical Health Sciences Section; and
(E) other sections considered necessary by the Secretary of the Army.
(Added Pub. L. 89–603, § 1(1), Sept. 24, 1966, 80 Stat. 846, § 3068; amended Pub. L. 97–295, § 1(37), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1296; Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title V, § 594, Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4234; renumbered § 7068, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 808(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1838.)
§ 7069. Army Nurse Corps: composition; Chief and assistant chief; appointment; grade
(a) The Army Nurse Corps consists of the Chief and assistant chief of that corps and other officers in grades prescribed by the Secretary of the Army.
(b) The Secretary of the Army shall appoint the Chief from the officers of the Regular Army in that corps whose regular grade is above lieutenant colonel and who are recommended by the Surgeon General. The Chief serves during the pleasure of the Secretary, but not for more than four years, and may not be reappointed to the same position.
(c) The Surgeon General shall appoint the assistant chief from the officers of the Regular Army in that corps whose regular grade is above lieutenant colonel. The assistant chief serves during the pleasure of the Surgeon General, but not for more than four years and may not be reappointed to the same position.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 168, § 3069; Pub. L. 85–155, title I, § 101(1), Aug. 21, 1957, 71 Stat. 375; Pub. L. 87–649, § 6(b)(1), Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 494; Pub. L. 89–609, § 1(1), Sept. 30, 1966, 80 Stat. 852; Pub. L. 90–130, § 1(8)(A), Nov. 8, 1967, 81 Stat. 374; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title V, § 502(a), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2511; Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title V, § 504(a)(1), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2531; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title V, § 502(o), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2103; renumbered § 7069, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 808(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1838.)
§ 7070. Army Medical Specialist Corps: organization; Chief
(a) The Army Medical Specialist Corps consists of the Chief of that corps, other officers in grades prescribed by the Secretary of the Army, and the following sections:
(1) The Dietitian Section.
(2) The Physical Therapist Section.
(3) The Occupational Therapist Section.
(4) The Physician Assistant Section.
(5) The Chiropractic Section.
(b) The Secretary of the Army shall appoint the Chief from the officers of the Regular Army in that corps whose regular grade is above captain and who are recommended by the Surgeon General. The Chief serves during the pleasure of the Secretary, but not for more than four years, and may not be reappointed.
(c) Chiropractors who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Army may be appointed as commissioned officers in the Chiropractic Section of the Army Medical Specialist Corps.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 169, § 3070; Pub. L. 85–155, title I, § 101(2), Aug. 21, 1957, 71 Stat. 375; Pub. L. 87–649, § 6(b)(2), (3), Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 494; Pub. L. 89–609, § 1(2), (3), Sept. 30, 1966, 80 Stat. 852; Pub. L. 90–130, § 1(8)(B), Nov. 8, 1967, 81 Stat. 374; Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title V, § 551(a), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1370; Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title V, § 505(a), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2404; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title V, § 502(p)(1), (2), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2103; renumbered § 7070, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 808(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1838.)
§ 7072. Judge Advocate General’s Corps
There is a Judge Advocate General’s Corps in the Army. The Judge Advocate General’s Corps consists of—
(1) the Judge Advocate General;
(2) the Assistant Judge Advocate General;
(3) commissioned officers of the Regular Army appointed therein; and
(4) other members of the Army assigned thereto by the Secretary of the Army.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 169, § 3072; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title V, § 502(q), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2104; renumbered § 7072, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 808(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1838.)
§ 7073. Chaplains
(a) There are chaplains in the Army. The Chaplains include—
(1) the Chief of Chaplains;
(2) commissioned officers of the Regular Army appointed as chaplains; and
(3) other officers of the Army appointed as chaplains in the Army.
(b) The Chief of Chaplains, while so serving, holds the grade of major general.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 170, § 3073; renumbered § 7073 and amended Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title V, § 510(a), title VIII, § 808(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1751, 1838.)
§ 7074. Commands: territorial organization; engineer tactical units
(a) Except as otherwise prescribed by law or by the Secretary of Defense, the Army shall be divided into such commands, forces, and organizations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Army.
(b) For Army purposes, the United States, the Commonwealths and possessions, and other places in which the Army is stationed or is operating may be divided into such areas as may be directed by the Secretary. Officers of the Army may be assigned to command Army activities, installations, and personnel in those areas. In the discharge of the Army’s functions or other functions authorized by law, officers so assigned have the duties and powers prescribed by the Secretary.
(c) Such part of the Corps of Engineers as the President directs shall be formed into tactical units organized as he prescribes.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 170, § 3074; Pub. L. 99–433, title V, § 503, Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1042; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title X, § 1057(a)(6), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3441; renumbered § 7074, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 808(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1838.)
§ 7075. Regular Army: composition
(a) The Regular Army is the component of the Army that consists of persons whose continuous service on active duty in both peace and war is contemplated by law, and of retired members of the Regular Army.
(b) The Regular Army includes—
(1) the officers and enlisted members of the Regular Army;
(2) the professors, director of admissions, and cadets of the United States Military Academy; and
(3) the retired officers and enlisted members of the Regular Army.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 170, § 3075; Pub. L. 85–600, § 1(1), Aug. 6, 1958, 72 Stat. 522; Pub. L. 95–551, § 2, Oct. 30, 1978, 92 Stat. 2069; Pub. L. 97–295, § 1(39), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1297; renumbered § 7075, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 808(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1838.)
§ 7081. Dental Corps: Chief, functions
(a) The Chief of the Dental Corps shall be an officer of that corps appointed as prescribed in section 3039 1
1 See References in Text note below.
of this title.
(b) Under such regulations as the Secretary of the Army may prescribe, all dental functions of the Army shall be under the direction of the Chief of the Dental Corps. All matters relating to dentistry shall be referred to the Chief of the Dental Corps.
(c) The Chief of the Dental Corps shall—
(1) establish professional standards and policies for dental practice;
(2) initiate and recommend action pertaining to organization requirements and utilization of the Dental Corps and dental auxiliary strength, appointments, advancement, training assignments, and transfer of dental personnel; and
(3) serve as the adviser to the Office of the Surgeon General on all matters relating directly to dentistry.
(d) Under such regulations as the Secretary of the Army may prescribe, dental and dental auxiliary personnel throughout the Army shall be organized into units commanded by a designated commissioned officer of the Army Medical Department. Such officer will be directly responsible to the commander of installations, organizations, and activities for all professional and technical matters and such administrative matters as may be prescribed by regulation.
(Added Pub. L. 95–485, title VIII, § 805(b)(1), Oct. 20, 1978, 92 Stat. 1621, § 3081; amended Pub. L. 99–433, title V, § 502(f)(3), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1042; renumbered § 7081, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 808(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1838; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VII, § 714, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1446.)
[§ 7082. Renumbered § 8582]
§ 7083. Public Affairs Specialty
There is a career field in the Army known as the Public Affairs Specialty. Members of the Army with the Public Affairs Specialty are—
(1) the Chief of Public Affairs;
(2) commissioned officers of the Army in the grade of major or above who are selected and specifically educated, trained, and experienced to perform as professional public affairs officers for the remainder of their careers; and
(3) other members of the Army assigned to public affairs positions by the Secretary of the Army.
(Added Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title V, § 596(a), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1765, § 3083; renumbered § 7083, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 808(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1838.)
§ 7084. Chief of Veterinary Corps

The Chief of the Veterinary Corps of the Army shall be appointed from among officers of the Veterinary Corps.

(Added Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title V, § 504(b)(1), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2531, § 3084; amended Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title V, § 502(a), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1456; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title X, § 1056(c)(11), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3440; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title V, § 502(r)(1), (2), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2104; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title V, § 506(b), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1374; renumbered § 7084, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 808(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1838.)