1. U.S. Code
  2. title 10
  3. subtitle E
  4. part II
  5. chapter 1203
  6. § 12103

Collapse to view only § 12103. Reserve components: terms

§ 12101. Definition

In this chapter, the term “enlistment” means original enlistment or reenlistment.

(Added Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1662(b)(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2988.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 12101

§ 12102. Reserve components: qualifications
(a) To become an enlisted member of a reserve component a person must be enlisted as a Reserve of an armed force and subscribe to the oath prescribed by section 502 of this title, or be transferred to that component according to law. In addition, to become an enlisted member of the Army National Guard of the United States or the Air National Guard of the United States, he must meet the requirements of section 12107 of this title.
(b) Except as otherwise provided by law, the Secretary concerned shall prescribe physical, mental, moral, professional, and age qualifications for the enlistment of persons as Reserves of the armed forces under his jurisdiction. However, no person may be enlisted as a Reserve unless—
(1) he is a citizen of the United States or has been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.); or
(2) he has previously served in the armed forces or in the National Security Training Corps.
(c) A person who is otherwise qualified, but who has a physical defect that the Secretary concerned determines will not interfere with the performance of the duties to which that person may be assigned, may be enlisted as a Reserve of any armed force under the jurisdiction of that Secretary.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 17, § 510; Pub. L. 88–236, Dec. 23, 1963, 77 Stat. 474; Pub. L. 90–130, § 1(2), Nov. 8, 1967, 81 Stat. 374; Pub. L. 90–623, § 2(3), Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1314; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 511(13), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2921; renumbered § 12102 and amended Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §§ 1631(a), 1662(b)(2), 1675(a), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2964, 2989, 3017; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title XV, § 1501(a)(5)(A), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 495.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 12102

§ 12103. Reserve components: terms
(a) Except as otherwise prescribed by law, enlistments as Reserves are for terms prescribed by the Secretary concerned. However, an enlistment that is in effect at the beginning of a war or of a national emergency declared by Congress, or entered into during such a war or emergency, and that would otherwise expire, continues in effect until the expiration of six months after the end of that war or emergency, whichever is later, unless sooner terminated by the Secretary concerned.
(b) Under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, and by the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, a person who is qualified for enlistment for active duty in an armed force, and who is not under orders to report for induction into an armed force under the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.), may be enlisted as a Reserve for service in the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, or Coast Guard Reserve, for a term of not less than six years nor more than eight years. Each person enlisted under this subsection shall serve—
(1) on active duty for a period of not less than two years; and
(2) the rest of his period of enlistment as a member of the Ready Reserve.
(c) In time of war or of national emergency declared by Congress the term of service of an enlisted member transferred to a reserve component according to law, that would otherwise expire, continues until the expiration of six months after the end of that war or emergency, whichever is later, unless sooner terminated by the Secretary concerned.
(d) Under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, or the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, a non-prior-service person who is qualified for induction for active duty in an armed force and who is not under orders to report for induction into an armed force under the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.), except as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii) of section 6(c)(2)(A) of such Act (50 U.S.C. 3806(c)(2)(A)), may be enlisted in the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard, or as a Reserve for service in the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, or Coast Guard Reserve, for a term of not less than six years nor more than eight years. Each person enlisted under this subsection shall perform an initial period of active duty for training of not less than twelve weeks to commence insofar as practicable within one year after the date of that enlistment.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 18, § 511; Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(8), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1439; Pub. L. 88–110, § 3, Sept. 3, 1963, 77 Stat. 135; Pub. L. 90–168, § 2(11), Dec. 1, 1967, 81 Stat. 523; Pub. L. 94–106, title VIII, § 802(a), Oct. 7, 1975, 89 Stat. 537; Pub. L. 95–485, title IV, § 405(c)(1), Oct. 20, 1978, 92 Stat. 1615; Pub. L. 96–107, title VIII, § 805(a), Nov. 9, 1979, 93 Stat. 812; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 511(14), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2921; Pub. L. 97–252, title XI, § 1115(a), Sept. 8, 1982, 96 Stat. 750; Pub. L. 97–295, § 1(6), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1289; Pub. L. 98–94, title X, § 1022(a)(1), Sept. 24, 1983, 97 Stat. 670; renumbered § 12103, Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1662(b)(2), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2989; Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, § 1704(b)(1), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2314; Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title V, § 533(a), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2547; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title V, § 515(b)(1)(JJ), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3233; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title X, § 1081(b)(1)(A)(vii), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2418.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 12103

§ 12104. Reserve components: transfers
(a) A person who would otherwise be required to be transferred to a reserve component under section 651 of this title or under the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.), is entitled, if he is qualified and accepted, to be enlisted in any armed force that he chooses and to participate in the programs authorized for that armed force. However, unless the two Secretaries concerned consent, he may not be enlisted as a Reserve of an armed force other than that from which he is transferred. All periods of his participation shall be credited against the total period of service required of him under section 651 of this title or under the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.). However, no period may be credited more than once.
(b) A person covered by subsection (a) shall perform the rest of his required term of service in the armed force in which he is so enlisted or in any other armed force in which he is later enlisted or appointed.
(c) This section does not change any term of service under an appointment, enlistment, or agreement, including an agreement made before or at the time when the member entered upon a program authorized by an armed force.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 18, § 512; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 511(15), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2921; renumbered § 12104, Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1662(b)(2), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2989; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title X, § 1081(b)(1)(A)(viii), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2418.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 12104

§ 12105. Army Reserve and Air Force Reserve: transfer from Guard components
(a) Under such regulations as the Secretary concerned may prescribe—
(1) an enlisted member of the Army National Guard of the United States may be transferred in grade to the Army Reserve; and
(2) an enlisted member of the Air National Guard of the United States may be transferred in grade to the Air Force Reserve.
(b) Upon such a transfer, the member transferred is eligible for promotion to the highest regular or reserve grade ever held by him in the Army, if transferred under subsection (a)(1), or the Air Force, if transferred under subsection (a)(2), if his service has been honorable.
(c) A transfer under this section may only be made with the consent of the governor or other appropriate authority of the State concerned.
(Added Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1662(b)(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2988.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 12105

§ 12106. Army and Air Force Reserve: transfer to upon withdrawal as member of National Guard
(a) An enlisted member of the Army National Guard of the United States who ceases to be a member of the Army National Guard becomes a member of the Army Reserve unless he is also discharged from his enlistment as a Reserve.
(b) An enlisted member of the Air National Guard of the United States who ceases to be a member of the Air National Guard becomes a member of the Air Force Reserve unless he is also discharged from his enlistment as a Reserve.
(c) An enlisted member who becomes a member of the Army Reserve or the Air Force Reserve under this section ceases to be a member of the Army National Guard of the United States or the Air National Guard of the United States, as the case may be.
(Added Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1662(b)(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2989.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 12106

§ 12107. Army National Guard of United States; Air National Guard of the United States: enlistment in
(a) Except as provided in subsection (c), to become an enlisted member of the Army National Guard of the United States or the Air National Guard of the United States, a person must—
(1) be enlisted in the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard, as the case may be;
(2) subscribe to the oath set forth in section 304 of title 32; and
(3) be a member of a federally recognized unit or organization of the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard, as the case may be, in the grade in which he is to be enlisted as a Reserve.
(b)
(1) Under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Army, a person who enlists in the Army National Guard, or whose term of enlistment in the Army National Guard is extended, shall be concurrently enlisted, or his term of enlistment shall be concurrently extended, as the case may be, as a Reserve of the Army for service in the Army National Guard of the United States.
(2) Under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force, a person who enlists in the Air National Guard, or whose term of enlistment in the Air National Guard is extended, shall be concurrently enlisted, or his term of enlistment shall be concurrently extended, as the case may be, as a Reserve of the Air Force for service in the Air National Guard of the United States.
(c)
(1) A member of the Army Reserve who enlists in the Army National Guard in his reserve grade, and is a member of a federally recognized unit or organization of the Army National Guard, becomes a member of the Army National Guard of the United States and ceases to be a member of the Army Reserve.
(2) A member of the Air Force Reserve who enlists in the Air National Guard in his reserve grade, and is a member of a federally recognized unit or organization of the Air National Guard, becomes a member of the Air National Guard of the United States and ceases to be a member of the Air Force Reserve.
(Added Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1662(b)(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2989.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 12107

§ 12108. Enlisted members: discharge or retirement for years of service or for age
Each reserve enlisted member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps who is in an active status and has reached the maximum years of service or age prescribed by the Secretary concerned shall—
(1) be transferred to the Retired Reserve if the member is qualified for such transfer and does not request (in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned) not to be transferred to the Retired Reserve; or
(2) be discharged if the member is not qualified for transfer to the Retired Reserve or has requested (in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned) not to be so transferred.
(Added Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, § 517(f)(1), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1095.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 12108