§1253 Age 64: regular commissioned officers in general and flag officer grades; exceptions

Summary

Regular commissioned officers in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force who hold general or flag officer ranks must retire on the first day of the month after the month they turn 64, unless they already retired or left the service sooner. If an officer is serving in a job with a rank higher than major general or rear admiral, that retirement can be delayed: the President can delay it only until the first day of the month after the month the officer turns 68, and the Secretary of Defense can delay it only until the first day of the month after the month the officer turns 66. The Secretary of the officer’s military department can also delay retirement for a Chief of Chaplains or Deputy Chief of Chaplains only until the first day of the month after the month that officer turns 68.