Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73
§12605 Presentation of United States flag: members transferred from an active status or discharged after completion of eligibility for retired pay
Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle E— - Reserve Components › Part PART II— - PERSONNEL GENERALLY › Chapter CHAPTER 1217— - MISCELLANEOUS RIGHTS AND BENEFITS › § 12605
Summary
Secretary must give a free U.S. flag to a Reserve who leaves active duty after completing the years needed for retired pay under chapter 1223; anyone already given a flag under this or any law is ineligible.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §12605
Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Upon the transfer from an active status or discharge of a Reserve who has completed the years of service required for eligibility for retired pay under chapter 1223 of this title, the Secretary concerned shall present a United States flag to the member.
(b)A member is not eligible for presentation of a flag under subsection (a) if the member has previously been presented a flag under this section or any provision of law providing for the presentation of a United States flag incident to release from active service for retirement.
(c)The presentation of a flag under this section shall be at no cost to the recipient.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title VI, § 652(d), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 665, provided that: “Section 12605 of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), section 213 of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 214] (as added by subsection (b)), and section 25 of the Coast and Geodetic Survey Commissioned Officers’ Act of 1948 [33 U.S.C. 853v] (as added by subsection (c)) shall apply with respect to releases from service described in those sections on or after October 1, 1999.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 12605
Title 10 — Armed Forces
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73