Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle E— - Reserve Components › Part PART III— - PROMOTION AND RETENTION OF OFFICERS ON THE RESERVE ACTIVE-STATUS LIST › Chapter CHAPTER 1405— - PROMOTIONS › § 14307
Before a promotion board meets (except for vacancy boards), the Secretary of the military department must set the maximum number of officers that board may recommend for promotion. The Secretary follows rules from the Secretary of Defense and sets the number so there are enough officers on the reserve active-status list to meet the service’s needs. To pick that maximum, the Secretary must figure out four things: how many jobs need officers of that grade and category, how many officers will likely be needed to fill vacancies while promotions happen, how many officers are allowed on the reserve active-status list in that grade and category, and any legal cap on those numbers. The Secretary may allow some officers to be considered from below the normal promotion zone for certain ranks (captain, major, lieutenant colonel in the Army and Air Force; above first lieutenant in the Marine Corps; above lieutenant (junior grade) in the Navy). If allowed, the Secretary sets how many from below the zone may be recommended in each category. That number may not exceed 10% of the board’s allowed recommendations for that category, but the Secretary of Defense can raise it to 15% if needed. If the calculated maximum is less than one, the board may recommend one officer from below the zone. Those below-zone picks count toward the board’s overall limit.
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Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 14307
Title 10 — Armed Forces
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73