Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73
§20301 Original enlistments: qualifications; grade
Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle F— - Alternative Military Personnel Systems › Part PART I— - SPACE FORCE › Chapter CHAPTER 2007— - ENLISTED MEMBERS › § 20301
Summary
The Secretary of the Air Force can enlist qualified, physically able people into the Space Force. Recruits must be at least 17 years old, and anyone under 18 needs written permission from a parent or guardian who has legal custody. The Secretary also decides the recruit’s starting rank.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §20301
Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)(1)The Secretary of the Air Force may accept original enlistments in the Space Force of qualified, effective, and able-bodied persons.
(2)A person accepted for original enlistment shall be not less than seventeen years of age. However, no person under eighteen years of age may be originally enlisted without the written consent of the person’s parent or guardian, if the person has a parent or guardian entitled to the person’s custody and control.
(b)A person is enlisted in the Space Force in the grade prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 20301
Title 10 — Armed Forces
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73