Title 10Armed ForcesRelease 119-73

§2350o Participation in programs relating to coordination or exchange of air refueling and air transportation services

Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— - General Military Law › Part PART IV— - SERVICE, SUPPLY, AND PROPERTY › Chapter CHAPTER 138— - COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH NATO ALLIES AND OTHER COUNTRIES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - OTHER COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS › § 2350o

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Defense can let the Department of Defense take part in programs that swap or coordinate air refueling and air transport services, including the ATARES program, but only if the Secretary of State agrees. Participation can mean swapping or transferring flights for payment, replacing services with similar ones, or trading services of equal value. The DoD’s net flight-hour balance in the program can’t exceed 500 hours total, and refueling can’t exceed 200 hours. Any participation must be written down in an agreement signed by the Secretary of Defense with the Secretary of State’s agreement. The Secretary of Defense may pay the DoD’s fair share of program costs from operation and maintenance funds and may assign military or civilian DoD personnel to meet the agreement.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §2350o

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)The Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, may authorize the participation of the Department of Defense in programs relating to the coordination or exchange of air refueling and air transportation services, including in the arrangement known as the Air Transport and Air-to-Air Refueling and other Exchanges of Services program (in this section referred to as the “ATARES program”).
(2)Participation of the Department of Defense in programs referred to in paragraph (1) may include—
(A)the reciprocal exchange or transfer of air refueling and air transportation services on a reimbursable basis or by replacement-in-kind; and
(B)the exchange of air refueling and air transportation services of an equal value.
(3)(A)The Department of Defense balance of executed flight hours in participation in the ATARES program under paragraph (1), whether as credits or debits, may not exceed a total of 500 hours.
(B)The Department of Defense balance of executed flight hours for air refueling in participation in the ATARES program under paragraph (1) may not exceed 200 hours.
(b)Participation of the Department of Defense in a program referred to in subsection (a)(1) shall be in accordance with a written arrangement or agreement entered into by the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State.
(c)In carrying out any arrangement or agreement entered into under subsection (b), the Secretary of Defense may—
(1)pay the equitable share of the Department of Defense for the recurring and nonrecurring costs of the applicable program referred to in subsection (a)(1) from funds available to the Department for operation and maintenance; and
(2)assign members of the armed forces or Department of Defense civilian personnel to fulfill Department obligations under that arrangement or agreement.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Authority To Establish a Movement Coordination Center Pacific in the Indo-Pacific Region Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title X, § 1061, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3858, provided that: “(a) Authority To Establish.—“(1) In general.—The Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, may authorize—“(A) the establishment of a Movement Coordination Center Pacific (in this section referred to as the ‘Center’); and “(B) the participation of the Department of Defense in an Air Transport and Air-to-Air refueling and other Exchanges of Services program (in this section referred to as the ‘ATARES program’) of the Center. “(2) Scope of participation.—Participation in the ATARES program under paragraph (1)(B) shall be limited to the reciprocal exchange or transfer of air transportation and air refueling services on a reimbursable basis or by replacement-in-kind or the exchange of air transportation or air refueling services of an equal value with foreign militaries. “(3) Limitations.—The Department of Defense’s balance of executed transportation hours, whether as credits or debits, in participation in the ATARES program under paragraph (1)(B) may not exceed 500 hours. The Department of Defense’s balance of executed flight hours for air refueling in the ATARES program under paragraph (1)(B) may not exceed 200 hours. “(b) Written Arrangement or Agreement.—“(1) Arrangement or agreement required.—The participation of the Department of Defense in the ATARES program under subsection (a) shall be in accordance with a written arrangement or agreement entered into by the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State. “(2) Funding arrangements.—If Department of Defense facilities, equipment, or funds are used to support the ATARES program, the written arrangement or agreement under paragraph (1) shall specify the details of any equitable cost-sharing or other funding arrangement. “(3) Other elements.—Any written arrangement or agreement entered into under paragraph (1) shall require that any accrued credits and liabilities resulting from an unequal exchange or transfer of air transportation or air refueling services shall be liquidated, not less than once every 5 years, through the ATARES program. “(c) Implementation.—In carrying out any written arrangement or agreement entered into under subsection (b), the Secretary of Defense may—“(1) pay the Department of Defense’s equitable share of the operating expenses of the Center and the ATARES program from funds available to the Department of Defense for operation and maintenance; and “(2) assign members of the Armed Forces or Department of Defense civilian personnel, within billets authorized for the United States Indo-Pacific Command, to duty at the Center as necessary to fulfill the obligations of the Department of Defense under that arrangement or agreement.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 2350o

Title 10Armed Forces

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73