Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73
§651 Members: required service
Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— - General Military Law › Part PART II— - PERSONNEL › Chapter CHAPTER 37— - GENERAL SERVICE REQUIREMENTS › § 651
Summary
People who join a U.S. armed force must serve an initial total of at least six years and no more than eight years. The Secretary of Defense sets the exact rules for the services, and the Secretary of Homeland Security does so for the Coast Guard when it is not serving with the Navy. Time that is not full active duty, or that is active duty for training, must be done in a reserve unit. A person may be released earlier for personal hardship. People deferred under the Military Selective Service Act are not covered. When a person subject to the six-to-eight year rule finishes active duty and is not already in a Reserve, they must be sent to a reserve unit if they are qualified. For the forces under the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary can allow a shorter initial service for certain newly appointed commissioned officers in critically short health specialties or for unrestricted officers in cyberspace jobs. Any shorter required period must be at least the greater of two years, the time in any accession-bonus or special-pay contract the officer accepted, or, for an unrestricted cyberspace officer, the time stated in their enlistment agreement.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §651
Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Each person who becomes a member of an armed force, other than a person deferred under the next to the last sentence of section 6(d)(1) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 3806(d)(1)), shall serve in the armed forces for a total initial period of not less than six years nor more than eight years, as provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense for the armed forces under his jurisdiction and by the Secretary of Homeland Security for the Coast Guard when it is not operating as service in the Navy, unless such person is sooner discharged under such regulations because of personal hardship. Any part of such service that is not active duty or that is active duty for training shall be performed in a reserve component.
(b)Each person covered by subsection (a) who is not a Reserve, and who is qualified, shall, upon his release from active duty, be transferred to a reserve component to complete the service required by subsection (a).
(c)(1)For the armed forces under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary may waive the initial period of required service otherwise established pursuant to subsection (a) in the case of the initial appointment of a commissioned officer in a critically short health professional specialty specified by the Secretary for purposes of this subsection or in the case of an unrestricted officer designated within a cyberspace occupational specialty.
(2)The minimum period of obligated service for an officer under a waiver under this subsection shall be the greater of—
(A)two years;
(B)in the case of an officer who has accepted an accession bonus or executed a contract or agreement for the multiyear receipt of special pay for service in the armed forces, the period of obligated service specified in such contract or agreement; or
(C)in the case of an unrestricted officer designated within a cyberspace occupational specialty, the period of obligated service specified in the enlistment agreement of such officer.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
1956 Act Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 651(a) 651(b) 651(c)50 App.:454(d)(3) (1st sentence, and less applicability to members of National Security Training Corps).50 App.:454(d)(3) (2d sentence, and less applicability to members of National Security Training Corps).50 App.:454(d)(3) (3d and last sentences).
June 24, 1948, ch. 625, § 4(d)(3) (less 4th sentence, and less applicability to members of National Security Training Corps); added
June 19, 1951, ch. 144, § 1(g) (last par., less 4th sentence, and less applicability to members of National Security Training Corps), 65 Stat. 79;
July 9, 1952, ch. 608, § 813, 66 Stat. 509. In subsection (a), the word “male” is inserted, since the source statute (Universal Military Training and Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 451 et seq.)) applies only to male persons. The words “subsequent to the date of enactment of this paragraph [
June 19, 1951]” are omitted as executed. The words “becomes a member” are substituted for the words “is inducted, enlisted, or appointed * * * in”. The words “in the armed forces” are substituted for the words “on active training and service in the Armed Forces * * * and in a reserve component”. The last sentence is substituted for the words “or in training in the National Security Training Corps”. The words “under any provision of law” and “including the reserve components thereof” are omitted as surplusage. In subsection (b), the words “who is not a Reserve” are inserted, since the eight year obligation for Reserves is covered by subsection (a). The words “active duty” are substituted for the words “active training and service”. The last eight words are substituted for the words “and shall serve therein for the remainder of the period which he is required to serve under this paragraph”. The words “physically and mentally” and 50 App.:454(d)(3) (last 15 words of 2d sentence) are omitted as surplusage. In [former] subsection (c), the words “who is released from active duty” are inserted for clarity. The words “shall become a member” are substituted for the words “it shall be the duty of such person to enlist, enroll, or accept appointment in, or accept assignment to”. The words “there is a vacancy” are substituted for the words “enlistment, enrollment, or appointment in, or assignment to”. 50 App.:454(d)(3) (last sentence) is omitted as surplusage. 1958 Act Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 651(a)50 App.:454(d)(3) (2d sentence).Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 665, § 3(a) (last sentence), 69 Stat. 603. In subsection (a), the word “male” is inserted, since the source statute applies only to male persons. The words “subsequent to the date of enactment of the Reserve Forces Act of 1955” are omitted as executed. The words “becomes a member” are substituted for the words “is inducted, enlisted, or appointed . . . in”. The last sentence is substituted for the words “on active training and service . . . and in a reserve component”. The requirement of transfer to and service in a reserve component, after active training and service is covered by subsection (b) of this section. The words “under any provision of law” and “including the reserve components thereof” are omitted as surplusage.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2023—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 118–31, § 509(a)(1), inserted before period at end “or in the case of an unrestricted officer designated within a cyberspace occupational specialty”. Subsec. (c)(2)(C). Pub. L. 118–31, § 509(a)(2), added subpar. (C). 2021—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–81 inserted comma after “3806(d)(1))”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–283 struck out “of his armed force” after “reserve component”. 2019—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–92 inserted “shall serve” before “in the armed forces”. 2016—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–328 substituted “(50 U.S.C. 3806(d)(1))” for “(50 U.S.C. App. 456(d)(1)) shall serve”. 2008—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–181 added subsec. (c). 2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–296 substituted “of Homeland Security” for “of Transportation”. 1983—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–94 amended subsec. (a) generally, substituting a reference to service in the armed forces for a total initial period of not less than six years nor more than eight years under prescribed
Regulations
for the prior reference to service in the armed forces for a total of six years. 1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–513, substituted “Secretary of Transportation” for “Secretary of the Treasury”, and “section 6(d)(1) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 456(d)(1))” for “section 456(d)(1) of title 50, appendix”. 1979—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–107 struck out “before his twenty-sixth birthday” after “force”. 1977—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–79 struck out “male” after “Each” and “after August 9, 1955,” after “who”. 1966—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 89–718 struck out reference to persons who enlisted under section 1013 of title 50 in the description of persons not required to serve in the armed forces for a total of six years. 1958—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(12), restricted section to male persons who became members of the armed forces after Aug. 9, 1955, excluded persons enlisted under section 1013 of Title 50 or deferred under the next to last sentence of section 456(d)(1) of Title 50, Appendix, reduced from eight to six years the required period of service, required any part of such service that is not active duty or is active duty for training to be performed in a reserve component, and struck out provisions which permitted members of the armed forces to count service in the National Security Training Corps as if it were service in the armed forces for the purposes of this subsection. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 85–861, § 36B(3), repealed subsec. (c) which required members released from active duty to become members of an organized unit of a reserve component of an officers’ training program.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2002 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 107–296 effective on the date of transfer of the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security, see section 1704(g) of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1983 Amendment Pub. L. 98–94, title X, § 1022(b)(2), Sept. 24, 1983, 97 Stat. 671, provided that: “The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall apply only with respect to persons who enter the Armed Forces 60 or more days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 24, 1983].”
Effective Date
of 1980 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96–513 effective Dec. 12, 1980, see section 701(b)(3) of Pub. L. 96–513, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1979 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96–107 applicable to individuals who become members of an Armed Force after Nov. 9, 1979, see section 805(c) of Pub. L. 96–107, set out as a note under section 511 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1977 Amendment Pub. L. 95–79, title VIII, § 803(b), July 30, 1977, 91 Stat. 333, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on the first day of the seventh calendar month beginning after the month in which this Act is enacted [July 1977] and shall apply to any female person who becomes a member of an Armed Force on or after such day.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 651
Title 10 — Armed Forces
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73