Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73
§657 Prohibition on service in the armed forces by individuals convicted of certain sexual offenses
Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— - General Military Law › Part PART II— - PERSONNEL › Chapter CHAPTER 37— - GENERAL SERVICE REQUIREMENTS › § 657
Summary
People convicted under federal or state law of certain sexual felonies cannot enlist in the armed forces or become officers. Those crimes include rape or sexual assault, forcible sodomy, incest, and attempts to commit any of those offenses.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §657
Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)A person who has been convicted of an offense specified in subsection (b) under Federal or State law may not be processed for commissioning or permitted to enlist in the armed forces.
(b)An offense specified in this subsection is any felony offense as follows:
(1)Rape or sexual assault.
(2)Forcible sodomy.
(3)Incest.
(4)An attempt to commit an offense specified in paragraph (1) through (3), as punishable under applicable Federal or State law.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 657
Title 10 — Armed Forces
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73