§7034 — Title 10 Armed Forces | U.S. Code

Summary

The President picks the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army from Army generals, and the Senate must approve. While serving, the Vice Chief holds the rank of general but keeps their permanent rank. The Chief of Staff, with the Secretary of the Army’s approval, gives the Vice Chief duties, and the Vice Chief’s orders for those duties have the same force as the Chief’s. If the Chief’s job is empty, or the Chief is away or unable to work, the Vice Chief will perform the Chief’s duties until a successor is appointed or the Chief returns. If the Vice Chief is also unavailable, the most senior able officer on the Army Staff will act as Chief unless the President directs otherwise.

Title 10, §7034

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)There is a Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from the general officers of the Army.

(b)The Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, while so serving, has the grade of general without vacating his permanent grade.

(c)The Vice Chief of Staff has such authority and duties with respect to the Department of the Army as the Chief of Staff, with the approval of the Secretary of the Army, may delegate to or prescribe for him. Orders issued by the Vice Chief of Staff in performing such duties have the same effect as those issued by the Chief of Staff.

(d)When there is a vacancy in the office of Chief of Staff or during the absence or disability of the Chief of Staff—

(1)the Vice Chief of Staff shall perform the duties of the Chief of Staff until a successor is appointed or the absence or disability ceases; or

(2)if there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice Chief of Staff or the Vice Chief of Staff is absent or disabled, unless the President directs otherwise, the most senior officer of the Army in the Army Staff who is not absent or disabled and who is not restricted in performance of duty shall perform the duties of the Chief of Staff until a successor to the Chief of Staff or the Vice Chief of Staff is appointed or until the absence or disability of the Chief of Staff or Vice Chief of Staff ceases, whichever occurs first.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 3035(a)3035(b)10:21c (1st sentence).10:21c (less 1st sentence).June 28, 1950, ch. 383, § 203, 64 Stat. 266. In subsection (a), the words “of the Army” are omitted as surplusage. In subsection (b), the words “If the Chief of Staff is absent or disabled or if that office is vacant” are substituted for 10:21c (1st 18 words of last sentence). The words “the officer who is highest on the following list and” are inserted for clarity. The words “until his successor is appointed” are omitted as surplusage.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 3034 of this title as this section. 1986—Pub. L. 99–433, § 502(d), renumbered section 3035 of this title as this section. Pub. L. 99–433, § 502(d)(3), substituted “Vice Chief of Staff” for “Vice Chief of Staff, Deputy Chiefs of Staff, and Assistant Chiefs of Staff: succession to duties of Chief of Staff” in section catchline. Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 99–433, § 502(d)(1), amended subsecs. (a) and (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsecs. (a) and (b) read as follows: “(a) The Vice Chief of Staff, the Deputy Chiefs of Staff, and the Assistant Chiefs of Staff shall be general officers detailed to those positions. “(b) If the Chief of Staff is absent or disabled or if that office is vacant, the officer who is highest on the following list and who is not absent or disabled shall, unless otherwise directed by the President, perform the duties of the Chief of Staff until a successor is appointed or the absence or disability ceases: “(1) The Vice Chief of Staff. “(2) The Deputy Chiefs of Staff in order of seniority.” Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99–433, § 502(d)(2), added subsec. (d). 1958—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 85–599 added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2018 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of

Amendments

and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

§7034 Vice Chief of Staff

Summary

Title 10, §7034

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Amendments

Citations & Metadata