Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73

§9254 Authority to designate certain separated members of the Air Force as honorary separated members of the Space Force

Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle D— - Air Force and Space Force › Part PART II— - PERSONNEL › Chapter CHAPTER 933— - MISCELLANEOUS RIGHTS AND BENEFITS › § 9254

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Air Force may create rules to let certain former Air Force members who supported space operations be named honorary separated members of the Space Force. People given that title can be called "Legacy Guardian." The rules can say who is eligible (including dates of service and service credit), set up an application process that a person or a survivor can use, and provide a certificate, badge, or other insignia. Being named a Legacy Guardian does not give any benefits beyond what these rules specifically provide. An "eligible individual" is someone the Secretary decides served in support of space operations while in the Air Force and who separated (or previously separated) from the armed forces as an Air Force member.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §9254

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of the Air Force may prescribe regulations that authorize an eligible individual to be designated as an honorary separated member of the Space Force. An eligible individual so designated may be referred to as a “Legacy Guardian”.

(b)Regulations prescribed under this section may include the following elements:

(1)Eligibility criteria, including applicable dates of service and constructive service credit, for designation under this section.

(2)An application process through which an eligible individual, or a survivor of a deceased eligible individual, may apply for such designation of such eligible individual.

(3)A certificate, approved device, or other insignia of such designation.

(c)Designation of an eligible individual under this section shall not be construed to entitle such eligible individual to any benefit in addition to those established by this section or pursuant to regulations prescribed under this section.

(d)In this section, the term “eligible individual” means an individual—

(1)whom the Secretary of the Air Force determines served in support of space operations as a member of the Air Force; and

(2)who separates (or previously separated) from the armed forces as a member of the Air Force.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 9254

Title 10 — Armed Forces

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73