Title 37Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed ServicesRelease 119-73

§210 Pay of senior enlisted members during terminal leave and while hospitalized

Title 37 › Chapter CHAPTER 3— - BASIC PAY › § 210

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Top enlisted leaders who finish their service and go on terminal leave before retiring must be paid the senior-enlisted rate for up to 60 days. If one of these leaders is hospitalized during or right after finishing their job, they keep that senior-enlisted pay for up to 180 days while in the hospital. "Senior enlisted member" means the top enlisted person for each service: Sergeant Major of the Army; Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy; Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force; Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps; Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force; and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard.

Full Legal Text

Title 37, §210

Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A noncommissioned officer of an armed force who, immediately following the completion of service as the senior enlisted member of that armed force or the senior enlisted advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, is placed on terminal leave pending retirement shall be entitled, for not more than 60 days while in such status, to the rate of basic pay authorized for the senior enlisted member of that armed force.
(b)A noncommissioned officer of an armed force who is hospitalized and who, during or immediately before such hospitalization, completed service as the senior enlisted member of that armed force, shall continue to be entitled, for not more than 180 days while so hospitalized, to the rate of basic pay authorized for the senior enlisted member of that armed force.
(c)In this section, the term “senior enlisted member” means the following:
(1)The Sergeant Major of the Army.
(2)The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy.
(3)The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force.
(4)The Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.
(5)The Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force.
(6)The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2024—Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 118–159 substituted “The Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force” for “The senior enlisted advisor of the Space Force”. 2021—Subsec. (c)(5), (6). Pub. L. 116–283 added par. (5) and redesignated former par. (5) as (6). 2014—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–291, § 603(b)(1), inserted “or the senior enlisted advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the Chief of the National Guard Bureau” after “that armed force” the first place appearing. Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 113–291, § 603(b)(2), struck out par. (6) which read as follows: “The Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.” 2006—Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 109–364 substituted “Advisor to” for “Advisor for”. Pub. L. 109–163 added par. (6). 1996—Pub. L. 104–201, § 603(b)(1), substituted “Pay of senior enlisted members during terminal leave and while hospitalized” for “Pay of the senior noncommissioned officer of an armed force during terminal leave” in section catchline. Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 104–201, § 603(a), added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2014 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 113–291 effective on Dec. 19, 2014 and applicable with respect to months of service that begin on or after that date, see section 603(e) of Pub. L. 113–291, set out as a note under section 1406 of Title 10, Armed Forces.

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see section 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

37 U.S.C. § 210

Title 37Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73