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Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-110

§12605 Presentation of United States Flag: Members Transferred From an Active Status or Discharged After Completion of Eligibility for Retired Pay

Title 10 › Subtitle E — Reserve Components › PART II — PERSONNEL GENERALLY › CHAPTER 1217 — MISCELLANEOUS RIGHTS AND BENEFITS › § 12605

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

When a Reserve leaves active duty or is discharged after completing the years of service needed to be eligible for retired pay under chapter 1223, the Secretary of the member’s military department must give the member a United States flag. A member cannot be given another flag if they already received one under this rule or any law that gives a flag when leaving active service for retirement. The flag must be provided at no cost to the member.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §12605

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Presentation of Flag.—
Upon the transfer from an active status or discharge of a Reserve who has completed the years of service required for eligibility for retired pay under chapter 1223 of this title, the Secretary concerned shall present a United States flag to the member.
(b)Multiple Presentations Not Authorized.—
A member is not eligible for presentation of a flag under subsection (a) if the member has previously been presented a flag under this section or any provision of law providing for the presentation of a United States flag incident to release from active service for retirement.
(c)No Cost to Recipient.—
The presentation of a flag under this section shall be at no cost to the recipient.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title VI, § 652(d), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 665, provided that: “Section 12605 of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), section 213 of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 214] (as added by subsection (b)), and section 25 of the Coast and Geodetic Survey Commissioned Officers’ Act of 1948 [33 U.S.C. 853v] (as added by subsection (c)) shall apply with respect to releases from service described in those sections on or after October 1, 1999.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 12605

Title 10, Armed Forces

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110