Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-110

§14511 Separation at Age 64: Officers in Grade of Major General or Rear Admiral and Above

Title 10 › Subtitle E — Reserve Components › PART III — PROMOTION AND RETENTION OF OFFICERS ON THE RESERVE ACTIVE-STATUS LIST › CHAPTER 1407 — FAILURE OF SELECTION FOR PROMOTION AND INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION › § 14511

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Major generals or higher in the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, and rear admirals or higher in the Navy, must be separated under section 14515 on the last day of the month they turn 64 unless they already retired, are in the Retired Reserve, were discharged earlier, or are covered by section 14512. If they are serving in O‑9 or O‑10 positions, the President can delay separation only until the first day of the month after they turn 68, and the Secretary of Defense only until the first day of the month after they turn 66.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §14511

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Separation Required.—
Unless retired, transferred to the Retired Reserve, or discharged at an earlier date, each reserve officer of the Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps in the grade of major general or above and each reserve officer of the Navy in the grade of rear admiral or above shall be separated in accordance with section 14515 of this title on the last day of the month in which the officer becomes 64 years of age.
(b)Exception for Officers Serving in O–9 and O–10 Positions.—
The retirement of a reserve officer of the Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps in the grade of lieutenant general or general, or a reserve officer of the Navy in the grade of vice admiral or admiral, under subsection (a) may be deferred—
(1)by the President, but such a deferment may not extend beyond the first day of the month following the month in which the officer becomes 68 years of age; or
(2)by the Secretary of Defense, but such a deferment may not extend beyond the first day of the month following the month in which the officer becomes 66 years of age.
(c)Exception for Officers Holding Certain Offices.—
This section does not apply to an officer covered by section 14512 of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 3844 and 8844 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–337, § 1629(a)(3), (c)(3).

Amendments

2008—Pub. L. 110–181 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Unless retired, transferred to the Retired Reserve, or discharged at an earlier date, each reserve officer of the Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps in the grade of major general and each reserve officer of the Navy in the grade of rear admiral, except an officer covered by section 14512 of this title, shall be separated in accordance with section 14515 of this title on the last day of the month in which the officer becomes 64 years of age.” 2006—Pub. L. 109–364 substituted “64” for “62” in section catchline and text.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1996, see section 1691(b)(1) of Pub. L. 103–337, set out as a note under section 10001 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 14511

Title 10, Armed Forces

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110