Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73not60

§20102 Individual Ready Guardians: Designation; Mobilization Category

Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle F— Alternative Military Personnel Systems › Part I— SPACE FORCE › Chapter 2003— STATUS AND PARTICIPATION › § 20102

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Air Force, following Defense Department rules, may name a Space Force active-duty member an Individual Ready Guardian. Some of those Guardians can be put into a special mobilization category that lets them be ordered back to active duty without their permission. To be placed in that category a member must volunteer and then be chosen based on Space Force needs and the member’s rank and skills. A member cannot stay in that mobilization category more than 24 months after they separate from active service. The Secretary will decide which ranks and skills qualify. Members in that category get benefits (not pay or training) like those given to similar reserve members, as decided by the Secretary of Defense.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §20102

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Air Force may designate a member of the Space Force in a space force active status as an Individual Ready Guardian.

(b)(1)Among members of the Space Force designated as Individual Ready Guardians, there is a category of members (referred to as a “mobilization category”) who, as designated by the Secretary of the Air Force, are subject to being ordered to active duty without their consent in accordance with section 20106(a) of this title.

(2)A member designated as an Individual Ready Guardian may not be placed in the mobilization category referred to in paragraph (1) unless—

(A)the member volunteers to be placed in that mobilization category; and

(B)the member is selected by the Secretary of the Air Force, based upon the needs of the Space Force and the grade and military skills of that member.

(3)A member of the Space Force in a space force active status may not remain designated an Individual Ready Guardian in such mobilization category after the end of the 24-month period beginning on the date of the separation of the member from active service.

(4)The Secretary of the Air Force shall designate the grades and military skills or specialties of members to be eligible for placement in such mobilization category.

(5)A member in such mobilization category shall be eligible for benefits (other than pay and training) on the same basis as are available to members of the Individual Ready Reserve who are in the special mobilization category under section 10144(b) of this title, as determined by the Secretary of Defense.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 20102

Title 10 — Armed Forces

Last Updated

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60