§20203 Original Appointments: Service Credit

Summary

Lets people getting their first commissioned job in the Space Force count past commissioned active service toward their rank and grade. Only prior commissioned service (not service as a commissioned warrant officer) counts. Time as a Space Force officer on active duty or active status counts. Time as a regular officer or a reserve officer in active status in any uniformed service also counts. Department of Defense rules about crediting prior service apply and let the Secretary of the Air Force limit how much past service may be counted. The Secretary of the Air Force can also give extra credit for advanced education, training, or special experience that matches Space Force needs. That extra credit can be given for each relevant instance, even if they overlap, but no more than 20 people may get such credit in any year. The extra credit cannot be more than needed to qualify for an original appointment as a colonel. That credit is added at the time of appointment and is used only to set initial grade, rank in grade, and service-in-grade for promotion rules. Service Academy graduates get no credit for things done before graduation. Reserve officers who transfer get the same grade and date of rank they held or would have held on the active-duty list. Executive Order 13384 rules about Presidential functions under the law apply the same way to related Presidential functions here, unless the President says otherwise by Executive order.