Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73not60

§20238 Establishment of Promotion Zones

Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle F— Alternative Military Personnel Systems › Part I— SPACE FORCE › Chapter 2005— OFFICERS › Subchapter III— PROMOTIONS › § 20238

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

Before holding a promotion board for officers above first lieutenant or lieutenant (junior grade), the Secretary of the Air Force must set a promotion zone for officers in each grade and competitive category to be considered. The Secretary must pick how many eligible officers go into each promotion zone. That choice must be based on estimates over the next five years of: how many will be needed in the next higher grade; how many will be serving in that higher grade; if the grade has statutory limits, how many are authorized to be on duty on the last day of each of the next five fiscal years; and how many should be put in the zone each year so officers have similar chances for promotion.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §20238

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Before convening a selection board under section 20211 of this title to consider officers for promotion to any grade above first lieutenant or lieutenant (junior grade), the Secretary of the Air Force shall establish a promotion zone for officers serving in each grade and competitive category to be considered by the board.

(b)The Secretary of the Air Force shall determine the number of officers in the promotion zone for officers serving in any grade and competitive category from among officers who are eligible for promotion in that grade and competitive category. Such determination shall be made on the basis of an estimate of—

(1)the number of officers needed in that competitive category in the next higher grade in each of the next five years;

(2)the number of officers to be serving in that competitive category in the next higher grade in each of the next five years;

(3)in the case of a promotion zone for officers to be promoted to a grade to which section 523 of this title is applicable, the number of officers authorized for such grade under such section to be on sustained duty on the last day of each of the next five fiscal years; and

(4)the number of officers that should be placed in that promotion zone in each of the next five years to provide to officers in those years relatively similar opportunity for promotion.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 20238

Title 10 — Armed Forces

Last Updated

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60