Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-110

§20504 Rights and Procedures

Title 10 › Subtitle F — Alternative Military Personnel Systems › PART I — SPACE FORCE › CHAPTER 2011 — SEPARATION OF OFFICERS FOR SUBSTANDARD PERFORMANCE OF DUTY OR FOR CERTAIN OTHER REASONS › § 20504

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Air Force must give an officer written notice at least 30 days before a retention-board hearing that explains why the officer must show why they should remain in Space Force active status. The officer must be given a fair amount of time to prepare, may attend in person or by electronic means, may have a lawyer, and must be allowed full access to and copies of case records unless the Secretary decides they must be kept secret for national security. If records are withheld for national security, the officer must be given a summary of those records as much as security allows.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §20504

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force, each officer required under section 20501 of this title to show cause for retention in a space force active status—

(1)shall be notified in writing, at least 30 days before the hearing of the officer’s case by a retention board, of the reasons for which the officer is being required to show cause for retention in a space force active status;

(2)shall be allowed a reasonable time, as determined by the board, to prepare the officer’s showing of cause for retention in a space force active status;

(3)shall be allowed to appear either in person or through electronic means and to be represented by counsel at proceedings before the board; and

(4)shall be allowed full access to, and shall be furnished copies of, records relevant to the officer’s case, except that the board shall withhold any record that the Secretary determines should be withheld in the interest of national security.

(b)Summary of Records Withheld in Interest of National Security.—

When a record is withheld under subsection (a)(4), the officer whose case is under consideration shall, to the extent that the interest of national security permits, be furnished a summary of the record so withheld.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 20504

Title 10, Armed Forces

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110