Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-110

§20505 Officer Considered for Removal: Voluntary Retirement or Discharge

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 › § 20505

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Air Force can let an officer facing removal from Space Force active duty choose to retire if they qualify or ask to be discharged. If an officer is removed and is eligible to retire on that date, they must be retired at the rank and with the retirement pay they would get. If they are not eligible, they will be discharged; whether it is an honorable discharge depends on which removal rule applied. A discharged officer who qualifies may get separation pay under section 1174(a)(2).

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §20505

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—

At any time during proceedings under this chapter with respect to the removal of an officer from a space force active status, the Secretary of the Air Force may grant a request by the officer—

(1)for voluntary retirement, if the officer is qualified for retirement; or

(2)for discharge in accordance with subsection (b)(2).

(b)Retirement or Discharge.—

An officer removed from a space force active status under section 20503 of this title shall—

(1)if eligible for voluntary retirement under any provision of law on the date of such removal, be retired in the grade and with the retired pay for which the officer would be eligible if retired under such provision; and

(2)if ineligible for voluntary retirement under any provision of law on the date of such removal—

(A)be honorably discharged in the grade then held, in the case of an officer whose case was brought under subsection (a) of section 20501 of this title; or

(B)be discharged in the grade then held, in the case of an officer whose case was brought under subsection (b) of section 20501 of this title.

(c)Separation Pay for Discharged Officer.—

An officer who is discharged under subsection (b)(2) is entitled, if eligible therefor, to separation pay under section 1174(a)(2) of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 20505

Title 10, Armed Forces

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110