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Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-102

§508 Reenlistment: Qualifications

Title 10 › Subtitle A — General Military Law › PART II — PERSONNEL › CHAPTER 31 — ENLISTMENTS › § 508

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

People who did not behave honestly or loyally during their last enlistment cannot reenlist in the military. The Secretary in charge of that service can allow a reenlistment if the person’s behavior after that enlistment has been good. Someone who was discharged from a Regular component may be reenlisted in the Regular Army, Regular Navy, Regular Air Force, Regular Marine Corps, Space Force, or Regular Coast Guard under rules the Secretary sets. This does not take away any other legal right the person has to reenlist under other laws.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §508

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)No person whose service during his last term of enlistment was not honest and faithful may be reenlisted in an armed force. However, the Secretary concerned may authorize the reenlistment in the armed force under his jurisdiction of such a person if his conduct after that service has been good.
(b)A person discharged from a Regular component may be reenlisted in the Regular Army, Regular Navy, Regular Air Force, Regular Marine Corps, Space Force, or Regular Coast Guard, as the case may be, under such regulations as the Secretary concerned may prescribe.
(c)This section does not deprive a person of any right to be reenlisted in the Regular Army, Regular Navy, Regular Air Force, Regular Marine Corps, Space Force, or Regular Coast Guard under any other provision of law.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2023—Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 118–31 struck out “Regular” before “Space Force”. 2021—Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “Regular Marine Corps, Regular Space Force,” for “Regular Marine Corps,”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see section 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 508

Title 10, Armed Forces

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102