Title 10Armed ForcesRelease 119-73not60

§657 Prohibition on Service in the Armed Forces by Individuals Convicted of Certain Sexual Offenses

Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— General Military Law › Part II— PERSONNEL › Chapter 37— GENERAL SERVICE REQUIREMENTS › § 657

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

People convicted of certain sexual felonies under federal or state law may not be processed to become an officer or allowed to enlist in the armed forces. Those felonies include rape or sexual assault, forcible sodomy, incest, and attempts to commit any of those crimes.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §657

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A person who has been convicted of an offense specified in subsection (b) under Federal or State law may not be processed for commissioning or permitted to enlist in the armed forces.
(b)An offense specified in this subsection is any felony offense as follows:
(1)Rape or sexual assault.
(2)Forcible sodomy.
(3)Incest.
(4)An attempt to commit an offense specified in paragraph (1) through (3), as punishable under applicable Federal or State law.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 657

Title 10Armed Forces

Last Updated

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60