Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-102

§671b Members: Service Extension When Congress Is Not in Session

Title 10 › Subtitle A — General Military Law › PART II — PERSONNEL › CHAPTER 39 — ACTIVE DUTY › § 671b

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

President may authorize the Defense Secretary to extend military service that would expire before day 30 after Congress reconvenes, for up to 6 months; it ends by day 60 or the Secretary's date, unless law or executive order ends it sooner.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §671b

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when the President determines that the national interest so requires, he may, if Congress is not in session, having adjourned sine die, authorize the Secretary of Defense to extend for not more than six months enlistments, appointments, periods of active duty, periods of active duty for training, periods of obligated service, or other military status, in any component of the armed forces, that expire before the thirtieth day after Congress next convenes or reconvenes.
(b)An extension under this section continues until the sixtieth day after Congress next convenes or reconvenes or until the expiration of the period of extension specified by the Secretary of Defense, whichever occurs earlier, unless sooner terminated by law or Executive order.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1989—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–189 substituted “armed forces” for “Armed Forces of the United States”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 671b

Title 10, Armed Forces

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102