§688 Retired Members: Authority to Order to Active Duty; Duties

Summary

The Secretary of each military branch can call certain retired members back to active duty any time, if the Secretary of Defense sets the rules for doing so. Eligible people include retired Regular members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps; certain Retired Reserve members retired under sections 1293, 7311, 7314, 8323, 9311, or 9314; members of the Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Corps Reserve; and retired Space Force members. The Secretary can assign them whatever duties are needed for national defense, as allowed by other laws. Officers who retired under section 638, or who asked to retire under sections 7311, 8323, or 9311 after being told they might face early retirement under section 638, cannot be called back. A called-back member normally may not serve more than 12 months during the 24 months after their first day back. That 12-month limit does not apply to chaplains, certain health‑care professionals (as the Secretary defines), officers assigned to the American Battle Monuments Commission, or defense/service attachés. The exclusions and the 12-month limit do not apply in time of war or in a national emergency declared by Congress or the President.