Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— General Military Law › Part II— PERSONNEL › Chapter 39— ACTIVE DUTY › § 689
When a retired service member is called back to active duty under sections 688 or 688a, they must usually return in the rank they held in retirement. If their retired rank is higher than major general or rear admiral, they must instead be ordered in the highest permanent rank they held on active duty. If they previously served satisfactorily in a higher rank (as approved by the Secretary of their military department), they may be ordered in that highest satisfactory rank, but not above major general or rear admiral. If they serve on active duty in a rank higher than their retired rank, they are treated under section 690 as if they had been promoted to that higher rank during the tour. After release from that tour, a member who has served satisfactorily for at least 36 months in a higher rank can be placed on the retired list in that higher rank. If a member is promoted while on active duty to a rank above their retired rank, they can be placed on the retired list in the highest rank they served satisfactorily for at least six months.
Full Legal Text
Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 689
Title 10 — Armed Forces
Last Updated
Apr 3, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60