§690 Retired Members Ordered to Active Duty: Limitation on Number

Summary

Limits how many retired senior officers can be on active duty at the same time. No more than 15 retired generals from the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force, and no more than 15 retired admirals from the Navy, may be on active duty at once. A retired officer ordered back for 60 days or less does not count toward those limits. No more than 25 retired officers from any one service may be on active duty at once under recall orders. The 25-person cap does not count certain people while they are doing that duty: chaplains, health care professionals, officers assigned to the American Battle Monuments Commission, Retiree Council members at the annual meeting, and defense or service attachés. The 15-officer limit does not apply during war or a national emergency declared by Congress or the President after November 30, 1980. The 25-officer limit also does not apply during war or a national emergency declared by Congress or the President.