Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-102
§8415 Reserve Student Aviation Pilots; Reserve Aviation Pilots: Appointments in Commissioned Grade
Title 10 › Subtitle C — Navy and Marine Corps › PART III — EDUCATION AND TRAINING › CHAPTER 851 — OFFICER PROCUREMENT PROGRAMS › § 8415
Summary
Enlisted members of the Navy Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve can be made student aviation pilots under rules the Secretary of the Navy sets. If a member is not already a qualified civilian pilot, they must sign an agreement (and, if a minor, have a parent or guardian agree) to serve on active duty for two years after finishing flight training, unless released earlier; they can also be released or discharged at any time by officials the Secretary names. Qualified civilian pilots may get a short refresher course. While in training, uniforms and equipment are provided at government expense. After finishing training, they can be designated aviation pilots under the Secretary’s rules. In peacetime, those who owe two years may choose to stay up to two more years. Qualified aviation pilots may, under rules, be appointed to ensign in the Navy Reserve or second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §8415
Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Under such regulations as the Secretary of the Navy prescribes, enlisted members of the Navy Reserve and the Marine Corps Reserve may be designated as student aviation pilots.
(b)A member who is not a qualified civilian aviator may not be designated as a student aviation pilot unless he agrees in writing, with the consent of his parent or guardian if he is a minor, to serve on active duty for a period of two years after successfully completing flight training, unless sooner released. Such a student aviation pilot may be released from active duty or discharged at any time by any administrative authority prescribed by the Secretary.
(c)If he is a qualified civilian aviator, a student aviation pilot may be given a brief refresher course in flight training.
(d)While he is in flight training, a student aviation pilot shall have uniforms and equipment issued to him at Government expense.
(e)Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, a student aviation pilot of the Navy Reserve or the Marine Corps Reserve may be designated an aviation pilot upon successfully completing flight training.
(f)In time of peace, an aviation pilot who is obligated under subsection (b) to serve on active duty for a period of two years may serve, with his consent, for an additional period of not more than two years.
(g)An aviation pilot of the Navy Reserve or the Marine Corps Reserve may be released from active duty or discharged at any time by any administrative authority prescribed by the Secretary.
(h)An aviation pilot of the Navy Reserve or the Marine Corps Reserve may, if qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, be appointed an ensign in the Navy Reserve or a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve, as appropriate.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 691534 U.S.C. 841a–841e.Nov. 5, 1941, ch. 468, §§ 1–5, 55 Stat. 759. 34 U.S.C. 841h.Nov. 5, 1941, ch. 468, § 8; added Aug. 4, 1942, ch. 547, § 15(h), 56 Stat. 740. In subsection (a) the authority to designate student aviation pilots is expressly set forth. The portion of 34 U.S.C. 841h that provides that student aviation pilots who are qualified civilian aviators shall be given a brief refresher course in flight training is contained in subsection (c). The remainder of 34 U.S.C. 841h, which provides that such pilots shall not be considered as having been designated pursuant to 34 U.S.C. 841a–841h, is reflected in subsection (b) by making that subsection applicable only to student aviation pilots who are not qualified civilian aviators. No other consequences attach to designation as student aviation pilots under the particular provisions. In subsection (b) the word “continuous” is omitted as covered by the word “period”, and the subsection is written as a condition precedent to designation, because it is so interpreted. In subsection (c) the words “enlisted in or transferred to pilot ratings” are omitted as surplusage. Subsection (e) states expressly the authority to designate aviation pilots, which is implied in 34 U.S.C. 841a, 841b, and 841d. In subsection (f) the words “pay grade E–5” are substituted for the words “third grade” in 34 U.S.C. 841b to conform to the terminology of the Career Compensation Act of 1949 (37 U.S.C. 231 et seq.). In subsection (h) the words “of the Naval Reserve or the Marine Corps Reserve” are substituted for the words “designated as such in accordance with section 841a and 841b of this title” for uniformity.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 6915 of this title as this section. 2006—Subsecs. (a), (e), (g), (h). Pub. L. 109–163 substituted “Navy Reserve” for “Naval Reserve” wherever appearing. 1980—Subsecs. (f) to (i). Pub. L. 96–513 redesignated subsecs. (g), (h), and (i) as (f), (g), and (h), respectively. 1962—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 87–649 repealed subsec. (f) which provided that while on active duty, an aviation pilot of the Naval Reserve or the Marine Corps Reserve is entitled to the pay of an enlisted member in pay grade E–5 or that of his grade, whichever is greater. See section 201 of Title 37, Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2018 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of
Amendments
and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1980 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96–513 effective Dec. 12, 1980, see section 701(b)(3) of Pub. L. 96–513, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1962 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 87–649 effective Nov. 1, 1962, see section 15 of Pub. L. 87–649, set out as an
Effective Date
note preceding section 101 of Title 37, Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 8415
Title 10, Armed Forces
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102