14 U.S.C. § 3736: Precedence

Summary

Reserve officers keep their seniority and place in line with other officers of the same rank, including those on the active-duty promotion list, certain officers the Secretary names, and permanent commissioned teachers, based on the date their rank began. If dates are the same, the Secretary decides who goes first. Moving to or from the active-duty promotion list does not change a Reserve officer’s place or date of rank. While on the active list they are promoted the same way as others, even if they have less active service. If they are promoted to rear admiral under a running‑mate system, they do not lose their place. The Secretary may change a date of rank only to keep the order the same.

Title 14, §3736

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(a)Reserve officers rank and take precedence in their respective grades among themselves and with officers of the same grade on the active duty promotion list, officers designated by the Secretary pursuant to this section, and the officers on the permanent commissioned teaching staff in accordance with their dates of rank. When Reserve officers and officers on the active duty promotion list, officers designated by the Secretary pursuant to this section, or the officers on the permanent commissioned teaching staff have the same date of rank in a grade, they take precedence as determined by the Secretary.

(b)Notwithstanding any other law, a Reserve officer shall not lose precedence when transferred to or from the active duty promotion list, nor shall that officer’s date of rank be changed due to the transfer.

(c)A Reserve officer shall, when on the active duty promotion list, be promoted in the same manner as any other officer on the active duty promotion list regardless of the length of active duty service of the Reserve officer.

(d)Notwithstanding any other law, a Reserve officer shall not lose precedence by reason of promotion to the grade of rear admiral or rear admiral (lower half), if the promotion is determined in accordance with a running mate system.

(e)The Secretary shall adjust the date of rank of a Reserve officer so that no changes of precedence occur.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 781 of this title prior to the complete revision of former chapter 21 of this title by Pub. L. 96–322.

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 119–60 substituted, in first sentence, “promotion list, officers designated by the Secretary pursuant to this section, and the officers on the” for “promotion list and the” and, in second sentence, “promotion list, officers designated by the Secretary pursuant to this section, or the officers on the” for “promotion list or the”. 2018—Pub. L. 115–282 renumbered section 725 of this title as this section. 2004—Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 108–293 added subsecs. (d) and (e).

§3736 Precedence