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Title 32, National GuardRelease 119-102

§302 Enlistments, Reenlistments, and Extensions

Title 32 › CHAPTER 3 — PERSONNEL › § 302

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary in charge sets the rules for joining and rejoining the National Guard. People who never served can enlist for any chosen term of at least three years. People who have served before can enlist for any chosen term of at least one year. If a member reenlists, it can be for any fixed period, or it can be open-ended if their last rank was one of the top five enlisted ranks. Members may ask to extend their enlistment under the Secretary’s rules for any period of six months or more. If Congress declares an emergency, the President can extend enlistments until six months after that emergency ends.

Full Legal Text

Title 32, §302

National Guard, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary concerned, original enlistments in the National Guard may be accepted for—
(1)any specified term, not less than three years, for persons who have not served in an armed force; or
(2)any specified term, not less than one year, for persons who have served in any armed force.
(b)Under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary concerned, reenlistment in the National Guard may be accepted for any specified period, or, if the person last served in one of the highest five enlisted grades, for an unspecified period.
(c)Enlistments or reenlistments in the National Guard may be extended—
(1)under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary concerned, at the request of the member, for any period not less than six months; or
(2)by proclamation of the President, if Congress declares an emergency, until six months after termination of that emergency.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 30232:124.
June 3, 1916, ch. 134, § 69; restated
July 11, 1919, ch. 8 (20th par. under “National Guard”); restated
June 4, 1920, ch. 227, subch. I, § 37; restated
June 6, 1924, ch. 275, § 4; restated
June 15, 1933, ch. 87, § 7, 48 Stat. 156;
July 9, 1952, ch. 608, § 806(a), 66 Stat. 506. 32:124 (1st proviso) is omitted as executed. The word “reenlistments” is substituted for the words “subsequent enlistments”.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1961—Pub. L. 87–378 permitted original enlistments for any specified term, not less than three years, for persons who have not served in an armed force, authorized reenlistments for any specified period, or if the person last served in one of the highest five enlisted grades, for an unspecified period, extensions of enlistments or reenlistments at the request of the member for any period not less than six months after termination of the emergency.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1961 Amendment Pub. L. 87–378, § 6, Oct. 4, 1961, 75 Stat. 808, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by section 3, 4, and 5 of this Act [amending this section and section 3261 and 8261 of Title 10, Armed Forces] shall not affect any enlistment, reenlistment, or appointment entered into or made before the

Effective Date

of this Act [Oct. 4, 1961].”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

32 U.S.C. § 302

Title 32, National Guard

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102