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Title 32, National GuardRelease 119-102

§310 Federal Recognition of National Guard Officers: Automatic Recognition

Title 32 › CHAPTER 3 — PERSONNEL › § 310

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Federal recognition is automatically given for some National Guard promotions, even if sections 307 and 309 would otherwise apply. If a National Guard second lieutenant is promoted to first lieutenant to fill a federally recognized vacancy, the officer gets federal recognition in that grade once they finish the time-in-grade required under 10 U.S.C. 14303(a)(1) and meet any other Secretary requirements under 10 U.S.C. 14308(b), provided they stayed in active status since the promotion was recommended. The same automatic recognition applies when a W–1 is promoted to W–2 after completing the time required under 10 U.S.C. 12242 and remaining active. An Army Reserve or Air Force Reserve officer above second lieutenant who is appointed to the next higher grade in the National Guard to fill a vacancy also gets federal recognition if they were recommended for promotion under chapter 1405 of title 10 and stayed in active status. That recognition starts on the date of the National Guard appointment.

Full Legal Text

Title 32, §310

National Guard, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)Notwithstanding section 307 and 309 of this title, if a second lieutenant of the National Guard is promoted to the grade of first lieutenant to fill a vacancy in a federally recognized unit in the National Guard, Federal recognition is automatically extended to that officer in the grade of first lieutenant, effective as of the date on which that officer has completed the service in the grade specified in section 14303(a)(1) of title 10 and has met such other requirements as prescribed by the Secretary concerned under section 14308(b) of that title, if the officer has remained in an active status since the officer was so recommended.
(2)Notwithstanding section 307 and 309 of this title, if a warrant officer, W–1, of the National Guard is promoted to the grade of chief warrant officer, W–2, to fill a vacancy in a federally recognized unit in the National Guard, Federal recognition is automatically extended to that officer in the grade of chief warrant officer, W–2, effective as of the date on which that officer has completed the service in the grade prescribed by the Secretary concerned under section 12242 of title 10, if the warrant officer has remained in an active status since the warrant officer was so recommended.
(b)Notwithstanding section 307 and 309 of this title, if an officer of the Army Reserve or the Air Force Reserve in a reserve grade above second lieutenant is appointed in the next higher grade in the National Guard to fill a vacancy in a federally recognized unit in the National Guard, Federal recognition is automatically extended to that officer in the grade in which the officer is so appointed in the National Guard if the officer has been recommended for promotion under chapter 1405 of title 10 and has remained in an active status since the officer was so recommended. The extension of Federal recognition under this subsection is effective as of the date when the officer is appointed in the National Guard.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 310(a)310(b)50:1252 (less (2)).50:1252(2).Sept. 3, 1954, ch. 1257, § 320, 68 Stat. 1160. In subsections (a) and (b), the words “federally recognized” are inserted for clarity. In subsection (a), the words “or the date of the promotion, whichever is later” are omitted as inconsistent with section 3820(c) of title 10, requiring the discharge of each second lieutenant who is not promoted by the time he has three years of service. (See opinion of the Judge Advocate General of the Army (JAGA 1957/1019, Jan. 7, 1957).)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2013—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 112–239 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2). 1994—Pub. L. 103–337 substituted “National Guard officers:” for “officers: Army National Guard;” in section catchline and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “(a) Notwithstanding section 307 and 309 of this title, if a second lieutenant of the Army National Guard is promoted to the grade of first lieutenant to fill a vacancy in a federally recognized unit thereof, Federal recognition is automatically extended to him in the grade of first lieutenant, effective as of the date on which he completes three years of service computed under section 3360(a) of title 10. “(b) Notwithstanding section 307 and 309 of this title, if an officer of the Army Reserve in a reserve grade above second lieutenant is appointed in the next higher grade in the Army National Guard to fill a vacancy in a federally recognized unit thereof, Federal recognition is automatically extended to him in the grade in which he is so appointed in the Army National Guard, if he has been recommended for promotion to the grade concerned under section 3366, 3367, 3370, or 3383 of title 10 and has remained in an active status since he was so recommended. The extension of Federal recognition under this subsection is effective as of the date when the officer is appointed in the Army National Guard.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1994 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 103–337 effective Oct. 1, 1996, see section 1691(b)(1) of Pub. L. 103–337, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 10001 of Title 10, Armed Forces. Suspension of This SectionFor authority of the President to suspend this section in time of war or emergency declared by Congress, see section 111 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

32 U.S.C. § 310

Title 32, National Guard

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102