Us Code § 12005 - Strength in grade: commissioned officers in grades below brigadier general or rear admiral (lower half) in an active status

Full text of Us Code United States Code § 12005 — Strength in grade: commissioned officers in grades below brigadier general or rear admiral (lower half) in an active status, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 12005. Strength in grade: commissioned officers in grades below brigadier general or rear admiral (lower half) in an active status

(a)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the authorized strength of the Army and the Air Force in reserve commissioned officers in an active status in each grade named in paragraph (2) is as prescribed by the Secretary of the Army or the Secretary of the Air Force, respectively. A vacancy in any grade may be filled by an authorized appointment in any lower grade.

(2) A strength prescribed by the Secretary concerned under paragraph (1) for a grade may not be higher than the percentage of the strength authorized for the Army or the Air Force, as the case may be, under section 12003 of this title that is specified for that grade as follows:

 
GradeArmy percentageAir Force percentage
Colonel 2 1.8
Lieutenant colonel 6 4.6
Major 13 14.0
Captain 35 32.0
First lieutenant and second lieutenant (when combined with the number authorized for general officer grades under section 12004 of this title) 44 47.6

(3) Medical officers and dental officers shall not be counted for the purposes of this subsection.

(b)(1) The authorized strengths of the Navy Reserve in line officers in an active status in the grades of captain, commander, lieutenant commander, and lieutenant, and in the grades of lieutenant (junior grade) and ensign combined, are the following percentages of the total authorized number of those officers:

 
  
Captain 1.5 percent  
Commander 7   percent  
Lieutenant commander 22   percent  
Lieutenant 37   percent  
Lieutenant (junior grade) and ensign (when combined with the number authorized for flag officer grades under section 12004 of this title) 32.5 percent.

(2) When the actual number of line officers in an active status in any grade is less than the number authorized by paragraph (1) for that grade, the difference may be applied to increase the number authorized by that paragraph for any lower grade or grades.

(c)(1) The authorized strengths of the Marine Corps Reserve in officers in an active status in the grades of colonel, lieutenant colonel, major, and captain, and in the grades of first lieutenant and second lieutenant combined, are the following percentages of the total authorized number of those officers:

 
  
Colonel 2 percent  
Lieutenant colonel 8 percent  
Major 16 percent  
Captain 39 percent  
First lieutenant and second lieutenant (when combined with the number authorized for general officer grades under section 12004 of this title) 35 percent.

(2) When the actual number of officers in an active status in any grade is less than the number authorized by paragraph (1) for that grade, the difference may be applied to increase the number authorized by that paragraph for any lower grade or grades.

(d)(1) An officer of the Army or Air Force may not be reduced in grade because of a reduction in the number of commissioned officers authorized for the officer's grade under this section.

(2) An officer of the Navy Reserve or the Marine Corps Reserve may not be reduced in permanent grade because of a reduction in the number authorized by this section for his grade.

(Added Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §1662(a)(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2985; amended Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [[div. A], title IV, §423], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–96; Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, §504, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1875; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title V, §515(b)(1)(FF), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3233.)


Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in sections 3219, 5457(b)–(d), 5458(b)–(d), and 8219 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–337, §1662(a)(3).

Amendments

2006—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 109–163 substituted "Navy Reserve" for "Naval Reserve" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 109–163 substituted "Navy Reserve" for "Naval Reserve".

2004—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 108–375 amended table generally, increasing percentages of authorized number of officers in grades other than colonel.

2000—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 106–398 added par. (3).


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Dec. 1, 1994, except as otherwise provided, see section 1691 of Pub. L. 103–337, set out as a note under section 10001 of this title.

About This Section

10 U.S.C. § 12005 is part of Title 10 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

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Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Us Code § 12005

What does United States Code § 12005 cover?

Section 12005 ("Strength in grade: commissioned officers in grades below brigadier general or rear admiral (lower half) in an active status") is part of the United States Code, the codified statutory law of Us Code. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

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