US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

10 U.S.C. § 12241

Warrant officers: grades; appointment, how made; term

(a)
section 571(a) of this title The permanent reserve warrant officer grades in each armed force are those prescribed for regular warrant officers by .
(b)
section 571(b) of this title Appointments in permanent reserve warrant officer grades shall be made in the same manner as is prescribed for regular warrant officer grades by .
(c)
Appointments as Reserves in permanent warrant officer grades are for an indefinite term and are held during the pleasure of the Secretary concerned.

Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 104170A Stat. 26Pub. L. 99–145, title V, § 531(b)99 Stat. 633Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title XI, § 1131(2)105 Stat. 1505Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1662(d)(2)108 Stat. 2991Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title V, § 502(b)124 Stat. 4207(, , § 597; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 12241, , , ; , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

597(a)

10:600a(a) (less 3d and last sentences, as applicable to permanent reserve appointments).

34:135a(a) (less last sentence, as applicable to permanent reserve appointments).

May 29, 1954, ch. 249, §§ 3(a) (less last sentence, as applicable to permanent reserve appointments), 5(a) (last sentence, as applicable to permanent reserve appointments), 68 Stat. 157, 159.

597(b)

10:600a(a) (3d sentence, as applicable to permanent reserve appointments).

10:600c(a) (last sentence, as applicable to permanent reserve appointments).

July 9, 1952, ch. 608, §§ 220, 223, 224 (less 3d and 4th sentences, and less applicability to commissioned officers), 66 Stat. 487.

 

34:135a(a) (last sentence, as applicable to permanent reserve appointments).

 

34:135c(a) (last sentence, as applicable to permanent reserve appointments).

50:944.

597(c)

50:947.

 

50:948 (less 3d and 4th sentences, and less applicability to commissioned officers).

In subsection (b), the words “W–4, W–3, and W–2” and “persons” are omitted as surplusage.

In subsection (c), the words “After ” are omitted as executed. 50:948 (2d and last sentence) is omitted as executed.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 111–3832011—Subsec. (b). amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: “Appointments made in the permanent reserve grade of warrant officer, W–1, shall be made by warrant by the Secretary concerned. Appointments made in a permanent reserve grade of chief warrant officer shall be made by commission by the Secretary concerned.”

Pub. L. 103–337section 597 of this title1994— renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 102–1901991—Subsec. (a). substituted “section 571(a)” for “section 555(a)”.

Pub. L. 99–1451985—Subsec. (b). amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: “Reserve chief warrant officers of the Army and the Air Force shall be appointed in those grades, by warrant, by the Secretary concerned. Permanent reserve chief warrant officers of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard shall be appointed in those grades, by commission, by the Secretary concerned. Permanent reserve warrant officers, W-1, shall be appointed in those grades, by warrant, by the Secretary concerned.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1991 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–190section 1132 of Pub. L. 102–190section 521 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1985 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–145, title V, § 531(d)99 Stat. 633

section 555 of this title“This section [amending this section and and enacting provisions set out below] takes effect six months after the date of the enactment of this Act [].”
, , , provided that:

Transition Provisions for 1985 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–145, title V, § 531(c)99 Stat. 633

“(1)
section 555 of this title The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) [amending this section and ] apply to any appointment of a warrant officer or chief warrant officer on or after the effective date of this section [see Effective Date of 1985 Amendment note above].
“(2)
An officer who on the effective date of this section is serving in a chief warrant officer grade under an appointment by warrant may be appointed in that grade by commission under section 555(b) or 597(b) [now 12241(b)] of title 10, United States Code, as appropriate. The date of rank of an officer who receives an appointment under this paragraph is the date of rank for the officer’s appointment by warrant to that grade.”
, , , provided that:

Presidential Functions

Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title V, § 502(c)124 Stat. 4207

10 U.S.C. 531section 571(b) of title 10section 12241(b) of title 10“Except as otherwise provided by the President by Executive order, the provisions of Executive Order 13384 ( note) relating to the functions of the President under the second sentence of , United States Code, shall apply in the same manner to the functions of the President under , United States Code.”
, , , provided that:

Executive Documents

Delegation of Functions

section 2101 of Title 14Authority of President under subsec. (b) of this section to appoint by commission reserve chief warrant officers in the Coast Guard delegated to Secretary of Homeland Security by Ex. Ord. No. 14106, § 1(h), , 88 F.R. 55905, set out in a note under , Coast Guard.