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

10 U.S.C. § 8298

Limitations of time

(a)
section 8296 of this title Except as provided in or subsection (b), no medal of honor, Navy cross, distinguished-service medal, silver star medal, Navy and Marine Corps Medal, or bar, emblem, or insignia in place thereof may be awarded to a person unless—
(1)
the award is made within five years after the date of the act or service justifying the award; and
(2)
a statement setting forth the act or distinguished service and recommending official recognition of it was made by his superior through official channels within three years from the date of that act or service.
(b)
If the Secretary of the Navy determines that—
(1)
a statement setting forth the act or distinguished service and recommending official recognition of it was made by the person’s superior through official channels within three years from the date of that act or service and was supported by sufficient evidence within that time; and
(2)
no award was made, because the statement was lost or through inadvertence the recommendation was not acted on;
a medal of honor, Navy cross, distinguished-service medal, silver star medal, Navy and Marine Corps Medal, or bar, emblem, or insignia in place thereof, as the case may be, may be awarded to the person within two years after the date of that determination.

Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 104170A Stat. 390Pub. L. 86–582, § 1(2)74 Stat. 320Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII132 Stat. 1836(, , § 6248; , , ; renumbered § 8298 and amended , §§ 807(b)(13), 809(a), , , 1840.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

6248

34 U.S.C. 360.

Feb. 4, 1919, ch. 14, § 7, 40 Stat. 1056; renumbered § 9 and amended Aug. 7, 1942, ch. 551, § 1, 56 Stat. 744.

section 6246 of this titleThe words “Except as provided in ” are substituted for the words “That except as otherwise prescribed herein” to identify the only exception. The words “may be awarded to a person” are substituted for the words “shall be issued to any person” for uniformity. The words “specific”, “or report distinctly”, and “at the time of” are omitted as surplusage. The words “bar, emblem, or insignia” are substituted for the words “or bar or other suitable emblem or insignia” for uniformity. The words “from the date of that act or service” are substituted for the word “thereafter”.

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 104170A Stat. 511Pub. L. 85–155, title III, § 301(9)71 Stat. 387section 8814 of this titlePub. L. 96–513, title II, § 20494 Stat. 2880section 630 of this titleA prior section 8298, acts , ; , , title IV, § 401(1), , 390, provided for promotion from grade of second lieutenant to first lieutenant after three years of service, discharge under upon failure of promotion, and filling vacancies for first lieutenants with second lieutenants, except Air Force nurses and medical specialists, prior to completion of three years of service, prior to repeal by , , , effective . See .

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–232, § 807(b)(13)section 6248 of this title2018—, renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 115–232, § 809(a)Subsec. (a). , substituted “section 8296” for “section 6246” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 86–5821960— designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted “or subsection (b)” after “title”, and added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–232section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232section 3001 of this titleAmendment by effective , with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see , set out as a note preceding .