US Code

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

10 U.S.C. § 9446

Cadets: requirements for admission

(a)
To be eligible for admission to the Academy a candidate must be at least 17 years of age and must not have passed his twenty-third birthday on July 1 of the year in which he enters the Academy.
(b)
To be admitted to the Academy, an appointee must show, by an examination held under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force, that he is qualified in the subjects prescribed by the Secretary.
(c)
A candidate designated as a principal or an alternate for appointment as a cadet shall appear for physical examination at a time and place designated by the Secretary.
(d)
To be admitted to the Academy, an appointee must take and subscribe to an oath prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force. If a candidate for admission refuses to take and subscribe to the prescribed oath, his appointment is terminated.

Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 104170A Stat. 565Pub. L. 89–718, § 4780 Stat. 1121Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title V, § 555(d)110 Stat. 2527Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 806(a)(3)132 Stat. 1832(, , § 9346; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 9446, , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

9346(a)

9346(b)

9346(c)

10:1092b (less provisos).

10:1096.

10:1095.

June 30, 1950, ch. 421, § 2 (less provisos), 64 Stat. 304.

 

 

R.S. 1319; restated Mar. 2, 1901, ch. 804 (1st proviso under “Permanent Establishment”), 31 Stat. 911.

 

 

Aug. 9, 1912, ch. 275 (2d proviso under “Permanent Establishment”), 37 Stat. 252.

In subsection (a), the words “Effective ” are omitted as executed. The word “Calendar” is omitted as surplusage. The words “must not have passed his twenty-second birthday” are substituted for the words “not more than twenty-two years of age”, to make it clear that a person whose twenty-second birthday falls on July 1 of the year of admission is eligible (see opinion of the Judge Advocate General of the Army (JAGA 1952/7083, 2 Sept. 1952)).

In subsection (b), the words “is qualified in” are substituted for the words “to be well versed in”. The words “To be” are substituted for the words “before they shall be”. The words “an appointee must show that he is qualified” are substituted for the words “shall be required to be well versed”. The words “from time to time” are omitted as surplusage.

In subsection (c), the word “shall” is substituted for the word “may”, since the nominee is required to appear for the examination. The word “appear” is substituted for the words “present himself”. The words “at a place” are substituted for the words “at West Point, New York, or other prescribed places”.

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

section 9496 of this titleA prior section 9446 was renumbered .

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–232section 9346 of this title2018— renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 104–2011996—Subsec. (a). substituted “twenty-third birthday” for “twenty-second birthday”.

Pub. L. 89–7181966—Subsec. (d). added subsec. (d).

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 .

Authority To Waive Maximum Age Limitation on Admission to Service Academies for Certain Enlisted Members Who Served During Persian Gulf War

section 514 of Pub. L. 102–190section 7446 of this titleFor authority to waive maximum age limitation in subsec. (a) of this section on basis of service on active duty in connection with Operation Desert Storm, see , set out as a note under .