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

10 U.S.C. § 9453

Cadets: degree and commission on graduation

(a)
The Superintendent of the Academy may, under such conditions as the Secretary of the Air Force may prescribe, confer the degree of bachelor of science upon graduates of the Academy.
(b)
section 531 of this title Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a cadet who completes the prescribed course of instruction may, upon graduation, be appointed a second lieutenant in the Regular Air Force under or a second lieutenant in the Space Force under section 531 or 20201 of this title.

Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 104170A Stat. 567Pub. L. 85–86172 Stat. 1541Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 504(25)94 Stat. 2917Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title V, § 542(d)111 Stat. 1743Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 806(a)(3)132 Stat. 1832Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 923(d)(14)134 Stat. 3815Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVII, § 1721(c)(5)137 Stat. 667(, , § 9353; , §§ 1(201), 33(a)(43), , , 1567; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 9453, , , ; , , ; , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

1956 Act

Revised section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

9353(a)

9353(b)

10:486a (less last sentence).

10:506c(f) (1st sentence, less last 43 words).

May 25, 1933, ch. 37 (less last sentence); restated Aug. 9, 1946, ch. 932 (less last sentence); restated Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, § 13; restated Aug. 18, 1949, ch. 476 (less last sentence), 63 Stat. 615.

 

Aug. 7, 1947, ch. 512, § 506(f) (1st sentence, less last 43 words), 61 Stat. 892.

In subsection (a), the last 27 words are substituted for 10:486a (last sentence). The words “rules and” and “from and after the date of the accrediting of said Academy” are omitted as surplusage. The word “conditions” is substituted for the word “regulations”.

section 541 of this titleIn subsection (b), the words “except ” are inserted to reflect the authority to appoint graduates of one service academy as officers of another service.

1958 Act

Revised section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

9353(b)

10 App.:1850c(e) (1st sentence).

July 20, 1956, ch. 646, § 203(e) (1st sentence), 70 Stat. 585.

section 541 of title 10It is unnecessary to include a reference to , since that section does not derogate from the authority granted in this section.

Act of May 25, 1933, ch. 3748 Stat. 73The change reflects the opinion of the Judge Advocate General of the Air Force () that the words “from and after the date of the accrediting of said academies” in the source law for section 9353(a) ( (), as amended) were a condition precedent to the authority to grant degrees and should not have been omitted.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 118–312023—Subsec. (b). struck out “or in the equivalent grade in the Regular Space Force” after “Regular Air Force” and inserted before period at end “or a second lieutenant in the Space Force under section 531 or 20201 of this title”.

Pub. L. 116–2832021—Subsec. (b). inserted “or in the equivalent grade in the Regular Space Force” after “Regular Air Force”.

Pub. L. 115–232section 9353 of this title2018— renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 105–851997—Subsec. (a). substituted “The” for “After the date of the accrediting of the Academy, the”.

Pub. L. 96–513section 531 of this title1980—Subsec. (b). inserted “under ” after “Regular Air Force”.

Pub. L. 85–861, § 33(a)(43)1958—Subsec. (a). , permitted conferring of degrees only after date of accrediting of Academy.

Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(201)section 541 of this titleSubsec. (b). , struck out “except ” after “provision of law”.

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 .

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–513section 701 of Pub. L. 96–513section 101 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1958 Amendment

section 33(a)(43) of Pub. L. 85–861section 33(g) of Pub. L. 85–861section 101 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .