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

14 U.S.C. § 2150

Captains; continuation on active duty; involuntary retirement

(a)
section 2149 of this title The Secretary may, whenever the needs of the service require, but not more often than annually, convene a board consisting of not less than six officers of the grade of rear admiral (lower half) or rear admiral to recommend for continuation on active duty officers on the active duty promotion list serving in the grade of captain, who during the promotion year in which the board meets will complete at least three years’ service in that grade and who have not been selected for promotion to the grade of rear admiral (lower half). Officers who are subject to retirement under during the promotion year in which the board meets shall not be considered by this board.
(b)
Whenever he convenes a board under this section, the Secretary shall establish a continuation zone. The zone shall consist of the most senior captains eligible for consideration for continuation on active duty who have not previously been placed in a continuation zone under this section. The Secretary shall, based upon the needs of the service, prescribe the number of captains to be included in the zone.
(c)
Based on the needs of the service the Secretary shall furnish the board with the number of officers that may be recommended for continuation on active duty. This number shall be no less than 50 percent of the number considered. The board shall select from the designated continuation zone, in the number directed by the Secretary, those officers who are, in the opinion of the board, best qualified for continuation on active duty.
(d)
The provisions of sections 2108, 2109, 2115, and 2117 of this title relating to selection for promotion shall, to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section, apply to boards convened under this section.
(e)
The Secretary shall prescribe by regulation the detailed procedures whereby officers in a continuation zone will be selected for continuation on active duty.
(f)
A board convened under this section shall submit its report to the Secretary. If the board has acted contrary to law or regulation, the Secretary may return the report for proceedings in revision and resubmission to the Secretary. After his final review the Secretary shall submit the report of the board to the President for his approval. Except as required by the procedures of this section, the proceedings of the board shall not be disclosed to any individual who is not a member of the board.
(g)
Each officer who is considered but not recommended for continuation on active duty under the provisions of this section shall, unless retired under some other provision of law, be retired on June 30 of the promotion year in which the report of the continuation board convened under this section is approved, or the last day of the month in which he completes twenty years of active service, whichever is later.
(h)
section 2149 of this titlesection 2149 of this title Notwithstanding subsection (g) and , the Commandant may by annual action retain on active duty from promotion year to promotion year any officer who would otherwise be retired under subsection (g) or . An officer so retained, unless retired under some other provision of law, shall be retired on June 30 of that promotion year in which no action is taken to further retain the officer under this subsection.

Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C)77 Stat. 186Pub. L. 94–546, § 1(26)90 Stat. 2521Pub. L. 97–417, § 2(8)96 Stat. 2085Pub. L. 99–145, title V, § 514(c)(1)99 Stat. 629Pub. L. 101–225, title II, § 203(3)103 Stat. 1911Pub. L. 104–324, title II, § 203110 Stat. 3907Pub. L. 107–295, title IV, § 414116 Stat. 2120Pub. L. 115–282, title I132 Stat. 4216Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXV134 Stat. 4748(Added , , , § 289; amended , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 2150 and amended , §§ 112(b), 123(b)(2), , , 4240; [LXXXV], § 8505(a)(18), , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 116–2832021—Subsec. (f). substituted “individual who is” for “person”.

Pub. L. 115–282, § 112(b)section 289 of this title2018—, renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 115–282, § 123(b)(2)Subsec. (a). , substituted “section 2149” for “section 288”.

Pub. L. 115–282, § 123(b)(2)Subsec. (d). , substituted “sections 2108, 2109, 2115, and 2117” for “sections 253, 254, 258, and 260”.

Pub. L. 115–282, § 123(b)(2)Subsec. (h). , substituted “section 2149” for “section 288” in two places.

Pub. L. 107–2952002—Subsec. (h). added subsec. (h).

Pub. L. 104–3241996—Subsec. (f). struck out “Upon approval by the President, the names of the officers selected for continuation on active duty by the board shall be promptly disseminated to the service at large.” after “for his approval.”

Pub. L. 101–2251989—Subsec. (c). substituted “50 percent” for “75 percent”.

Pub. L. 99–1451985—Subsec. (a). substituted “rear admiral (lower half)” for “commodore” in two places.

Pub. L. 97–4171983—Subsec. (a). substituted “commodore or rear admiral” for “rear admiral” after “six officers of the grade of”, and “commodore” for “rear admiral” after “promotion to the grade of”.

Pub. L. 94–5461976—Subsecs. (a), (g). substituted “promotion year” for “fiscal year” wherever appearing.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 88–130, § 677 Stat. 193

section 5(a) of Pub. L. 88–130section 2101 of this title“Section 289 [now 2150] of title 14, United States Code, as enacted by section 1(10)(C) of this Act [see , set out as a note under ], becomes effective three years after the effective date of this Act [], or on , whichever is later.”
, , , provided that:

Consideration for Retention on Active Duty Under Former Section 248 of This Title

Pub. L. 88–130, § 2(c)77 Stat. 191

“Officers who, prior to the effective date of this Act [], were considered but not selected for retention on active duty under the provisions of [former] section 248, title 14, United States Code, shall remain subject to the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of that section.”
, , , provided that:

Retired Pay on or Prior to

section 5(g) of Pub. L. 88–130Pub. L. 88–130section 2101 of this titleSavings provisions in providing that does not affect the retired pay of anyone retired on or prior to , are set out as a note under .

Executive Documents

Delegation of Authority

section 2101 of this titleAuthority of President under subsec. (f) of this section to approve the report of a board convened to recommend for continuation on active duty officers serving in the grade of captain delegated to Secretary of Homeland Security by Ex. Ord. No. 14106, § 1(f), , 88 F.R. 55905, set out in a note under .