(a)(1) Except as provided in subsection (c), of the total number of commissioned officers serving on active duty in the Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps at the end of any fiscal year (excluding officers in categories specified in subsection (b)), the number of officers who may be serving on active duty in each of the grades of major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel may not, as of the end of such fiscal year, exceed a number determined in accordance with the following table:

Total number of commissioned officers (excluding officers in categories specified in subsection (b)) on active duty: Number of officers who may be serving on active duty in grade of:
Major Lieutenant Colonel Colonel
Army:
20,000 7,768 5,253 1,613
25,000 8,689 5,642 1,796
30,000 9,611 6,030 1,980
35,000 10,532 6,419 2,163
40,000 11,454 6,807 2,347
45,000 12,375 7,196 2,530
50,000 13,297 7,584 2,713
55,000 14,218 7,973 2,897
60,000 15,140 8,361 3,080
65,000 16,061 8,750 3,264
70,000 16,983 9,138 3,447
75,000 17,903 9,527 3,631
80,000 18,825 9,915 3,814
85,000 19,746 10,304 3,997
90,000 20,668 10,692 4,181
95,000 21,589 11,081 4,364
100,000 22,511 11,469 4,548
110,000 24,354 12,246 4,915
120,000 26,197 13,023 5,281
130,000 28,040 13,800 5,648
170,000 35,412 16,908 7,116
Air Force:
35,000 9,216 7,090 2,125
40,000 10,025 7,478 2,306
45,000 10,835 7,866 2,487
50,000 11,645 8,253 2,668
55,000 12,454 8,641 2,849
60,000 13,264 9,029 3,030
65,000 14,073 9,417 3,211
70,000 14,883 9,805 3,392
75,000 15,693 10,193 3,573
80,000 16,502 10,582 3,754
85,000 17,312 10,971 3,935
90,000 18,121 11,360 4,115
95,000 18,931 11,749 4,296
100,000 19,741 12,138 4,477
105,000 20,550 12,527 4,658
110,000 21,360 12,915 4,838
115,000 22,169 13,304 5,019
120,000 22,979 13,692 5,200
125,000 23,789 14,081 5,381
Marine Corps:
10,000 2,802 1,615 633
12,500 3,247 1,768 658
15,000 3,691 1,922 684
17,500 4,135 2,076 710
20,000 4,579 2,230 736
22,500 5,024 2,383 762
25,000 5,468 2,537 787
Space Force: 1
3,900 1,016 782 234
4,300 1,135 873 262
5,000 1,259 845 315
7,000 1,659 1,045 415
10,000 2,259 1,345 565.

1 Table heading editorially supplied.

Terms Used In 10 USC 523

  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • officer: includes any person authorized by law to perform the duties of the office. See 1 USC 1

(2) Except as provided in subsection (c), of the total number of commissioned officers serving on active duty in the Navy at the end of any fiscal year (excluding officers in categories specified in subsection (b)), the number of officers who may be serving on active duty in each of the grades of lieutenant commander, commander, and captain may not, as of the end of such fiscal year, exceed a number determined in accordance with the following table:

Total number of commissioned officers (excluding officers in categories specified in subsection (b)) on active duty: Number of officers who may be serving on active duty in grade of:
Lieutenant Commander Commander Captain
Navy:
30,000 7,698 5,269 2,222
33,000 8,189 5,501 2,334
36,000 8,680 5,733 2,447
39,000 9,172 5,965 2,559
42,000 9,663 6,197 2,671
45,000 10,155 6,429 2,784
48,000 10,646 6,660 2,896
51,000 11,136 6,889 3,007
54,000 11,628 7,121 3,120
57,000 12,118 7,352 3,232
60,000 12,609 7,583 3,344
63,000 13,100 7,813 3,457
66,000 13,591 8,044 3,568
70,000 14,245 8,352 3,718
90,000 17,517 9,890 4,467.

(3) If the total number of commissioned officers serving on active duty in an armed force (excluding officers in categories specified in subsection (b)) is between any two consecutive figures listed in the first column of the appropriate table in paragraph (1) or (2), the corresponding authorized strengths for each of the grades shown in that table for that armed force are determined by mathematical interpolation between the respective numbers of the two strengths. If the total number of commissioned officers serving on active duty in an armed force (excluding officers in categories specified in subsection (b)) is greater or less than the figures listed in the first column of the appropriate table in paragraph (1) or (2), the Secretary concerned shall fix the corresponding strengths for the grades shown in that table in the same proportion as reflected in the nearest limit shown in the table.

(b) Officers in the following categories shall be excluded in computing and determining authorized strengths under this section:

(1) Reserve officers—

(A) on active duty as authorized under section 115(a)(1)(B) or 115(b)(1) of this title, or excluded from counting for active duty end strengths under section 115(i) of this title;

(B) on active duty under section 10211, 10302 through 10305, or 12402 of this title or under section 708 of title 32; or

(C) on full-time National Guard duty.


(2) General and flag officers.

(3) Medical officers.

(4) Dental officers.

(5) Warrant officers.

(6) Retired officers on active duty under a call or order to active duty for 180 days or less.

(7) Retired officers on active duty under section 10(b)(2) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 3809(b)(2)) for the administration of the Selective Service System.

(8) Permanent professors of the United States Military Academy and the United States Air Force Academy and professors of the United States Naval Academy who are career military professors (as defined in regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy), but not to exceed 50 from any such academy.

(9) Officers who are Senior Military Acquisition Advisors under section 1725 of this title, but not to exceed 15.


(c) Whenever the number of officers serving in any grade is less than the number authorized for that grade under this section, the difference between the two numbers may be applied to increase the number authorized under this section for any lower grade.

(d) An officer may not be reduced in grade, or have his pay or allowances reduced, because of a reduction in the number of commissioned officers authorized for his grade under this section.