Members of the organized militia may be promoted by the governor to the next higher grade on the occasion of their retirement from service under the following conditions:

A. that the member has honorably served either a total of thirty years in the federal military or organized militia combined or a minimum of twenty years in the organized militia, provided that no period of less than ten years in the state defense force shall be credited toward either of these requirements; and

B. that the honorary promotion be requested by the member and be favorably recommended by the adjutant general.