§741. Rank: commissioned officers of the armed forces

(a) Among the grades listed below, the grades of general and admiral are equivalent and are senior to other grades and the grades of second lieutenant and ensign are equivalent and are junior to other grades. Intermediate grades rank in the order listed as follows:

Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force	Navy and Coast Guard
General	Admiral.
Lieutenant general	Vice admiral.
Major general	Rear admiral.
Brigadier general	Rear admiral (lower half).
Colonel	Captain.
Lieutenant colonel	Commander.
Major	Lieutenant commander.
Captain	Lieutenant.
First lieutenant	Lieutenant (junior grade).
Second lieutenant	Ensign.

(b) Rank among officers of the same grade or of equivalent grades is determined by comparing dates of rank. An officer whose date of rank is earlier than the date of rank of another officer of the same or equivalent grade is senior to that officer.

(c) Rank among officers of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force of the same grade or of equivalent grades who have the same date of rank is determined by regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense which shall apply uniformly among the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force.

(d)(1) The date of rank of an officer of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force who holds a grade as the result of an original appointment shall be determined by the Secretary of the military department concerned at the time of such appointment. The date of rank of an officer of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force who holds a grade as the result of an original appointment and who at the time of such appointment was awarded service credit for prior commissioned service or constructive credit for advanced education or training, or special experience shall be determined so as to reflect such prior commissioned service or constructive service. Determinations by the Secretary concerned under this paragraph shall be made under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense which shall apply uniformly among the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force.

(2) Except as otherwise provided by law, the date of rank of an officer who holds a grade as the result of a promotion is the date of his appointment to that grade.

(3) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, which shall apply uniformly among the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force, the date of rank of a reserve commissioned officer (other than a warrant officer) of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force who is to be placed on the active-duty list and who has not been on continuous active duty since his original appointment as a reserve commissioned officer in a grade above chief warrant officer, W–⁠5, or who is transferred from an inactive status to an active status and placed on the active-duty list or the reserve active-status list may, effective on the date on which he is placed on the active-duty list or reserve active-status list, be changed by the Secretary concerned to a later date to reflect such officer's qualifications and experience. The authority to change the date of rank of a reserve officer who is placed on the active-duty list to a later date does not apply in the case of an officer who (A) has served continuously in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve since the officer's last promotion, or (B) is placed on the active-duty list while on a promotion list as described in section 14317(b) of this title.

(4)(A) The Secretary concerned may adjust the date of rank of an officer appointed under section 624(a) of this title to a higher grade that is not a general officer or flag officer grade if the appointment of that officer to that grade is delayed from the date on which (as determined by the Secretary) it would otherwise have been made by reason of unusual circumstances (as determined by the Secretary) that cause an unintended delay in-

(i) the processing or approval of the report of the selection board recommending the appointment of that officer to that grade; or

(ii) the processing or approval of the promotion list established on the basis of that report.

(B) The adjusted date of rank applicable to the grade of an officer under subparagraph (A) shall be consistent-

(i) with the officer's position on the promotion list for that grade and competitive category when additional officers in that grade and competitive category were needed; and

(ii) with compliance with the applicable authorized strengths for officers in that grade and competitive category.

(C) The adjusted date of rank applicable to the grade of an officer under subparagraph (A) shall be the effective date for-

(i) the officer's pay and allowances for that grade; and

(ii) the officer's position on the active-duty list.

(D) When under subparagraph (A) the Secretary concerned adjusts the date of rank of an officer in a grade to which the officer was appointed by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and the adjustment is to a date before the date of the advice and consent of the Senate to that appointment, the Secretary shall promptly transmit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate a notification of that adjustment. Any such notification shall include the name of the officer and a discussion of the reasons for the adjustment of date of rank.

(E) Any adjustment in date of rank under this paragraph shall be made under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, which shall apply uniformly among the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 33 ; Pub. L. 96–513, title I, §107, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2869 ; Pub. L. 97–22, §4(h), July 10, 1981, 95 Stat. 127 ; Pub. L. 97–86, title IV, §405(b)(8), Dec. 1, 1981, 95 Stat. 1106 ; Pub. L. 97–295, §1(11), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1289 ; Pub. L. 98–557, §25(c), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2873 ; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, §514(b)(8), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 629 ; Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title XI, §1131(1)(A), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1505 ; Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §1626, Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2962 ; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title XV, §1501(a)(3), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 495 ; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, §506(a), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1089 ; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, §924(b)(1)(G), (3)(M), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3820 , 3821; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVII, §1741(a)(2), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 679 .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
741(a)	10:517 (1st and 2d sentences, less applicability to rank within grade). 14:43. 34:651 (less applicability to establishment of commissioned grades, and less applicability to rank within grade). 34:241.	Aug. 7, 1947, ch. 512, §§314(j), 516, 61 Stat. 865 , 908. R.S. 1603 (less applicability to establishment of commissioned grades). R.S. 1466. Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, §1(43), 63 Stat. 498 .
	34:241a (1st and 2d sentences, less applicability to rank within grade).
741(b)	10:517 (1st and 2d sentences, as applicable to rank within grade).
	34:241a (1st and 2d sentences, as applicable to rank within grade).
	34:626–1(j).
	34:651 (less applicability to establishment of commissioned grades, and as applicable to rank within grade).
741(c)	10:517 (less 1st and 2d sentences). 34:241a (less 1st and 2d sentences).

In subsection (a), the word "Regular", pertaining to major generals and brigadier generals, in 10:517 and 34:241a, is omitted, since the last sentence of 10:517 and 34:241a establish the rank of nonregular officers of the Army and the Air Force, with respect to officers of the Regular Army and the Regular Air Force. The effect of establishing their rank with respect to regular officers, when read in connection with the provisions prescribing the rank of officers of the regular components with officers of the other services, under 10:517 (less last sentence), 34:241a (less last sentence), and 34:241, is therefore to establish the rank of nonregular officers with respect to officers of the other listed services. This allows a consolidation of 10:517 (less last sentence, as applicable to rank), 34:241, and 34:241a (less last sentence, as applicable to rank), together with 34:651, into a table of rank among officers of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. The words "lineal rank only being considered", in 34:241, are covered by setting forth the grades in tabular form. The words "whether on the active or retired list", in 34:241, are omitted, since retired officers of the Navy continue to be officers of the Navy. The words "Lieutenant (junior grade)" are substituted for the word "masters", in R.S. 1466, to reflect the change made in the name of that grade by the Act of March 3, 1883, ch. 97 (2d par.), 22 Stat. 472.

In subsections (a) and (b), the words "entitled to pay" and "entitled to the pay", respectively, are inserted, since rear admiral is one grade with two ranks depending on the amount of pay to which the incumbent is entitled.

In subsection (b), the words "in such grades", in 10:517 and 34:241a, are omitted as surplusage.

In subsection (c), the words "A commissioned officer of the Army or the Air Force" are substituted for the words "All officers of the Army of the United States, including all components thereof", since rank among officers of the Regular Army and Regular Air Force is determined under sections 3573, 3574, 8573, and 8574 of this title.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2023-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–31 substituted "Marine Corps, and Space Force" for "and Marine Corps" in table.

2021-Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–283, §924(b)(1)(G), substituted "Marine Corps, and Space Force" for "and Marine Corps" in two places.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–283, §924(b)(3)(M), substituted "Marine Corps, or Space Force" for "or Marine Corps" wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 116–283, §924(b)(1)(G), substituted "Marine Corps, and Space Force" for "and Marine Corps" wherever appearing.

2001-Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 107–107 added par. (4).

1996-Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 104–106 made technical correction to directory language of Pub. L. 103–337, §1626(1). See 1994 Amendment note below.

1994-Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 103–337, §1626(3), inserted at end "The authority to change the date of rank of a reserve officer who is placed on the active-duty list to a later date does not apply in the case of an officer who (A) has served continuously in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve since the officer's last promotion, or (B) is placed on the active-duty list while on a promotion list as described in section 14317(b) of this title."

Pub. L. 103–337, §1626(2), inserted "or reserve active-status list" after "he is placed on the active-duty list".

Pub. L. 103–337, §1626(1), as amended by Pub. L. 104–106, inserted "or who is transferred from an inactive status to an active status and placed on the active-duty list or the reserve active-status list may, effective on the date on which he is placed on the active-duty list" after "warrant officer, W–⁠5,".

1991-Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 102–190 substituted "chief warrant officer, W–⁠5," for "warrant officer (W–4)".

1985-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–145 substituted "Rear admiral (lower half)" for "Commodore" in table.

1984-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–557 struck out "(Navy) and Rear admiral (upper half) (Coast Guard)" after "Rear admiral" and "(Navy) and Rear admiral (lower half) (Coast Guard)" after "Commodore" in table.

1982-Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–295 substituted "the" for "the the" after "uniformly among".

1981-Pub. L. 97–22, §4(h)(4), substituted "armed forces" for "Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps" in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–86 substituted "Commodore" for "Commodore admiral" in right column of table opposite Brigadier general.

Pub. L. 97–22, §4(h)(1), inserted reference to the Coast Guard in column heading and inserted references to Rear admiral (upper half) (Coast Guard) and Rear admiral (lower half) (Coast Guard).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–22, §4(h)(2), inserted "of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps" after "Rank among officers".

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 97–22, §4(h)(3)(A), inserted "of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps" after "officer" in two places.

Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 97–22, §4(h)(3)(B), inserted "of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps" after "(other than a warrant officer)".

1980-Pub. L. 96–513 completely revised section to restructure and redefine various ranks of commissioned officers of the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy and relationships of officers in those ranks among themselves.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2001 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, §506(c), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1090 , provided that:

"(1) Paragraph (4) of section 741(d) of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), and paragraph (2) of section 14308(c) of such title, as added by subsection (b), shall apply with respect to any report of a selection board recommending officers for promotion to the next higher grade that is submitted to the Secretary of the military department concerned on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 28, 2001].

"(2) The Secretary of the military department concerned may apply the applicable paragraph referred to in paragraph (1) in the case of an appointment of an officer to a higher grade resulting from a report of a selection board submitted to the Secretary before the date of the enactment of this Act if the Secretary determines that such appointment would have been made on an earlier date that is on or after October 1, 2001, and was delayed under the circumstances specified in paragraph (4) of section 741(d) of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)."

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 104–106 effective as if included in the Reserve Officer Personnel Management Act, title XVI of Pub. L. 103–337, as enacted on Oct. 5, 1994, see section 1501(f)(3) of Pub. L. 104–106, set out as a note under section 113 of this title.

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–337 effective Oct. 1, 1996, see section 1691(b)(1) of Pub. L. 103–337, set out as an Effective Date note under section 10001 of this title.

Effective Date of 1991 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 102–190 effective Feb. 1, 1992, see section 1132 of Pub. L. 102–190, set out as a note under section 521 of this title.

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–86 effective Sept. 15, 1981, see section 405(f) of Pub. L. 97–86, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–513 effective Sept. 15, 1981, but the authority to prescribe regulations under the amendment by Pub. L. 96–513 effective on Dec. 12, 1980, see section 701 of Pub. L. 96–513, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.