Title 10 of the United States Code explained

Title 10 of the United States Code outlines the role of United States Armed Forces.^[1] It provides the legal basis for the roles, missions and organization of each of the services as well as the United States Department of Defense. Each of the five subtitles deals with a separate aspect or component of the armed services.

Subtitle A—General Military Law, including Uniform Code of Military Justice
Subtitle B—Army
Subtitle C—Navy and Marine Corps
Subtitle D—Air Force and Space Force^[2]
Subtitle E—Reserve Components
Subtitle F—Alternative Military Personnel Systems

The current Title 10 was the result of an overhaul and renumbering of the former Title 10 and Title 34 into one title by an act of Congress on August 10, 1956.

Title 32 outlines the related but different legal basis for the roles, missions and organization of the United States National Guard in the United States Code. The provisions of United States Code within Title 10 that are outlined in this article are up to date as of March 13, 2024.

Subtitle A — General Military Law

Subtitle A

Part I — Organization and General Military Powers

Part I

Chapter 1 — Definitions, rules of construction, cross-references, and related matters
Chapter 2 — Department of Defense
Chapter 3 — General powers and functions
Chapter 4 — Office of the Secretary of Defense
Chapter 5 — Joint Chiefs of Staff
Chapter 6 — Combatant commands
Chapter 7 — Boards, councils, and committees
Chapter 8 — Defense agencies and Department of Defense field activities
Chapter 9 — Defense budget matters
Chapter 9A — Audit
Chapter 11 — Reserve components
Chapter 12 — The militia
Chapter 13 — Insurrection
Chapter 14 — Arming of American vessels
Chapter 15 — Military support for civilian law enforcement agencies
Chapter 16 — Security cooperation
Chapter 19 — Cyber and information operations matters
Chapter 20 — Humanitarian and other assistance
Chapter 21 — Department of Defense intelligence matters
Chapter 22 — National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Chapter 23 — Miscellaneous studies and reports
Chapter 24 — Nuclear posture
Chapter 25 — Electromagnetic Warfare

Part II — Personnel

Part II

Chapter 31 — Enlistments
Chapter 32 — Officer strength and distribution in grade
Chapter 33 — Original appointments of regular officers in grades above warrant officer grades
Chapter 33A — Appointment, promotion, and involuntary separation and retirement for members on the warrant officer active-duty list
Chapter 34 — Appointments as reserve officers
Chapter 35 — Temporary appointments in officer grades
Chapter 36 — Promotion, separation, and involuntary retirement of officers on the active-duty list
Chapter 37 — General service requirements
Chapter 38 — Joint officer management
Chapter 39 — Active duty
Chapter 40 — Leave
Chapter 41 — Special appointments, assignments, details, and duties
Chapter 43 — Rank and command
Chapter 45 — The uniform
Chapter 47 — Uniform Code of Military Justice
Chapter 47A — Military commissions
Chapter 48 — Military correctional facilities
Chapter 49 — Miscellaneous prohibitions and penalties
Chapter 50 — Miscellaneous command responsibilities
Chapter 51 — Reserve components: Standards and procedures for retention and promotion
Chapter 53 — Miscellaneous rights and benefits
Chapter 54 — Commissary and exchange benefits
Chapter 55 — Medical and dental care
Chapter 56 — Department of Defense Medicare-eligible retiree health care fund
Chapter 57 — Decorations and awards
Chapter 58 — Benefits and services for members being separated or recently separated
Chapter 59 — Separation
Chapter 60 — Separation of regular officers for substandard performance of duty or for certain other reasons
Chapter 61 — Retirement or separation for physical disability
Chapter 63 — Retirement for age
Chapter 65 — Retirement of warrant officers for length of service
Chapter 67 — Retired pay for non-regular service
Chapter 69 — Retired grade
Chapter 71 — Computation of retired pay
Chapter 73 — Annuities based on retired or retainer pay
Chapter 74 — Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund
Chapter 75 — Deceased personnel
Chapter 76 — Missing persons
Chapter 77 — Posthumous commissions and warrants
Chapter 79 — Correction of military records
Chapter 80 — Miscellaneous investigation requirements and other duties
Chapter 81 — Civilian employees
Chapter 83 — Civilian Defense Intelligence Employees
Chapter 87 — Defense Acquisition Workforce
Chapter 88 — Military family programs and military child care

Part III — Training and Education

Part III

Chapter 101 — Training generally
Chapter 102 — Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
Chapter 103 — Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
Chapter 104 — Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Chapter 105 — Armed Forces Health Professions Financial Assistance Programs
Chapter 106 — Educational Assistance for Members of the Selected Reserve
Chapter 106A — Educational Assistance for Persons Enlisting for Active Duty
Chapter 107 — Professional Military Education
Chapter 108 — Department of Defense Schools
Chapter 109 — Educational Loan Repayment Programs
Chapter 110 — Educational Assistance for Members Held as Captives and Their Dependents
Chapter 111 — Support of Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Education
Chapter 112 — Cyber Scholarship Program
Chapter 113 — Defense Civilian Training Corps

Part IV — Service, Supply, and Property

Part IV

Chapter 131 — Planning and Coordination
Chapter 133 — Facilities for Reserve Components
Chapter 134 — Miscellaneous Administrative Provisions
Chapter 135 — Space Programs
Chapter 136 — Provisions Relating to Specific Programs
Chapter 138 — Cooperative Agreements with NATO Allies and Other Countries
Chapter 141 — Miscellaneous Provisions Relating to Property
Chapter 143 — Production by Military Agencies
Chapter 145 — Cataloging and Standardization
Chapter 146 — Contracting for Performance of Civilian Commercial or Industrial Type Functions
Chapter 147 — Commissaries and Exchanges and Other Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Activities
Chapter 152 — Issue of Supplies, Services, and Facilities
Chapter 153 — Exchange of Material and Disposal of Obsolete, Surplus, or Unclaimed Property
Chapter 155 — Acceptance of Gifts and Services
Chapter 157 — Transportation
Chapter 159 — Real Property; Related Personal Property; and Lease of Non-Excess Property
Chapter 160 — Environmental Restoration
Chapter 161 — Property Records and Report of Theft or Loss of Certain Property
Chapter 163 — Military Claims
Chapter 165 — Accountability and Responsibility
Chapter 169 — Military Construction and Military Family Housing
Chapter 172 — Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program
Chapter 173 — Energy Security

Part V — Acquisition

Part V

Subpart A — General
- Chapter 201 — Definitions
- Chapter 203 — General matters
- Chapter 205 — Defense acquisition system
- Chapter 207 — Budgeting and appropriations
- Chapter 209 — Operational contract support
Subpart B — Acquisition Planning
- Chapter 221 — Planning and solicitation generally
- Chapter 222 — Independent cost estimation and cost analysis
- Chapter 223 — Other provisions relating to planning and solicitation generally
Subpart C — Contracting Methods and Contract Types
- Chapter 241 — Awarding of contracts
- Chapter 242 — Specific types of contracts
- Chapter 243 — Other matters relating to awarding of contracts
- Chapter 244 — Undefinitized contractual actions
- Chapter 245 — Task and delivery order contracts (multiple award contracts)
- Chapter 247 — Procurement of commercial products and commercial services
- Chapter 249 — Multiyear contracts
- Chapter 251 — Simplified acquisition procedures
- Chapter 253 — Rapid acquisition procedures
- Chapter 255 — Contracting with or through other agencies
- Chapter 257 — Contracts for long-term lease or charter of vessels, aircraft, and combat vehicles
- Chapter 258 — Other types of contracts used for procurements for particular purposes
Subpart D — General Contracting Provisions
- Chapter 271 — Truthful cost or pricing data (Truth in negotiations)
- Chapter 273 — Allowable costs
- Chapter 275 — Proprietary contractor data and rights in technical data
- Chapter 277 — Contract financing
- Chapter 279 — Contractor audits and accounting
- Chapter 281 — Claims and disputes
- Chapter 287 — Other contracting programs
Subpart E — Research and Engineering
- Chapter 301 — Research and engineering generally
- Chapter 303 — Research and engineering activities
- Chapter 305 — Universities
- Chapter 307 — Test and evaluation
Subpart F — Major Systems, Major Defense Acquisition Programs, and Weapon Systems Development
- Chapter 321 — General matters
- Chapter 322 — Major systems and major defense acquisition programs generally
- Chapter 323 — Life-cycle and sustainment
- Chapter 324 — Selected acquisition reports
- Chapter 325 — Cost growth—unit cost reports (Nunn-McCurdy)
- Chapter 327 — Weapon systems development and related matters
Subpart G — Other Special Categories Of Contracting
- Chapter 341 — Acquisition of services generally
- Chapter 345 — Acquisition of information technology
Subpart H — Contract Management
- Chapter 361 — Contract administration
- Chapter 363 — Prohibition and penalties
- Chapter 365 — Contractor workforce
- Chapter 367 — Other administrative matters
Subpart I — Defense Industrial Base
- Chapter 381 — Defense industrial base generally
- Chapter 382 — Policies and planning
- Chapter 383 — Development, application, and support of dual-use technologies
- Chapter 384 — Manufacturing technology
- Chapter 385 — Other technology base policies and programs
- Chapter 387 — Small business programs
- Chapter 388 — Procurement technical assistance cooperative agreement program
- Chapter 389 — Loan guarantee programs

Subtitle B — Army

Subtitle B

Part I — Organization

Part I

Chapter 701 — Definitions
Chapter 703 — Department of the Army
Chapter 705 — The Army Staff
Chapter 707 — The Army

Part II — Personnel

Part II

Chapter 711 — Strength
Chapter 713 — Enlistments
Chapter 715 — Appointments in the Regular Army
Chapter 719 — Temporary appointments
Chapter 721 — Active duty
Chapter 723 — Special appointments, assignments, details, and duties
Chapter 725 — Rank and command
Chapter 729 — Miscellaneous prohibitions and penalties
Chapter 733 — Miscellaneous rights and benefits
Chapter 735 — Hospitalization
Chapter 737 — Decorations and awards
Chapter 741 — Retirement for length of service
Chapter 743 — Retired grade
Chapter 745 — Computation of retired pay
Chapter 747 — Civilian employees
Chapter 749 — Miscellaneous investigation requirements and other duties

Part III — Training

Part III

Chapter 751 — Training generally
Chapter 753 — United States Military Academy
Chapter 757 — Schools and camps

Part IV — Service, Supply, and Procurement

Part IV

Chapter 763 — Procurement
Chapter 764 — Armaments industrial base
Chapter 765 — Issue of serviceable material to armed forces
Chapter 767 — Utilities and services
Chapter 769 — Sale of serviceable material
Chapter 771 — Issue of serviceable material other than to armed forces
Chapter 773 — Disposal of obsolete or surplus material
Chapter 775 — Disposition of effects of deceased persons; captured flags
Chapter 776 — Army national military cemeteries
Chapter 777 — Transportation
Chapter 779 — Real property
Chapter 781 — Military claims
Chapter 783 — Accountability and responsibility

Subtitle C — Navy and Marine Corps

Subtitle C

Part I — Organization

Part I

Chapter 801 — Definitions
Chapter 803 — Department of the Navy
Chapter 805 — Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
Chapter 806 — Headquarters, Marine Corps
Chapter 807 — Composition of the Department of the Navy
Chapter 809 — Bureaus; Office of the Judge Advocate General

Part II — Personnel

Part II

Chapter 811 — Distribution in grade
Chapter 812 — Grade and rank of officers
Chapter 813 — Enlistments
Chapter 815 — Original appointments
Chapter 821 — Officers in command
Chapter 823 — Special assignments and details
Chapter 825 — Administration
Chapter 827 — Rations
Chapter 829 — Miscellaneous prohibitions and penalties
Chapter 831 — Miscellaneous rights and benefits
Chapter 833 — Hospitalization and medical care
Chapter 835 — Bands
Chapter 837 — Decorations and awards
Chapter 839 — Discharge of enlisted members
Chapter 841 — Voluntary retirement
Chapter 843 — Involuntary retirement, separation, and furlough
Chapter 845 — Recall to active duty
Chapter 847 — Death benefits; care of the dead

Part III — Education and Training

Part III

Chapter 851 — Officer procurement programs
Chapter 852 — Training generally
Chapter 853 — United States Naval Academy
Chapter 855 — United States Naval Postgraduate School
Chapter 857 — Retirement of civilian members of the teaching staffs of the United States Naval Academy and United States Naval Postgraduate School
Chapter 859 — Professional military education schools

Part IV — General Administration

Part IV

Chapter 861 — Secretary of the Navy: Miscellaneous powers and duties
Chapter 863 — Naval vessels
Chapter 865 — Salvage facilities
Chapter 867 — United States Naval Observatory
Chapter 869 — Naval petroleum reserves
Chapter 871 — Civilian employees
Chapter 873 — Procurement of supplies and services
Chapter 875 — Disposal of obsolete or surplus material
Chapter 877 — Quarters, utilities, and services
Chapter 879 — Ships' stores and commissary stores
Chapter 881 — Claims
Chapter 883 — Prize
Chapter 885 — Stay of judicial proceedings
Chapter 887 — Naval militia
Chapter 889 — Accountability and responsibility
Chapter 891 — Names and insignia
Chapter 893 — National Oceanographic Partnership Program
Chapter 895 — Issue of serviceable material other than to armed forces
Chapter 897 — Maritime safety of forces

Subtitle D — Air Force and Space Force

Subtitle D

Part I — Organization

Part I

Chapter 901 — Definitions
Chapter 903 — Department of the Air Force
Chapter 905 — The Air Staff
Chapter 907 — The Air Force
Chapter 908 — The Space Force

Part II — Personnel

Part II

Chapter 911 — Strength
Chapter 913 — Enlistments
Chapter 915 — Appointments in the Regular Air Force and the Regular Space Force
Chapter 919 — Temporary Appointments
Chapter 921 — Active Duty
Chapter 923 — Special Appointments, Assignments, Details, and Duties
Chapter 925 — Rank and Command
Chapter 929 — Miscellaneous Prohibitions and Penalties
Chapter 933 — Miscellaneous Rights and Benefits
Chapter 935 — Hospitalization
Chapter 937 — Decorations and Awards
Chapter 939 — Separation for Various Reasons
Chapter 941 — Retirement for Length of Service
Chapter 943 — Retired Grade
Chapter 945 — Computation of Retired Pay
Chapter 947 — Civilian Employees
Chapter 949 — Miscellaneous Investigation Requirements and Other Duties

Part III — Training

Part III

Chapter 951 — Training Generally
Chapter 953 — United States Air Force Academy
Chapter 957 — Schools and Camps
Chapter 959 — Civil Air Patrol

Part IV — Service, Supply, and Procurement

Part IV

Chapter 961 — Civil Reserve Air Fleet
Chapter 963 — Procurement
Chapter 965 — Issue of Serviceable Material to Armed Forces
Chapter 967 — Utilities and Services
Chapter 969 — Sale of Serviceable Material
Chapter 971 — Issue of Serviceable Material Other Than to Armed Forces
Chapter 973 — Disposal of Obsolete or Surplus Material
Chapter 975 — Disposition of Effects of Deceased Persons
Chapter 977 — Transportation
Chapter 979 — Real Property
Chapter 981 — Military Claims
Chapter 983 — Accountability and Responsibility

Subtitle E — Reserve Components

Subtitle E

Part I — Organization and Administration

Part I

Chapter 1001 — Definitions
Chapter 1003 — Reserve Components Generally
Chapter 1005 — Elements of Reserve Components
Chapter 1006 — Reserve Component Commands
Chapter 1007 — Administration of Reserve Components
Chapter 1009 — Reserve Forces Policy Boards and Committees
Chapter 1011 — National Guard Bureau
Chapter 1013 — Budget Information and Annual Reports to Congress

Part II — Personnel Generally

Part II

Chapter 1201 — Authorized Strengths and Distribution in Grade
Chapter 1203 — Enlisted Members
Chapter 1205 — Appointment of Reserve Officers
Chapter 1207 — Warrant Officers
Chapter 1209 — Active Duty
Chapter 1211 — National Guard Members in Federal Service
Chapter 1213 — Special Appointments, Assignments, Details, and Duties
Chapter 1214 — Ready Reserve Mobilization Income Insurance
Chapter 1215 — Miscellaneous Prohibitions and Penalties
Chapter 1217 — Miscellaneous Rights and Benefits
Chapter 1219 — Standards and Procedures for Retention and Promotion
Chapter 1221 — Separation
Chapter 1223 — Retired Pay for Non-Regular Service
Chapter 1225 — Retired Grade

Part III — Promotion and Retention of Officers on the Reserve Active-Status List

Part III

Chapter 1401 — Applicability and Reserve Active-Status Lists
Chapter 1403 — Selection Boards
Chapter 1405 — Promotions
Chapter 1407 — Failure of Selection for Promotion and Involuntary Separation
Chapter 1409 — Continuation of Officers on the Reserve Active-Status List and Selective Early Removal
Chapter 1411 — Additional Provisions Relating to Involuntary Separation

Part IV — Training for Reserve Components and Educational Assistance Programs

Part IV

Chapter 1601 — Training Generally
Chapter 1606 — Educational Assistance for Members of the Selected Reserve
Chapter 1607 — Educational Assistance for Reserve Component Members Supporting Contingency Operations and Certain Other Operations
Chapter 1608 — Health Professions Stipend Program
Chapter 1609 — Education Loan Repayment Programs
Chapter 1611 — Other Educational Assistance Programs

Part V — Service, Supply, and Procurement

Part V

Chapter 1801 — Issue of Serviceable Material to Reserve Components
Chapter 1803 — Facilities for Reserve Components
Chapter 1805 — Miscellaneous Provisions

Subtitle F — Alternative Military Personnel Systems

PART I — Space Force

External links

Notes and References

Web site: . United States Code . 2024-03-12 .
Web site: War on the Rocks . The Creation of a U.S. Space Force: It's Only the End of the Beginning . John J. . Klein . 2020-01-02 . 2020-01-02 .