---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 10203"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "10203"
heading: "Reserve affairs: designation of general or flag officer of each armed force"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/10203"
units:
  - "Subtitle E — Reserve Components"
  - "Part I — Organization and Administration"
  - "Chapter 1007 — Administration of Reserve Components"
---

# §10203. Reserve affairs: designation of general or flag officer of each armed force

- (a) The [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) of the Army may designate a [general officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) of the Army to be directly responsible for [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) affairs to the Chief of Staff of the Army.
- (b) The [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) of the Navy may designate a [flag officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) of the Navy to be directly responsible for [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) affairs to the Chief of Naval Operations and a [general officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) of the Marine Corps to be directly responsible for [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) affairs to the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
- (c) The [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) of the Air Force may designate a [general officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) of the Air Force to be directly responsible for [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) affairs to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force.
- (d) The [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) of Homeland Security may designate a [flag officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) of the Coast Guard to be directly responsible for [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) affairs to the Commandant of the Coast Guard.
- (e) This section does not affect the functions of the Chief of the [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) Bureau, the Chief of Army [Reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6), or the Chief of Air Force [Reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1661(a)(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2976; amended Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, § 1704(b)(1), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2314.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 264(a) of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–337, § 1661(a)(2)(A).

### Amendments

2002—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 107–296 substituted “of Homeland Security” for “of Transportation”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 107–296 effective on the date of transfer of the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security, see section 1704(g) of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

### Effective Date

Section effective Dec. 1, 1994, except as otherwise provided, see section 1691 of Pub. L. 103–337, set out as a note under section 10001 of this title.