---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 12605"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "12605"
heading: "Presentation of United States flag: members transferred from an active status or discharged after completion of eligibility for retired pay"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/12605"
units:
  - "Subtitle E — Reserve Components"
  - "Part II — Personnel Generally"
  - "Chapter 1217 — Miscellaneous Rights and Benefits"
---

# §12605. Presentation of United States flag: members transferred from an active status or discharged after completion of eligibility for retired pay

- (a) **Presentation of Flag.—** Upon the transfer from an [active status](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-4) or discharge of a [Reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) who has completed the years of service required for eligibility for retired [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) under [chapter 1223](/usc/10/chstE/ptII/ch1223.md) of this title, the [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-9) shall present a [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) flag to the member.
- (b) **Multiple Presentations Not Authorized.—** A member is not eligible for presentation of a flag under [subsection (a)](#a) if the member has previously been presented a flag under this section or any provision of law providing for the presentation of a [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) flag incident to release from [active service](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-3) for retirement.
- (c) **No Cost to Recipient.—** The presentation of a flag under this section shall be at no cost to the recipient.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title VI, § 652(a)(1), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 664.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title VI, § 652(d), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 665, provided that: “Section 12605 of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), section 213 of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 214] (as added by subsection (b)), and section 25 of the Coast and Geodetic Survey Commissioned Officers’ Act of 1948 [33 U.S.C. 853v] (as added by subsection (c)) shall apply with respect to releases from service described in those sections on or after October 1, 1999.”