---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 14515"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "14515"
heading: "Discharge or retirement for age"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/14515"
units:
  - "Subtitle E — Reserve Components"
  - "Part III — Promotion and Retention of Officers on the Reserve Active-Status List"
  - "Chapter 1407 — Failure of Selection for Promotion and Involuntary Separation"
---

# §14515. Discharge or retirement for age


Each [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps who is in an [active status](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-4) or on an inactive-status list and who reaches the maximum age specified in section [14509](/usc/10/14509.md), [14510](/usc/10/14510.md), [14511](/usc/10/14511.md), or [14512](/usc/10/14512.md) of this title for the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1)’s [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) or position shall (unless the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) is sooner separated or the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1)’s separation is deferred or the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) is continued in an [active status](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-4) under another provision of law) not later than the last day of the month in which the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) reaches that maximum age—

- (1) be transferred to the Retired [Reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) if the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) is qualified for such transfer and does not request (in accordance with regulations prescribed by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-9)) not to be transferred to the Retired [Reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6); or
- (2) be discharged from the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1)’s [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) appointment if the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) is not qualified for transfer to the Retired [Reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) or has requested (in accordance with regulations prescribed by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-9)) not to be so transferred.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1611, Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2954; amended Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title XV, § 1501(b)(31), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 498; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, § 517(d), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1095.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2001—Par. (1). Pub. L. 107–107, § 517(d)(1), substituted “if the officer is qualified for such transfer and does not request (in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned) not to be transferred to the Retired Reserve” for “, if the officer is qualified and applies for such transfer”.

Par. (2). Pub. L. 107–107, § 517(d)(2), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “if the officer is not qualified or does not apply for transfer to the Retired Reserve, be discharged from the officer’s reserve appointment.”

1996—Pub. L. 104–106 substituted “inactive-status” for “inactive status” in introductory provisions.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2001 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 107–107 effective on the first day of the first month that begins more than 180 days after Dec. 28, 2001, see section 517(g) of Pub. L. 107–107, set out as a note under section 10154 of this title.

### 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

Section effective Oct. 1, 1996, see section 1691(b)(1) of Pub. L. 103–337, set out as a note under section 10001 of this title.