---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 14704"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "14704"
heading: "Selective early removal from the reserve active-status list"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/14704"
units:
  - "Subtitle E — Reserve Components"
  - "Part III — Promotion and Retention of Officers on the Reserve Active-Status List"
  - "Chapter 1409 — Continuation of Officers on the Reserve Active-Status List and Selective Early Removal"
---

# §14704. Selective early removal from the reserve active-status list

- (a) **Boards To Recommend Officers for Removal From Reserve Active-Status List.—**
  - (1) Whenever the [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) of the military [department](/usc/10/12521.md?p=5) concerned determines that there are in any [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) component under the jurisdiction of the [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) too many [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) in any [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) and competitive category who have at least 30 years of service computed under [section 14706 of this title](/usc/10/14706.md) or at least 20 years of service computed under [section 12732 of this title](/usc/10/12732.md), the [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) may convene a selection board under [section 14101(b) of this title](/usc/10/14101.md?p=b) to consider [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) on the [reserve active-status list](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-7) who are in that [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) and competitive category, and who have that amount of service, for the purpose of recommending [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) by name for removal from that list.
  - (2) Except as provided in [paragraph (3)](#a-3), the list of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) in a [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) component whose names are submitted to a board under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) shall include each [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) on the [reserve active-status list](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-7) for that [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) component in the same [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) and competitive category whose position on the [reserve active-status list](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-7) is between—
    - (A) that of the most junior [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) in that [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) and competitive category whose name is submitted to the board; and
    - (B) that of the most senior [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) in that [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) and competitive category whose name is submitted to the board.
  - (3) A list submitted to a board under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) may not include an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) who—
    - (A) has been approved for voluntary retirement; or
    - (B) is to be involuntarily retired under any provision of law during the fiscal year in which the board is convened or during the following fiscal year.
- (b) **Specification of Number of Officers Who May Be Recommended for Separation.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) of the military [department](/usc/10/12521.md?p=5) concerned shall specify the number of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) described in [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1) that a board may recommend for separation under [subsection (c)](#c).
- (c) **Separation of Officers Selected.—** In the case of an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) recommended for separation in the report of a board under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) may separate the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) in accordance with [section 14514 of this title](/usc/10/14514.md).
- (d) **Regulations.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) of the military [department](/usc/10/12521.md?p=5) concerned shall prescribe regulations for the administration of this section.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1611, Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2956; amended Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title V, § 503(b), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 750.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in sections 3850 and 8850 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–337, § 1629(a)(3), (c)(3).

### Amendments

2013—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–66, § 503(b)(1), designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted “officers on the reserve active-status list” for “all officers on that list” and “that list.” for “the reserve active-status list, in the number specified by the Secretary by each grade and competitive category.” in par. (1), and added pars. (2) and (3).

Subsecs. (b) to (d). Pub. L. 113–66, § 503(b)(2), (3), added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsecs. (b) and (c) as (c) and (d), respectively.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### 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.