---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 15101"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "15101"
heading: "Officers in designated competitive categories"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/15101"
units:
  - "Subtitle E — Reserve Components"
  - "Part III — Promotion and Retention of Officers on the Reserve Active-Status List"
  - "Chapter 1413 — Alternative Promotion Authority for Officers in Designated Competitive Categories"
---

# §15101. Officers in designated competitive categories

- (a) **Authority to Designate Competitive Categories of Officers.—** Each [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) of a military [department](/usc/10/12521.md?p=5) may designate one or more competitive categories for promotion of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) under [section 14005 of this title](/usc/10/14005.md) that are under the jurisdiction of such [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) as a competitive category of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) whose promotion, retirement, and continuation on the [reserve active-status list](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-7) shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter.
- (b) **Limitation on Exercise of Authority.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) of a military [department](/usc/10/12521.md?p=5) may not designate a competitive category of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) for purposes of this chapter until 60 days after the date on which the [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) submits to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the designation of the competitive category. The report on the designation of a competitive category shall set forth the following:
  - (1) A detailed description of [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) requirements for [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) within the competitive category.
  - (2) An explanation of the number of opportunities for consideration for promotion to each particular [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7), and an estimate of promotion timing, within the competitive category.
  - (3) An estimate of the size of the promotion zone for each [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) within the competitive category.
  - (4) A description of any other matters the [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) considered in determining to designate the competitive category for purposes of this chapter.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title V, § 514(a), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 245.)