---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 1734"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "1734"
heading: "Career development"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/1734"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part II — Personnel"
  - "Chapter 87 — Defense Acquisition Workforce"
  - "Subchapter III — Critical Acquisition Positions"
---

# §1734. Career development

- (a) **Three-Year Assignment Period.—**
  - (1) Except as provided under [subsection (b)](#b) and [paragraph (3)](#a-3), the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of each [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6), acting through the [service acquisition executive](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-10) for that [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6), shall provide that any [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) who is assigned to a critical acquisition position shall be assigned to the position for not fewer than three years. Except as provided in [subsection (d)](#d), the [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/2801.md?p=c-5) may not reassign a [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) from such an assignment before the end of the three-year period.
  - (2) A [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) may not be assigned to a critical acquisition position unless the [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) executes a written agreement to remain on [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1) (in the case of a member of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4)) or to remain in Federal service (in the case of an employee) in that position for at least three years. The service obligation contained in such a written agreement shall remain in effect unless and until waived by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/2801.md?p=c-5) under [subsection (b)](#b).
  - (3) The assignment period requirement of the first sentence of [paragraph (1)](#a-1) is waived for any individual serving as a [deputy program manager](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-2) if the individual is assigned to a critical acquisition position upon completion of the individual’s assignment as a [deputy program manager](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-2).
- (b) **Assignment Period for Program Managers.—**
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense shall prescribe in regulations—
    - (A) a requirement that a [program manager](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-1) and a [deputy program manager](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-2) (except as provided in [paragraph (3)](#b-3)) of a [major defense acquisition program](/usc/10/4201.md?p=a) be assigned to the position at least until completion of the major milestone that occurs closest in time to the date on which the [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) has served in the position for four years; and
    - (B) a requirement that, to the maximum extent practicable, a [program manager](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-1) who is the replacement for a reassigned [program manager](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-1) arrive at the assignment location before the reassigned [program manager](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-1) leaves.

    Except as provided in [subsection (d)](#d), the [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/2801.md?p=c-5) may not reassign a [program manager](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-1) or [deputy program manager](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-2) from such an assignment until after such major milestone has occurred.

  - (2) A [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) may not be assigned to a critical acquisition position as a [program manager](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-1) or [deputy program manager](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-2) of a [major defense acquisition program](/usc/10/4201.md?p=a) unless the [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) executes a written agreement to remain on [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1) (in the case of a member of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4)) or to remain in Federal service (in the case of an employee) in that position at least until completion of the first major milestone that occurs closest in time to the date on which the [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) has served in the position for four years. The service obligation contained in such a written agreement shall remain in effect unless and until waived by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/2801.md?p=c-5) under [subsection (d)](#d).
  - (3) The assignment period requirement under [subparagraph (A)](#b-1-A) of paragraph (1) is waived for any individual serving as a [deputy program manager](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-2) if the individual is assigned to a critical acquisition position upon completion of the individual’s assignment as a [deputy program manager](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-2).
- (c) **Major Milestone Regulations.—**
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense shall issue regulations defining what constitutes major milestones for purposes of this section. The [service acquisition executive](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-10) of each [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) shall establish major milestones at the beginning of a [major defense acquisition program](/usc/10/4201.md?p=a) consistent with such regulations and shall use such milestones to determine the assignment period for [program managers](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-1) and [deputy program managers](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-2) under [subsection (b)](#b).
  - (2) The regulations shall require that major milestones be clearly definable and measurable events that mark the completion of a significant phase in a [major defense acquisition program](/usc/10/4201.md?p=a) and that such milestones be the same as the milestones contained in the baseline description established for the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) pursuant to [section 4214(a) of this title](/usc/10/4214.md?p=a). The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) shall require that the major milestones as defined in the regulations be included in the Selected Acquisition Report required for such [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) under [section 4351 of this title](/usc/10/4351.md).
- (d) **Waiver of Assignment Period.—**
  - (1) With respect to a [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) assigned to a critical acquisition position, the [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/2801.md?p=c-5) may waive the prohibition on reassignment of that [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) (in subsection [(a)(1)](#a-1) or [(b)(1)](#b-1)) and the service obligation in an agreement executed by that [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) (under subsection [(a)(2)](#a-2) or [(b)(2)](#b-2)), but only in exceptional circumstances in which a waiver is necessary for reasons permitted in regulations prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense.
  - (2) With respect to each waiver granted under this subsection, the [service acquisition executive](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-10) (or his delegate) shall set forth in a written document the rationale for the decision to grant the waiver.
- (e) **Rotation Policy.—**
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense shall establish a policy encouraging the rotation of members of the [acquisition workforce](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-18) serving in critical acquisition positions to new assignments after completion of five years of service in such positions, or, in the case of a [program manager](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-1), after completion of a major [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) milestone, whichever is longer. Such rotation policy shall be designed to ensure opportunities for career broadening assignments and an infusion of new ideas into critical acquisition positions.
  - (2) The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense shall establish a procedure under which the assignment of each [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) assigned to a critical acquisition position shall be reviewed on a case-by-case basis for the purpose of determining whether the Government and such [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) would be better served by a reassignment to a different position. Such a review shall be carried out with respect to each such [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) not later than five years after that [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) is assigned to a critical position.
- (f) **Centralized Job Referral System.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense shall prescribe regulations providing for the use of centralized lists to ensure that [persons](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) are selected for critical positions without regard to geographic location of applicants for such positions.
- (g) **Exchange Program.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense shall establish, for purposes of broadening the experience of members of the [acquisition workforce](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-18), a test [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) in which members of the [acquisition workforce](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-18) serving in a [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) or [Defense Agency](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-11) are assigned or detailed to an acquisition position in another [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) or [agency](/usc/10/3451.md?p=3). Under the test [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1), the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense shall ensure that, to the maximum extent practicable, at least 5 percent of the members of the [acquisition workforce](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-18) in critical acquisition positions shall serve in such exchange assignments each year. The test [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) shall operate for not less than a period of three years.
- (h) **Responsibility for Assignments.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of each [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6), acting through the [service acquisition executive](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-10) for that [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6), is responsible for making assignments of civilian and [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) personnel of that [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) who are members of the [acquisition workforce](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-18) to critical acquisition positions.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XII, § 1202(a), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1646; amended Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title VIII, § 812(a), (b), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2450; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title X, § 1074(a)(9)(D), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2659; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title X, § 1048(e)(5), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1227; Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title VIII, §§ 831(b)(4), 832(b)(3), 833(2), (3), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1549, 1550; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VIII, § 861(j)(10), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1520; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1849(f), formerly § 1849(m), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4264, renumbered § 1849(f) and amended Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(o)(5)(B), (6)(D), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, § 1702(a)(3), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2155.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 117–81, § 1702(a)(3), substituted “section 4214(a)” for “section 2435(a)”.

Pub. L. 116–283, § 1849(f), formerly § 1849(m), as renumbered and amended by Pub. L. 117–81, § 1701(o)(5)(B), (6)(D), substituted “section 4351” for “section 2432”.

2019—Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 116–92, § 861(j)(10)(A), substituted “of the acquisition workforce” for “of the Acquisition Corps”.

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 116–92, § 861(j)(10)(B), substituted “experience of members of the acquisition workforce” for “experience of members of the Acquisition Corps”, “in which members of the acquisition workforce” for “in which members of the Corps”, and “of the acquisition workforce in critical acquisition positions” for “of the Acquisition Corps”.

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 116–92, § 861(j)(10)(A), substituted “of the acquisition workforce” for “of the Acquisition Corps”.

2003—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 108–136, § 831(b)(4)(A)(ii), redesignated par. (3) as (2) and struck out at end “The document shall be submitted to the Director of Acquisition Education, Training, and Career Development.”

Pub. L. 108–136, § 831(b)(4)(A)(i), struck out par. (2) which read as follows: “The authority to grant such waivers may be delegated by the service acquisition executive of a military department only to the Director of Acquisition Career Management for the military department.”

Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 108–136, § 831(b)(4)(A)(ii), redesignated par. (3) as (2).

Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 108–136, § 833(2), substituted “the Acquisition Corps” for “an Acquisition Corps”

Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 108–136, § 831(b)(4)(B), struck out “, by the acquisition career program board of the department concerned,” after “case-by-case basis”.

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 108–136, § 833(3)(A), substituted “the Acquisition Corps, a test program in which members of the Corps” for “each Acquisition Corps, a test program in which members of a Corps”.

Pub. L. 108–136, § 832(b)(3), substituted “The Secretary” for “(1) The Secretary” and struck out par. (2) which read as follows: “The Secretary of Defense shall submit the portion of the test program applicable to civilian employees to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management for approval. If the Director does not disapprove that portion of the test program within 30 days after the date on which the Director receives it, that portion of the test program is deemed to be approved by the Director.”

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 108–136, § 833(3)(B), substituted “making assignments of civilian and military personnel of that military department who are members of the Acquisition Corps” for “making assignments of civilian and military members of the Acquisition Corps of that military department”.

2001—Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 107–107, § 1048(e)(5)(A), struck out “on and after October 1, 1991,” before “to the maximum extent practicable”.

Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 107–107, § 1048(e)(5)(B), struck out at end “Reviews under this subsection shall be carried out after October 1, 1995, but may be carried out before that date.”

1996—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104–201, § 1074(a)(9)(D)(i), struck out “, on and after October 1, 1993,” after “provide that”.

Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 104–201, § 1074(a)(9)(D)(ii), struck out “, on and after October 1, 1991,” after “requirement that”.

1992—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 102–484, § 812(b)(1)(A), inserted before first comma “and paragraph (3)”.

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 102–484, § 812(b)(1)(B), added par. (3).

Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 102–484, § 812(b)(2)(A), inserted “(except as provided in paragraph (3))” after “deputy program manager”.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 102–484, § 812(b)(2)(B), added par. (3).

Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 102–484, § 812(a), inserted at end “Reviews under this subsection shall be carried out after October 1, 1995, but may be carried out before that date.”

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

Amendment by section 1701(o)(5)(B), (6)(D) of Pub. L. 117–81 applicable as if included in the enactment of title XVIII of Pub. L. 116–283 as enacted, see section 1701(a)(2) of Pub. L. 117–81, set out in a note preceding section 3001 of this title and note below.

Amendment by Pub. L. 116–283 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

### Job Referral System Deadline

Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XII, § 1209(e), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1666, provided that: “Not later than October 1, 1991, the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations required under section 1734(f) of title 10, United States Code (as added by section 1202).”