---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 20201"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "20201"
heading: "Original appointments: how made"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/20201"
units:
  - "Subtitle F — Alternative Military Personnel Systems"
  - "Part I — Space Force"
  - "Chapter 2005 — Officers"
  - "Subchapter I — Original Appointments"
---

# §20201. Original appointments: how made

- (a) **In General.—** The provisions of [section 531 of this title](/usc/10/531.md) shall apply to [original](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-10) appointments of [commissioned officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-2) in the Space Force.
- (b) **Grade Upon Appointment.—**
  - (1) The [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) of a person receiving an appointment under this section who at the time of appointment is credited with service under [section 20203 of this title](/usc/10/20203.md) shall be determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Defense based upon the amount of service credited.
  - (2) The [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) of a person receiving an appointment under this section who at the time of the appointment is a [commissioned officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-2) of a [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) component shall be determined under [section 20203(e) of this title](/usc/10/20203.md?p=e).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVII, § 1716(a), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 631.)