---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 20236"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "20236"
heading: "Competitive categories"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/20236"
units:
  - "Subtitle F — Alternative Military Personnel Systems"
  - "Part I — Space Force"
  - "Chapter 2005 — Officers"
  - "Subchapter III — Promotions"
---

# §20236. Competitive categories

- (a) **Requirement to Establish Competitive Categories for Promotion.—** Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Air Force shall establish at least one competitive category for promotion for [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) on the Space Force [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) list. Each [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) whose name appears on the Space Force [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) list shall be carried in a competitive category of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1). [Officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) in the same competitive category shall compete among themselves for promotion.
- (b) **Single Competitive Category for Promotion to General Officer Grades.—** The Secretary of the Air Force shall establish a single competitive category for all [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) on the Space Force [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) list who will be considered by a selection board convened under [section 20211 of this title](/usc/10/20211.md) for promotion to the [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) of brigadier general or major general.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVII, § 1716(c), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 644.)