---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 20238"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "20238"
heading: "Establishment of promotion zones"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/20238"
units:
  - "Subtitle F — Alternative Military Personnel Systems"
  - "Part I — Space Force"
  - "Chapter 2005 — Officers"
  - "Subchapter III — Promotions"
---

# §20238. Establishment of promotion zones

- (a) **In General.—** Before convening a selection board under [section 20211 of this title](/usc/10/20211.md) to consider [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) for promotion to any [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) above first lieutenant or lieutenant (junior [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7)), the Secretary of the Air Force shall establish a promotion zone for [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) serving in each [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) and competitive category to be considered by the board.
- (b) **Determination of Number.—** The Secretary of the Air Force shall determine the number of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) in the promotion zone for [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) serving in any [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) and competitive category from among [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) who are eligible for promotion in that [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) and competitive category. Such determination shall be made on the basis of an estimate of—
  - (1) the number of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) needed in that competitive category in the next higher [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) in each of the next five years;
  - (2) the number of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) to be serving in that competitive category in the next higher [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) in each of the next five years;
  - (3) in the case of a promotion zone for [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) to be promoted to a [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) to which [section 523 of this title](/usc/10/523.md) is applicable, the number of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) authorized for such [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) under such section to be on [sustained duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-4) on the last day of each of the next five fiscal years; and
  - (4) the number of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) that should be placed in that promotion zone in each of the next five years to provide to [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) in those years relatively similar opportunity for promotion.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVII, § 1716(c), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 645.)