---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 20240"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "20240"
heading: "Acceptance of promotions; oath of office"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/20240"
units:
  - "Subtitle F — Alternative Military Personnel Systems"
  - "Part I — Space Force"
  - "Chapter 2005 — Officers"
  - "Subchapter III — Promotions"
---

# §20240. Acceptance of promotions; oath of office

- (a) **Acceptance.—** An [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) who is appointed to a higher [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) under [section 20239 of this title](/usc/10/20239.md) is considered to have accepted the appointment on the date on which the appointment is made unless the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) expressly declines the appointment.
- (b) **Oath.—** An [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) who has served continuously since taking the oath of office prescribed in [section 3331 of title 5](/usc/5/3331.md) is not required to take a new oath upon appointment to a higher [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) under [section 20239 of this title](/usc/10/20239.md).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVII, § 1716(c), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 647.)