---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 20251"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "20251"
heading: "Failure of selection for promotion"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/20251"
units:
  - "Subtitle F — Alternative Military Personnel Systems"
  - "Part I — Space Force"
  - "Chapter 2005 — Officers"
  - "Subchapter IV — Failure of Selection for Promotion and Involuntary Separation"
---

# §20251. Failure of selection for promotion

- (a) **In General.—** Except as provided in this section, sections [14501](/usc/10/14501.md), [14503](/usc/10/14503.md), [14504](/usc/10/14504.md), [631](/usc/10/631.md), and [632](/usc/10/632.md) of this title shall apply to promotions of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) on the Space Force [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) list. For the purpose of such applicability—
  - (1) any reference in those sections to the [reserve active-status list](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-7) or the [active-duty list](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-13) shall apply to the Space Force [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) list; and
  - (2) any reference in those sections to a board convened under section 14201[^1] or [section 611 of this title](/usc/10/611.md) shall apply to a board convened under [section 20211 of this title](/usc/10/20211.md).
- (b) **Inapplicability of Failure of Selection for Promotion to Officers Above Promotion Zone.—** The reference in [section 14501 of this title](/usc/10/14501.md) to an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) above the promotion zone shall not apply in the promotion of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) on the Space Force [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) list.
- (c) **Retirement Authorities.—** In applying section [631](/usc/10/631.md) or [632](/usc/10/632.md) of this title to such an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1), the reference in [subsection (a)(3)](/usc/10/632.md?p=a-3) of that section to qualifying for retirement under certain sections of this title shall be deemed to refer to qualifying for retirement under any provision of law other than [chapter 61](/usc/10/chstA/ptII/ch61.md) of this title.
- (d) **Effect of Failure of Selection.—** In the administration of this chapter pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a)—
  - (1) an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) on the Space Force [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) list shall not be deemed to have failed twice of selection for promotion for purposes of section [629(e)(2)](/usc/10/629.md?p=e-2) or [14501(b)](/usc/10/14501.md?p=b) of this title until the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) has failed selection of promotion to the next higher [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) the maximum number of times specified for opportunities for promotion to such [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) within the competitive category concerned under [section 20234 of this title](/usc/10/20234.md); and
  - (2) any reference in section [631(a)](/usc/10/631.md?p=a) or [632(a)](/usc/10/632.md?p=a) of this title, or in sections [14504](/usc/10/14504.md) through [14506](/usc/10/14506.md) of this title, to an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) who has failed of selection for promotion to the next higher [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) for the second time shall be deemed to refer instead to an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) on the Space Force [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) list who has failed of selection for promotion to the next higher [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) for the maximum number of times specified for opportunities for promotion to such [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) within the competitive category concerned under [section 20234 of this title](/usc/10/20234.md).

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVII, § 1716(c), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 649; amended Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title V, § 521(u), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1883; Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(a)(43), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1210.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 14201 of this title, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), probably should be section 14101 of this title, which relates to convening of selection boards. There is no section 14201 of this title.

### Codification

Another section 20251 was renumbered section 20252 of this title by section 521(v)(2) of Pub. L. 118–159. The amendments made by section 521(u) of Pub. L. 118–159 to section 20251 of this title were executed to this section to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

### Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 119–60 struck out “and” before “14504, 631, and 632”.

2024—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–159, § 521(u)(1)(A), substituted “14504, 631, and 632” for “14504 and section 631 and 632” in introductory provisions. See Codification note above.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 118–159, § 521(u)(1)(B), substituted “section 14201 or section 611” for “section 14201 or 611”. See Codification note above.

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 118–159, § 521(u)(2), substituted “14501(b)” for “14502(b)”. See Codification note above.