---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 20403"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "20403"
heading: "Officers: standards and qualifications for retention"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/20403"
units:
  - "Subtitle F — Alternative Military Personnel Systems"
  - "Part I — Space Force"
  - "Chapter 2009 — Retention and Separation Generally"
---

# §20403. Officers: standards and qualifications for retention

- (a) **Standards and Qualifications.—** To be retained in an [active status](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-4), a Space Force [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) must—
  - (1) in any applicable yearly period, attain the number of points under [section 12732(a)(2) of this title](/usc/10/12732.md?p=a-2) that are prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force; and
  - (2) conform to such other standards and qualifications as the Secretary may prescribe for [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) of the Space Force.
- (b) **Limitation on Minimum Number of Points.—** The Secretary may not prescribe a minimum of more than 50 points under [subsection (a)](#a).
- (c) **Result of Failure to Comply.—** A Space Force [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) who fails to attain the number of points prescribed under [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1), or to conform to the standards and qualifications prescribed under [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2), may be referred to a board convened under [section 20501(a) of this title](/usc/10/20501.md?p=a).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVII, § 1718(a), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 656.)