---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 20505"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "20505"
heading: "Officer considered for removal: voluntary retirement or discharge"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/20505"
units:
  - "Subtitle F — Alternative Military Personnel Systems"
  - "Part I — Space Force"
  - "Chapter 2011 — Separation of Officers for Substandard Performance of Duty or for Certain Other Reasons"
---

# §20505. Officer considered for removal: voluntary retirement or discharge

- (a) **In General.—** At any time during proceedings under this chapter with respect to the removal of an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) from a [space force active status](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-1), the Secretary of the Air Force may grant a request by the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1)—
  - (1) for voluntary retirement, if the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) is qualified for retirement; or
  - (2) for discharge in accordance with [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2).
- (b) **Retirement or Discharge.—** An [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) removed from a [space force active status](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-1) under [section 20503 of this title](/usc/10/20503.md) shall—
  - (1) if eligible for voluntary retirement under any provision of law on the date of such removal, be retired in the [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) and with the retired [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) for which the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) would be eligible if retired under such provision; and
  - (2) if ineligible for voluntary retirement under any provision of law on the date of such removal—
    - (A) be honorably discharged in the [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) then held, in the case of an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) whose case was brought under subsection (a) of [section 20501 of this title](/usc/10/20501.md); or
    - (B) be discharged in the [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) then held, in the case of an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) whose case was brought under subsection (b) of [section 20501 of this title](/usc/10/20501.md).
- (c) **Separation Pay for Discharged Officer.—** An [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) who is discharged under [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2) is entitled, if eligible therefor, to separation [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) under [section 1174(a)(2) of this title](/usc/10/1174.md?p=a-2).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVII, § 1719, Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 661.)