---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 526"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "526"
heading: "Authorized strength: general officers and flag officers on active duty"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/526"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part II — Personnel"
  - "Chapter 32 — Officer Strength and Distribution in Grade"
---

# §526. Authorized strength: general officers and flag officers on active duty

- (a) **Limitations.—** The number of [general officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) on [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1) in the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force, and the number of [flag officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) on [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1) in the Navy, may not exceed the number specified for the armed force concerned as follows:
  - (1) For the Army, 219.
  - (2) For the Navy, 150.
  - (3) For the Air Force, 168.
  - (4) For the Marine Corps, 64.
  - (5) For the Space Force, 24.
- (b) **Limited Exclusion for Joint Duty Requirements.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense may designate up to 232 [general officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) and [flag officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) positions that are [joint duty assignments](/usc/10/668.md?p=b-1) for purposes of [chapter 38](/usc/10/chstA/ptII/ch38.md) of this title for exclusion from the limitations in [subsection (a)](#a).
  - (2) **Minimum number.—** Unless the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense determines that a lower number is in the best interest of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense, the minimum number of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) serving in positions designated under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) for each armed force shall be as follows:
    - (A) For the Army, 75.
    - (B) For the Navy, 53.
    - (C) For the Air Force, 68.
    - (D) For the Marine Corps, 17.
    - (E) For the Space Force, 6.
- (c) **Exclusion of Certain Officers of Reserve Components and of the Space Force.—** The limitations of this section do not apply to the following:
  - (1) A general or [flag officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) of a [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) [component](/usc/10/3011.md?p=13) or of the Space Force who is on [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1)—
    - (A) for [training](/usc/10/301.md?p=9); or
    - (B) under a call or order specifying a period of less than 180 days.
  - (2)
    - (A) A general or [flag officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) of a [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) [component](/usc/10/3011.md?p=13) who is authorized by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of the [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) concerned to serve on [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1) for a period of at least 180 days and not longer than 365 days.
    - (B) The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of the [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) concerned may authorize a number, determined under [subparagraph (C)](#c-2-C), of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) in the [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) [component](/usc/10/3011.md?p=13) of each armed force under the jurisdiction of that [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) to serve as described in [subparagraph (A)](#c-2-A).
    - (C) Each number described in [subparagraph (B)](#c-2-B) may not exceed 10 percent of the number of general or [flag officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5), as the case may be, authorized to serve in the armed force concerned under [section 12004 of this title](/usc/10/12004.md). In determining a number under this subparagraph, any fraction shall be rounded down to the next whole number that is greater than zero.
    - (D) The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of the Air Force may authorize not more than two of the [general officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) authorized to serve in the Space Force under [section 20110 of this title](/usc/10/20110.md) to serve on [active service](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-3) for a period of at least 180 days and not longer than 365 days.
  - (3)
    - (A) A general or [flag officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) of a [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) [component](/usc/10/3011.md?p=13), or a Space Force [general officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) in a [Space Force active status](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-1) not on [sustained duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-4), who is on [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1) for a period longer than 365 days and not longer than three years.
    - (B) The number of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) described in [subparagraph (A)](#c-3-A) who do not serve in a position that is a [joint duty assignment](/usc/10/668.md?p=b-1) for purposes of [chapter 38](/usc/10/chstA/ptII/ch38.md) of this title may not exceed five per armed force, unless authorized by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense.
- (d) **Exclusion of Certain Officers Pending Separation or Retirement or Between Senior Positions.—** The limitations of this section do not apply to—
  - (1) an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) of an armed force in the [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) of brigadier general or above or, in the case of the Navy, in the [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) of rear admiral (lower half) or above, who is on leave pending the retirement, separation, or [release](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) of that [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) from [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1), but only during the 60-day period beginning on the date of the commencement of such leave of such [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1);
  - (2) an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) of an armed force who has been relieved from a position designated under [section 601(a) of this title](/usc/10/601.md?p=a) or by law to carry one of the [grades](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) specified in such section, but only during the 60-day period beginning on the date on which the assignment of the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) to the first position is terminated or until the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) is assigned to a second such position, whichever occurs first; or
  - (3) a Space Force [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) in the [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) of brigadier general or above who is pending transition off of [sustained duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-4) orders, but only during the 60-day period preceding the end date of such orders.
- (e) **Temporary Exclusion for Assignment to Certain Temporary Billets.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** The limitations in [subsection (a)](#a) do not apply to a [general officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) or [flag officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) assigned to a temporary [joint duty assignment](/usc/10/668.md?p=b-1) designated by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense.
  - (2) **Duration of exclusion.—** A [general officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) or [flag officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) assigned to a temporary [joint duty assignment](/usc/10/668.md?p=b-1) as described in [paragraph (1)](#e-1) may not be excluded under this subsection from the limitations in [subsection (a)](#a) for a period of longer than one year.
- (f) **Exclusion of Officers Departing From Joint Duty Assignments.—** The limitations in [subsection (a)](#a) do not apply to an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) released from a [joint duty assignment](/usc/10/668.md?p=b-1), but only during the 60-day period beginning on the date the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) departs the [joint duty assignment](/usc/10/668.md?p=b-1). The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense may authorize the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of a [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) to extend the 60-day period by an additional 120 days, except that not more than three [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) on [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1) from each armed force may be covered by the additional extension at the same time.
- (g) **Exclusion of Medical Officer of Marine Corps.—** The limitations of this section do not apply to the [flag officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) who is serving as the [Medical Officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-14) of the Marine Corps.
- (h) **Secretary of Defense Adaptive Force Account.—** The limitations in [subsection (a)](#a) and in [section 525(a) of this title](/usc/10/525.md?p=a) do not apply to a [general officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) or [flag officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) assigned to the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense Adaptive Force Account as designated by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense. The total number of positions designated as the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense Adaptive Force Account for purposes of this subsection shall not exceed 35.
- (i) **Active-Duty Baseline.—**
  - (1) **Notice and wait requirements.—** If the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of a [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) proposes an action that would increase above the baseline the number of [general officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) or [flag officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) of an armed force under the jurisdiction of that [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) who would be on [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1) and would count against the statutory limit applicable to that armed force under [subsection (a)](#a), the action shall not take effect until after the end of the 60-calendar day period beginning on the date on which the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) provides notice of the proposed action, including the rationale for the action, to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
  - (2) **Baseline defined.—** In [paragraph (1)](#i-1), the term “baseline” for an armed force means the lower of—
    - (A) the statutory limit of [general officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) or [flag officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) of that armed force under [subsection (a)](#a); or
    - (B) the actual number of [general officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) or [flag officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) of that armed force who, as of January 1, 2023, counted toward the statutory limit of [general officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) or [flag officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) of that armed force under [subsection (a)](#a).
- (j) **Joint Duty Assignment Baseline.—**
  - (1) **Notice and wait requirement.—** If the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense, the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of a [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6), or the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff proposes an action that would increase above the baseline the number of [general officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) and [flag officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) in [joint duty assignments](/usc/10/668.md?p=b-1) who count against the statutory limit under [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1), the action shall not take effect until after the end of the 60-calendar day period beginning on the date on which such [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) or the Chairman, as the case may be, provides notice of the proposed action, including the rationale for the action, to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
  - (2) **Baseline defined.—** In [paragraph (1)](#j-1), the term “baseline” means the lower of—
    - (A) the statutory limit on [general officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) and [flag officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) positions that are [joint duty assignments](/usc/10/668.md?p=b-1) under [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1); or
    - (B) the actual number of [general officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) and [flag officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) who, as of January 1, 2023, were in [joint duty assignments](/usc/10/668.md?p=b-1) counted toward the statutory limit under [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1).
- (k) **Annual Report.—** Not later than March 1 each year, the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report specifying the following:
  - (1) The numbers of [general officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) and [flag officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) who, as of January 1 of the calendar year in which the report is submitted, counted toward the service-specific limits of [subsection (a)](#a).
  - (2) The number of [general officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) and [flag officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) in [joint duty assignments](/usc/10/668.md?p=b-1) who, as of such January 1, counted toward the statutory limit under [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1).
- (l) **Transfer of Authorizations Among the Military Services.—**
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense may increase the maximum number of brigadier generals or major generals in the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force, or rear admirals (lower half) or rear admirals in the Navy, allowed under [subsection (a)](#a) and [section 525 of this title](/usc/10/525.md) and the President may appoint [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) in the equivalent [grades](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) equal to the number increased by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense if each appointment is made in conjunction with an offsetting reduction under [paragraph (2)](#l-2).
  - (2) For each increase and appointment made under the authority of [paragraph (1)](#l-1) in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force, the number of appointments that may be made in the equivalent [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) in one of the other [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) (other than the Coast Guard) shall be reduced by one. When such an increase and appointment is made, the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense shall specify the armed force in which the reduction required by this paragraph is to be made.
  - (3) The total number of [general officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) and [flag officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) increased under [paragraph (1)](#l-1), combined with the total number of [general officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) and [flag officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) increased under [section 526(k)(1) of this title](#k-1), may not exceed 15 at any one time.
  - (4) The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) may not increase the maximum number of [general officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) or [flag officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) under [paragraph (1)](#l-1) until the date that is 30 days after the date on which the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) provides, to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives, written notice of—
    - (A) such increase; and
    - (B) each offsetting reduction under [paragraph (2)](#l-2), specifying the armed force and billet so reduced.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title V, § 501(h)(1), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2100, § 526a; amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title V, § 501(a), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3562; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title V, § 501(b), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1679; Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title V, § 504, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2558; renumbered § 526 and amended Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title V, § 501(a)(2), (4), (b), title XVIII, § 1801(a)(9), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 240, 684; Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title V, §§ 502(a), 509B(c), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1868, 1873; Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title V, §§ 501(b), 502, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 853, 854.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 526, added Pub. L. 100–370, § 1(b)(1)(B), July 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 840; amended Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title IV, § 403(a), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1545; Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title IV, § 403, Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2398; Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title IV, § 404, title V, § 512, Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2744, 2752; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title XV, §§ 1502(a)(1), 1503(a)(3), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 502, 510; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title IV, § 405, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2506; Pub. L. 105–261, div. A, title IV, § 405, Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 1996; Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title V, § 553, title X, § 1067(1), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 615, 774; Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title IV, § 405(c), title X, § 1041(a)(3), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2526, 2645; Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title V, § 504(c), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1457; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title V, §§ 503(b), 510, 515(b)(1)(C), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3226, 3231, 3233; Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title V, § 507(c), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2180; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title V, § 502, title XVIII, § 1824(c), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 95, 501; Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title V, §§ 503(a)–(c), 525, Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4433, 4448; Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title V, § 502(e)–(g), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2275, 2276; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title V, § 502(b)(1), (c)(1), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1387; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title V, § 501(a), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1714; Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title V, § 501(a), (b)(2), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 748, 749; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title V, §§ 501(h)(2), 503(b), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2102, 2107; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title XVII, § 1731(a)(17), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1813; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title V, § 501(c)(2), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3563; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title V, § 501(a), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1678, related to authorized strength of general officers on active duty in the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, and the number of flag officers on active duty in the Navy, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title V, § 501(a)(1), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 240.

Another prior section 526 was renumbered section 527 of this title.

### Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 119–60, § 502(1), substituted “168” for “171”.

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 119–60, § 502(2), substituted “24” for “21”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 119–60, § 501(b)(1)(A), inserted “and of the Space Force” after “Components” in heading.

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 119–60, § 501(b)(1)(B), inserted “or of the Space Force” after “a reserve component” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (c)(2)(D). Pub. L. 119–60, § 501(b)(1)(C), added subpar. (D).

Subsec. (c)(3)(A). Pub. L. 119–60, § 501(b)(1)(D), inserted “, or a Space Force general officer in a Space Force active status not on sustained duty,” after “a reserve component”.

Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 119–60, § 501(b)(2), added par. (3).

2024—Subsecs. (g), (h). Pub. L. 118–159, § 509(c), added subsec. (g) and redesignated subsec. (g), as added by section 502(a)(2), as (h).

Pub. L. 118–159, § 502(a)(2), added subsec. (g), which was subsequently redesignated (h).

Subsecs. (i) to (l). Pub. L. 118–159, §§ 502(a)(1), 509B(c)(1), successively redesignated subsecs. (g) to (j) first as (h) to (k), then as (i) to (l), respectively.

2023—Pub. L. 118–31, § 501(a)(4), struck out “after December 31, 2022” after “Authorized strength” in section catchline.

Pub. L. 118–31, § 501(a)(2), renumbered section 526a of this title as this section.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–31, § 501(b)(1)(A), struck out “after December 31, 2022,” after “in the Navy,” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 118–31, § 501(b)(1)(B), substituted “219” for “218”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 118–31, § 501(b)(1)(C), substituted “150” for “149”.

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 118–31, § 501(b)(1)(D), substituted “171” for “170”.

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 118–31, § 501(b)(1)(E), substituted “64” for “62”.

Subsecs. (i), (j). Pub. L. 118–31, §§ 501(b)(2), 1801(a)(9), amended section identically, redesignating subsec. (i) relating to transfer of authorizations among the military services as (j).

2022—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–263, § 504(1)(A), substituted “Marine Corps, and Space Force” for “and Marine Corps” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 117–263, § 504(1)(B), substituted “218” for “220”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 117–263, § 504(1)(C), substituted “149” for “151”.

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 117–263, § 504(1)(D), substituted “170” for “187”.

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 117–263, § 504(1)(E), added par. (5).

Subsec. (b)(2)(E). Pub. L. 117–263, § 504(2), added subpar. (E).

2021—Subsecs. (c) to (h). Pub. L. 116–283, § 501(a), added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsecs. (c) to (g) as (d) to (h), respectively. Former subsec. (h) redesignated (i).

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 117–81 added subsec. (i) relating to transfer of authorizations among military services.

Pub. L. 116–283, § 501(a)(1), redesignated subsec. (h) as (i) relating to annual report.