---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 649d"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "649d"
heading: "Opportunities for consideration for promotion"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/649d"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part II — Personnel"
  - "Chapter 36 — Promotion, Separation, and Involuntary Retirement of Officers on the Active-Duty List"
  - "Subchapter VI — Alternative Promotion Authority for Officers in Designated Competitive Categories"
---

# §649d. Opportunities for consideration for promotion

- (a) **Specification of Number of Opportunities for Consideration for Promotion.—** In designating a competitive category of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) pursuant to [section 649a of this title](/usc/10/649a.md), 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) shall specify the number of opportunities for consideration for promotion to be afforded [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) of the armed force concerned within the category for promotion to each [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) above the [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) of first lieutenant or lieutenant (junior [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7)), as applicable.
- (b) **Limited Authority of Secretary of Military Department to Modify Number of Opportunities.—** 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) may modify the number of opportunities for consideration for promotion to be afforded [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) of an armed force within a competitive category for promotion to a particular [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7), as previously specified by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) pursuant [subsection (a)](#a) or this subsection, not more frequently than once every five years.
- (c) **Discretionary Authority of Secretary of Defense to Modify Number of Opportunities.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense may modify the number of opportunities for consideration for promotion to be afforded [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) of an armed force within a competitive category for promotion to a particular [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7), as previously specified or modified pursuant to any provision of this section, at the discretion of the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3).
- (d) **Limitation on Number of Opportunities Specified.—** The number of opportunities for consideration for promotion to be afforded [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) of an armed force within a competitive category for promotion to a particular [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7), as specified or modified pursuant to any provision of this section, may not exceed five opportunities.
- (e) **Effect of Certain Reduction in Number of Opportunities Specified.—** If, by reason of a reduction in the number of opportunities for consideration for promotion under this section, an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) would no longer have one or more opportunities for consideration for promotion that were available to the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) before the reduction, the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) shall be afforded one additional opportunity for consideration for promotion after the reduction.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title V, § 507(a)(1), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1745.)