---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 981"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "981"
heading: "Limitation on number of enlisted aides"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/981"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part II — Personnel"
  - "Chapter 49 — Miscellaneous Prohibitions and Penalties"
---

# §981. Limitation on number of enlisted aides

- (a) Subject to [subsection (b)](#b), the total number of [enlisted members](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) that may be assigned or otherwise detailed to duty as enlisted aides on the personal staffs of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard (when operating as a service of the Navy) during a fiscal year is the number equal to the sum of (1) four times the number of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) serving on [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1) at the end of the preceding fiscal year in the [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) of general or admiral, and (2) two times the number of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) serving on [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1) at the end of the preceding fiscal year in the [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) of lieutenant general or vice admiral.
- (b) Not more than 300 [enlisted members](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) may be assigned to duty at any time as enlisted aides for [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force.
- (c) Not later than March 1 of 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—
  - (1) specifying the number of enlisted aides authorized and allocated for [general officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) and [flag officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and joint pool as of September 30 of the previous year; and
  - (2) justifying, on a billet-by-billet basis, the authorization and assignment of each enlisted aide to each [general officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) and [flag officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) position.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 98–525, title XIV, § 1401(c)(1), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2615; amended Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title V, § 504(a), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3355; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVII, § 1741(b)(4), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 680.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in subsec. (a) of this section were contained in Pub. L. 94–106, title VIII, § 820(a), Oct. 7, 1975, 89 Stat. 544, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 98–525, §§ 1403(c), 1404, eff. Oct. 1, 1985.

Provisions similar to those in subsec. (b) of this section were contained in the following appropriation acts:

Pub. L. 98–473, title I, § 101(h) [title VIII, § 8034], Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1904, 1930.

Pub. L. 98–212, title VII, § 742, Dec. 8, 1983, 97 Stat. 1446.

Pub. L. 97–377, title I, § 101(c) [title VII, § 745], Dec. 21, 1982, 96 Stat. 1833, 1858.

Pub. L. 97–114, title VII, § 746, Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1586.

Pub. L. 96–527, title VII, § 747, Dec. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 3089.

Pub. L. 96–154, title VII, § 748, Dec. 21, 1979, 93 Stat. 1160.

Pub. L. 95–457, title VIII, § 848, Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1252.

Pub. L. 95–111, title VIII, § 849, Sept. 21, 1977, 91 Stat. 908.

Pub. L. 94–419, title VII, § 748, Sept. 22, 1976, 90 Stat. 1299.

Pub. L. 94–212, title VII, § 745, Feb. 9, 1976, 90 Stat. 175.

Pub. L. 93–437, title VIII, § 848, Oct. 8, 1974, 88 Stat. 1232.

### Amendments

2023—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–31, § 1741(b)(4)(A), substituted “Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force,” for “Marine Corps, Air Force,”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 118–31, § 1741(b)(4)(B), substituted “Marine Corps, and Space Force” for “and Marine Corps”.

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 118–31, § 1741(b)(4)(C), inserted “Space Force,” after “Marine Corps,”.

2014—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 113–291 added subsec. (c).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1985, see section 1404 of Pub. L. 98–525, set out as a note under section 520b of this title.

### Termination of Reporting Requirements

For termination, effective Dec. 31, 2021, of provisions in subsec. (c) of this section requiring submittal of annual report to Congress, see section 1061 of Pub. L. 114–328, set out as a note under section 111 of this title.

### Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.