---
kind: "section"
citation: "32 U.S.C. § 310"
title: "32"
title_heading: "National Guard"
number: "310"
heading: "Federal recognition of National Guard officers: automatic recognition"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/32/310"
units:
  - "Chapter 3 — Personnel"
---

# §310. Federal recognition of National Guard officers: automatic recognition

- (a)
  - (1) Notwithstanding sections [307](/usc/32/307.md) and [309](/usc/32/309.md) of this title, if a second lieutenant of the [National Guard](/usc/32/101.md?p=3) is promoted to the [grade](/usc/32/101.md?p=10) of first lieutenant to fill a vacancy in a federally recognized unit in the [National Guard](/usc/32/101.md?p=3), Federal recognition is automatically extended to that [officer](/usc/32/101.md?p=8) in the [grade](/usc/32/101.md?p=10) of first lieutenant, effective as of the date on which that [officer](/usc/32/101.md?p=8) has completed the service in the [grade](/usc/32/101.md?p=10) specified in [section 14303(a)(1) of title 10](/usc/10/14303.md?p=a-1) and has met such other requirements as prescribed by the Secretary concerned under [section 14308(b)](/usc/10/14308.md?p=b) of that title, if the [officer](/usc/32/101.md?p=8) has remained in an active status since the [officer](/usc/32/101.md?p=8) was so recommended.
  - (2) Notwithstanding sections [307](/usc/32/307.md) and [309](/usc/32/309.md) of this title, if a warrant [officer](/usc/32/101.md?p=8), W–1, of the [National Guard](/usc/32/101.md?p=3) is promoted to the [grade](/usc/32/101.md?p=10) of chief warrant [officer](/usc/32/101.md?p=8), W–2, to fill a vacancy in a federally recognized unit in the [National Guard](/usc/32/101.md?p=3), Federal recognition is automatically extended to that [officer](/usc/32/101.md?p=8) in the [grade](/usc/32/101.md?p=10) of chief warrant [officer](/usc/32/101.md?p=8), W–2, effective as of the date on which that [officer](/usc/32/101.md?p=8) has completed the service in the [grade](/usc/32/101.md?p=10) prescribed by the Secretary concerned under [section 12242 of title 10](/usc/10/12242.md), if the warrant [officer](/usc/32/101.md?p=8) has remained in an active status since the warrant [officer](/usc/32/101.md?p=8) was so recommended.
- (b) Notwithstanding sections [307](/usc/32/307.md) and [309](/usc/32/309.md) of this title, if an [officer](/usc/32/101.md?p=8) of the Army Reserve or the Air Force Reserve in a reserve [grade](/usc/32/101.md?p=10) above second lieutenant is appointed in the next higher [grade](/usc/32/101.md?p=10) in the [National Guard](/usc/32/101.md?p=3) to fill a vacancy in a federally recognized unit in the [National Guard](/usc/32/101.md?p=3), Federal recognition is automatically extended to that [officer](/usc/32/101.md?p=8) in the [grade](/usc/32/101.md?p=10) in which the [officer](/usc/32/101.md?p=8) is so appointed in the [National Guard](/usc/32/101.md?p=3) if the [officer](/usc/32/101.md?p=8) has been recommended for promotion under [chapter 1405](/usc/10/chstE/ptIII/ch1405.md) of title 10 and has remained in an active status since the [officer](/usc/32/101.md?p=8) was so recommended. The extension of Federal recognition under this subsection is effective as of the date when the [officer](/usc/32/101.md?p=8) is appointed in the [National Guard](/usc/32/101.md?p=3).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 85–861, § 2(7), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1544; amended Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1630(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2964; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title V, § 512, Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1718.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 310(a)<br>310(b) | 50:1252 (less (2)).<br>50:1252(2). | Sept. 3, 1954, ch. 1257, § 320, 68 Stat. 1160. |

In subsections (a) and (b), the words “federally recognized” are inserted for clarity.

In subsection (a), the words “or the date of the promotion, whichever is later” are omitted as inconsistent with section 3820(c) of title 10, requiring the discharge of each second lieutenant who is not promoted by the time he has three years of service. (See opinion of the Judge Advocate General of the Army (JAGA 1957/1019, Jan. 7, 1957).)

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2013—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 112–239 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).

1994—Pub. L. 103–337 substituted “National Guard officers:” for “officers: Army National Guard;” in section catchline and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:

“(a) Notwithstanding sections 307 and 309 of this title, if a second lieutenant of the Army National Guard is promoted to the grade of first lieutenant to fill a vacancy in a federally recognized unit thereof, Federal recognition is automatically extended to him in the grade of first lieutenant, effective as of the date on which he completes three years of service computed under section 3360(a) of title 10.

“(b) Notwithstanding sections 307 and 309 of this title, if an officer of the Army Reserve in a reserve grade above second lieutenant is appointed in the next higher grade in the Army National Guard to fill a vacancy in a federally recognized unit thereof, Federal recognition is automatically extended to him in the grade in which he is so appointed in the Army National Guard, if he has been recommended for promotion to the grade concerned under section 3366, 3367, 3370, or 3383 of title 10 and has remained in an active status since he was so recommended. The extension of Federal recognition under this subsection is effective as of the date when the officer is appointed in the Army National Guard.”

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–337 effective Oct. 1, 1996, see section 1691(b)(1) of Pub. L. 103–337, set out as an Effective Date note under section 10001 of Title 10, Armed Forces.

### Suspension of This Section

For authority of the President to suspend this section in time of war or emergency declared by Congress, see section 111 of this title.