In subsection (a) the words “To promote” are substituted for the words “For the purposes of promoting” for brevity and the words “among the young men of the United States” are omitted as surplusage. The words “naval engineering” are substituted for the words “steam engineering” and the words “naval architecture” are substituted for the words “iron-ship building” to conform to current terminology and to express more clearly the intent of the statute. The words “the Territories, Commonwealths, or possessions” are inserted, since the words “United States” in the source statute are considered to have included all areas under the United States flag.

Section 1 of the Act of March 3, 1899, ch. 413, 30 Stat. 1004, transferred officers of the Engineer Corps of the Navy to the line of the Navy; therefore, in subsection (a) the words “qualified officer” are substituted for the words “engineer officer” to preserve the meaning of the section and to include any officer possessing adequate background and training in engineering duties.

In subsection (b) the word “regulations” is substituted for the word “rules”, and the words “public interest” are substituted for the words “public service” to conform to current terminology.

A prior section 8201, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 497; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(157), 72 Stat. 1513; Oct. 13, 1964, Pub. L. 88–647, title III, § 301(20), 78 Stat. 1073, prescribed authorized strength of Air Force in members on active duty, exclusive of certain categories, and authorized daily average strength of Air Force in members on active duty during fiscal year, exclusive of certain categories, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 96–513, title II, § 202, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2878, effective Sept. 15, 1981.

A prior section 8202, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 498; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(158), 72 Stat. 1514; Dec. 28, 1967, Pub. L. 90–228, § 1(4), (5), 81 Stat. 745; Dec. 12, 1980, Pub. L. 96–513, title II, § 203(b), 94 Stat. 2879, related to authorized strength of Air Force in general officers on active duty, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title IV, § 403(b)(3)(A), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1545.

Prior sections 8203 to 8209 were repealed by Pub. L. 96–513, title II, § 202, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2878, effective Sept. 15, 1981.

Section 8203, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 498; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(159), 72 Stat. 1514, prescribed authorized strength of Regular Air Force in members on active duty, exclusive of officer candidates and aviation cadets.

Section 8204, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 499; Aug. 6, 1958, Pub. L. 85–600, § 1(14), 72 Stat. 523, prescribed authorized strength of Regular Air Force in commissioned officers on active list.

Section 8205, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 499; Aug. 6, 1958, Pub. L. 85–600, § 1(15), 72 Stat. 523; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(160), 72 Stat. 1514, prescribed authorized strength of Regular Air Force in commissioned officers on active list, exclusive of certain categories.

Section 8206, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 499; Aug. 21, 1957, Pub. L. 85–155, title III, § 301(1), 71 Stat. 386; Nov. 8, 1967, Pub. L. 90–130, § 1(26)(A), 81 Stat. 382, prescribed authorized strength of Air Force nurses in commissioned officers on active list of Regular Air Force.

Section 8207, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 499; Aug. 21, 1957, Pub. L. 85–155, title III, § 301(2), 71 Stat. 386; Nov. 8, 1967, Pub. L. 90–130, § 1(26)(B), 81 Stat. 382, prescribed authorized strength of Air Force medical specialists in commissioned officers on active list of Regular Air Force.

Section 8208, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 499; Nov. 8, 1967, Pub. L. 90–130, § 1(26)(C), 81 Stat. 382, authorized prescribed strength in female commissioned officers on active list of Regular Air Force, other than those designated under section 8067 of this title to perform professional services.

Section 8209, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 500; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(156), 72 Stat. 1513; Nov. 8, 1967, Pub. L. 90–130, § 1(26)(D), 81 Stat. 382, prescribed authorized strength of Regular Air Force in commissioned officers on active list in each of categories of officers designated under section 8067 of this title.

A prior section 8210 was renumbered section 9110 of this title.

2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 5986 of this title as this section.

2006—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–163 substituted “Commonwealths or possessions” for “Territories, Commonwealths, or possessions”.

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.