In subsection (a), the words “Except as provided in section 8786 of this title” are inserted, since, under that revised section, when board proceedings are pending against a commissioned officer, his right to retire under this revised section, which is otherwise absolute, is discretionary with the Secretary under that revised section.

In subsections (a) and (b), the words “or volunteer service, or both” are omitted as obsolete in accordance with an opinion of the Attorney General, 22 Ops. Atty. Gen. 199, Aug. 30, 1898, holding that such words refer to volunteer service in the Civil War. The words “upon his request” are substituted for the words “if he make application therefor to the President”.

In subsection (b), the applicability of 10:942 to warrant officers is based on an opinion of the Judge Advocate General of the Army (JAGA 1950/6951, 4 Jan. 1951), which holds that 10:594 (less provisos) makes 10:942 applicable to warrant officers.

2021—Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “Forty years or more: Air Force officers and Space Force officers” for “Forty years or more: Air Force officers” in section catchline and inserted “or the Space Force” after “Air Force” in subsecs. (a) and (b).

2018—Pub. L. 115–232, § 809(a), substituted “section 9326” for “section 8926” in subsec. (a) and “section 9326(a)” for “section 8926(a)” in subsec. (b).

Pub. L. 115–232, § 806(b)(13), renumbered section 8924 of this title as this section.

1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–513 substituted “section 1186” for “section 8786”.

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.

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–513 effective Sept. 15, 1981, see section 701 of Pub. L. 96–513, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.