Authorized strengths: commissioned officers on active duty in grades of major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel and Navy grades of lieutenant commander, commander, and captain
10 U.S.C. § 523
in effect(a)(1) Except as provided in subsection (c), of the total number of commissioned officers serving on active duty in the Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps at the end of any fiscal year (excluding officers in categories specified in subsection (b)), the number of officers who may be serving on active duty in each of the grades of major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel may not, as of the end of such fiscal year, exceed a number determined in accordance with the following table: Total number of commissioned officers (excluding officers in categories specified in subsection (b)) on active duty:Number of officers who may be serving on active duty in grade of: MajorLieutenant ColonelColonel 1 Table heading editorially supplied. Army: 20,0007,7685,2531,613 25,0008,6895,6421,796 30,0009,6116,0301,980 35,00010,5326,4192,163 40,00011,4546,8072,347 45,00012,3757,1962,530 50,00013,2977,5842,713 55,00014,2187,9732,897 60,00015,1408,3613,080 65,00016,0618,7503,264 70,00016,9839,1383,447 75,00017,9039,5273,631 80,00018,8259,9153,814 85,00019,74610,3043,997 90,00020,66810,6924,181 95,00021,58911,0814,364 100,00022,51111,4694,548 110,00024,35412,2464,915 120,00026,19713,0235,281 130,00028,04013,8005,648 170,00035,41216,9087,116 Air Force: 35,0009,2167,0902,125 40,00010,0257,4782,306 45,00010,8357,8662,487 50,00011,6458,2532,668 55,00012,4548,6412,849 60,00013,2649,0293,030 65,00014,0739,4173,211 70,00014,8839,8053,392 75,00015,69310,1933,573 80,00016,50210,5823,754 85,00017,31210,9713,935 90,00018,12111,3604,115 95,00018,93111,7494,296 100,00019,74112,1384,477 105,00020,55012,5274,658 110,00021,36012,9154,838 115,00022,16913,3045,019 120,00022,97913,6925,200 125,00023,78914,0815,381 Marine Corps: 10,0002,8021,615633 12,5003,2471,768658 15,0003,6911,922684 17,5004,1352,076710 20,0004,5792,230736 22,5005,0242,383762 25,0005,4682,537787 Space Force: 1 3,9001,016782234 4,3001,135873262 5,0001,259845315 7,0001,6591,045415 10,0002,2591,345565. (2) Except as provided in subsection (c), of the total number of commissioned officers serving on active duty in the Navy at the end of any fiscal year (excluding officers in categories specified in subsection (b)), the number of officers who may be serving on active duty in each of the grades of lieutenant commander, commander, and captain may not, as of the end of such fiscal year, exceed a number determined in accordance with the following table: Total number of commissioned officers (excluding officers in categories specified in subsection (b)) on active duty:Number of officers who may be serving on active duty in grade of: Lieutenant CommanderCommanderCaptain Navy: 30,0007,6985,2692,222 33,0008,1895,5012,334 36,0008,6805,7332,447 39,0009,1725,9652,559 42,0009,6636,1972,671 45,00010,1556,4292,784 48,00010,6466,6602,896 51,00011,1366,8893,007 54,00011,6287,1213,120 57,00012,1187,3523,232 60,00012,6097,5833,344 63,00013,1007,8133,457 66,00013,5918,0443,568 70,00014,2458,3523,718 90,00017,5179,8904,467. (3) If the total number of commissioned officers serving on active duty in an armed force (excluding officers in categories specified in subsection (b)) is between any two consecutive figures listed in the first column of the appropriate table in paragraph (1) or (2), the corresponding authorized strengths for each of the grades shown in that table for that armed force are determined by mathematical interpolation between the respective numbers of the two strengths. If the total number of commissioned officers serving on active duty in an armed force (excluding officers in categories specified in subsection (b)) is greater or less than the figures listed in the first column of the appropriate table in paragraph (1) or (2), the Secretary concerned shall fix the corresponding strengths for the grades shown in that table in the same proportion as reflected in the nearest limit shown in the table.
(b) Officers in the following categories shall be excluded in computing and determining authorized strengths under this section:(1) Reserve officers—(A) on active duty as authorized under section 115(a)(1)(B) or 115(b)(1) of this title, or excluded from counting for active duty end strengths under section 115(i) of this title; (B) on active duty under section 10211, 10302 through 10305, or 12402 of this title or under section 708 of title 32; or (C) on full-time National Guard duty. (2) General and flag officers. (3) Medical officers. (4) Dental officers. (5) Warrant officers. (6) Retired officers on active duty under a call or order to active duty for 180 days or less. (7) Retired officers on active duty under section 10(b)(2) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 3809(b)(2)) for the administration of the Selective Service System. (8) Permanent professors of the United States Military Academy and the United States Air Force Academy and professors of the United States Naval Academy who are career military professors (as defined in regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy), but not to exceed 50 from any such academy. (9) Officers who are Senior Military Acquisition Advisors under section 1725 of this title, but not to exceed 15.
(c) Whenever the number of officers serving in any grade is less than the number authorized for that grade under this section, the difference between the two numbers may be applied to increase the number authorized under this section for any lower grade.
(d) An officer may not be reduced in grade, or have his pay or allowances reduced, because of a reduction in the number of commissioned officers authorized for his grade under this section.
Source: OLRC USLMURL: https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/95/xml_usc10@119-95.zipFetched: 6/3/2026