(a) A Reserve officer, if qualified, shall be transferred to the Retired Reserve on the day the officer becomes 60 years of age unless on active duty. If not qualified for retirement, a Reserve officer shall be discharged effective upon the day the officer becomes 60 years of age unless on active duty.

(b) A Reserve officer on active duty shall, if qualified, be retired effective upon the day the officer become 62 years of age. If not qualified for retirement, a Reserve officer on active duty shall be discharged effective upon the day the officer becomes 62 years of age.

(c) Notwithstanding subsection 1 (a) and (b), the Secretary may authorize the retention of a Reserve rear admiral or rear admiral (lower half) in an active status not longer than the day on which the officer concerned becomes 64 years of age.

(d) For purposes of this section, “active duty” does not include active duty for training, duty on a board, or duty of a limited or temporary nature if assigned to active duty from an inactive duty status.

(Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1014; amended Pub. L. 97–417, §2(16), Jan. 4, 1983, 96 Stat. 2086; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, §514(c)(1), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 629; Pub. L. 108–293, title II, §209, Aug. 9, 2004, 118 Stat. 1035.)

**2004**—Pub. L. 108–293 reenacted section catchline without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:

“(a) A Reserve officer, if qualified, shall be transferred to the Retired Reserve on the day the officer becomes sixty-two years of age.

“(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary may authorize the retention of a Reserve rear admiral or rear admiral (lower half) in an active status not longer than the day on which the officer concerned becomes sixty-four years of age.

“(c) Except as provided for in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, a Reserve officer shall be discharged effective upon the day the officer becomes sixty-two years of age.”

**1985**—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–145 substituted “rear admiral (lower half)” for “commodore”.

**1983**—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–417 inserted “or commodore” after “rear admiral”.