10 USC § 20402 - Enlisted members: standards and qualifications for retention

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t10/s20402"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "10 USC § 20402 - Enlisted members: standards and qualifications for retention"
title_number: 10
title_name: "ARMED FORCES"
section_number: "20402"
section_name: "Enlisted members: standards and qualifications for retention"
chapter_number: 2009
chapter_name: "RETENTION AND SEPARATION GENERALLY"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "SPACE FORCE"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVII, § 1718(a), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 656.)"
---


# § 20402. Enlisted members: standards and qualifications for retention

**(a)** **Standards and Qualifications for Retention.—** The Secretary of the Air Force shall, by regulation, prescribe—

**(1)** standards and qualifications for the retention of enlisted members of the Space Force; and

**(2)** equitable procedures for the periodic determination of the compliance of each such member with those standards and qualifications.

**(b)** **Effect of Failure to Comply With Standards and Qualifications.—** If an enlisted member serving in Space Force active status fails to comply with the standards and qualifications prescribed under subsection (a), the member shall—

**(1)** if qualified, be transferred to Space Force inactive status;

**(2)** if qualified, be retired in accordance with section 20603 of this title; or

**(3)** have the member’s enlistment terminated.

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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVII, § 1718(a), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 656.)