18 USC § 958 - Commission to serve against friendly nation

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s958"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 958 - Commission to serve against friendly nation"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "958"
section_name: "Commission to serve against friendly nation"
chapter_number: 45
chapter_name: "FOREIGN RELATIONS"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 745; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(I), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)"
---


# § 958. Commission to serve against friendly nation

Any citizen of the United States who, within the jurisdiction thereof, accepts and exercises a commission to serve a foreign prince, state, colony, district, or people, in war, against any prince, state, colony, district, or people, with whom the United States is at peace, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 745; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(I), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 21 (, ).

Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.

Minor changes in phraseology were made.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $2,000”.