# 10 U.S.C. § 504: Persons not qualified

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s504

## Section

- **Citation:** 10 U.S.C. § 504
- **Heading:** Persons not qualified
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** April 17, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 10—ARMED FORCES > Subtitle A—General Military Law > PART II—PERSONNEL > CHAPTER 31—ENLISTMENTS

## Text

No person who is insane, intoxicated, or a deserter from an armed force, or who has been convicted of a felony, may be enlisted in any armed force. However, the Secretary concerned may authorize exceptions, in meritorious cases, for the enlistment of deserters and persons convicted of felonies.

(Added Pub. L. 90–235, § 2(a)(1)(B) , Jan. 2, 1968 , 81 Stat. 754 ; amended Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title V, § 542(a) , Jan. 6, 2006 , 119 Stat. 3253 ; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title V, § 521(a) , Aug. 13, 2018 , 132 Stat. 1755 ; Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title V, § 532(a) , Dec. 18, 2025 , 139 Stat. 869 .)

## Nearby sections

- [10 U.S.C. § 501 Definition](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s501.md)
- [10 U.S.C. § 502 Enlistment oath: who may administer](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s502.md)
- [10 U.S.C. § 503 Enlistments: recruiting campaigns; compilation of directory information](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s503.md)
- [10 U.S.C. § 505 Regular components: qualifications, term, grade](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s505.md)
- [10 U.S.C. § 507 Extension of enlistment for members needing medical care or hospitalization](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s507.md)
- [10 U.S.C. § 509 Voluntary extension of enlistments: periods and benefits](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s509.md)
- [10 U.S.C. § 512 Renumbered § 12104]](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s512.md)
- [10 U.S.C. § 518 Temporary enlistments](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s518.md)
- [10 U.S.C. § 520a Repealed. Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A] , title X, § 1076(g)(1)], Oct. 30, 2000 , 114 Stat. 1654 , 1654A–282]](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s520a.md)
- [10 U.S.C. § 521 Authority to prescribe total strengths of officers on active duty and officer strengths in various categories](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s521.md)
- [10 U.S.C. § 522 Repealed. Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, § 501(b)(1) , Oct. 28, 2004 , 118 Stat. 1873 ]](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s522.md)
- [10 U.S.C. § 523 Authorized strengths: commissioned officers on active duty in grades of major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel and Navy grades of lieutenant commander, commander, and captain](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s523.md)
- [10 U.S.C. § 524 Renumbered § 12011]](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s524.md)
- [10 U.S.C. § 525 Distribution of commissioned officers on active duty in general officer and flag officer grades](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s525.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s504. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.