# 10 U.S.C. § 505: Regular components: qualifications, term, grade

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s505

## Section

- **Citation:** 10 U.S.C. § 505
- **Heading:** Regular components: qualifications, term, grade
- **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

The Secretary concerned may accept original enlistments in the Regular Army, Regular Navy, Regular Air Force, Regular Marine Corps, or Regular Coast Guard, as the case may be, of qualified, effective, and able-bodied persons who are not less than seventeen years of age nor more than forty-two years of age. However, no person under eighteen years of age may be originally enlisted without the written consent of his parent or guardian, if he has a parent or guardian entitled to his custody and control.

(Added Pub. L. 90–235, § 2(a)(1)(B) , Jan. 2, 1968 , 81 Stat. 754 ; amended Pub. L. 93–290 , May 24, 1974 , 88 Stat. 173 ; Pub. L. 95–485, title VIII, § 820(a) , Oct. 20, 1978 , 92 Stat. 1627 ; Pub. L. 98–94, title X, § 1023 , Sept. 24, 1983 , 97 Stat. 671 ; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title V, § 511 , Sept. 23, 1996 , 110 Stat. 2514 ; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title V , §§ 543, 544, Jan. 6, 2006 , 119 Stat. 3253 ; Pub. L. 110–417 , [div. A], title V, § 531(a), Oct. 14, 2008 , 122 Stat. 4449 ; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 924(b)(5)(A) , Jan. 1, 2021 , 134 Stat. 3822 ; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVII, § 1717(b)(2) , Dec. 22, 2023 , 137 Stat. 655 .)

## 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)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s505. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.