# 10 U.S.C. § 651: Members: required service

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s651

## Section

- **Citation:** 10 U.S.C. § 651
- **Heading:** Members: required service
- **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 37—GENERAL SERVICE REQUIREMENTS

## Text

Each person who becomes a member of an armed force, other than a person deferred under the next to the last sentence of section 6(d)(1) of the Military Selective Service Act ( 50 U.S.C. 3806(d)(1) ), shall serve in the armed forces for a total initial period of not less than six years nor more than eight years, as provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense for the armed forces under his jurisdiction and by the Secretary of Homeland Security for the Coast Guard when it is not operating as service in the Navy, unless such person is sooner discharged under such regulations because of personal hardship. Any part of such service that is not active duty or that is active duty for training shall be performed in a reserve component.

( Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041 , 70A Stat. 27 ; Pub. L. 85–861 , §§ 1(12), 36B(3), Sept. 2, 1958 , 72 Stat. 1440 , 1570; Pub. L. 89–718, § 5 , Nov. 2, 1966 , 80 Stat. 1115 ; Pub. L. 95–79, title VIII, § 803(a) , July 30, 1977 , 91 Stat. 333 ; Pub. L. 96–107, title VIII, § 805(b) , Nov. 9, 1979 , 93 Stat. 813 ; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 511(18) , Dec. 12, 1980 , 94 Stat. 2921 ; Pub. L. 98–94, title X, § 1022(b)(1) , Sept. 24, 1983 , 97 Stat. 670 ; Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, § 1704(b)(1) , Nov. 25, 2002 , 116 Stat. 2314 ; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title V, § 505 , Jan. 28, 2008 , 122 Stat. 96 ; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title X, § 1081(b)(1)(A)(iv) , Dec. 23, 2016 , 130 Stat. 2418 ; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title XVII, § 1731(a)(19) , Dec. 20, 2019 , 133 Stat. 1813 ; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 924(b)(17) , Jan. 1, 2021 , 134 Stat. 3823 ; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title X, § 1081(a)(11) , Dec. 27, 2021 , 135 Stat. 1920 ; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title V, § 509(a) , Dec. 22, 2023 , 137 Stat. 243 .)

## 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. § 504 Persons not qualified](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s504.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)
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- [10 U.S.C. § 515 Reenlistment after discharge as warrant officer](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s515.md)
- [10 U.S.C. § 517 Authorized enlisted end strength: members in pay grades E–8 and E–9](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s517.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)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t10_s651. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.