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Title 10 — Armed Forces

Part II · Chapter 60 — Separation of Regular Officers for Substandard Performance of Duty or for Certain Other Reasons

§ 1182. Boards of inquiry

Statutory text

(a)

The Secretary of the military department concerned shall convene boards of inquiry at such times and places as the Secretary may prescribe to receive evidence and make findings and recommendations as to whether an officer who is required under section 1181 of this title to show cause for retention on active duty should be retained on active duty. Each board of inquiry shall be composed of not less than three officers having the qualifications prescribed by section 1187 of this title.

(b)

A board of inquiry shall give a fair and impartial hearing to each officer required under section 1181 of this title to show cause for retention on active duty.

(c)
(1)

If a board of inquiry determines that the officer has failed to establish that he should be retained on active duty, it shall recommend to the Secretary concerned that the officer not be retained on active duty.

(2)

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned, an officer as to whom a board of inquiry makes a recommendation under paragraph (1) that the officer not be retained on active duty may be required to take leave pending the completion of the officer’s case under this chapter. The officer may be required to begin such leave at any time following the officer’s receipt of the report of the board of inquiry, including the board’s recommendation for removal from active duty, and the expiration of any period allowed for submission by the officer of a rebuttal to that report. The leave may be continued until the date on which action by the Secretary concerned on the officer’s case is completed or may be terminated at any earlier time.

(d)
(1)
(A)

If a board of inquiry determines that an officer should be retained, the officer’s case is closed unless the board substantiated a basis for separation and, upon recommendation from the service chief, the Secretary of the military department determines that the board’s retention recommendation is clearly erroneous in light of the evidence considered by the board, a miscarriage of justice, and inconsistent with the best interest of the service. In such cases, the Secretary of the military department may separate the officer after providing a written justification of the decision to separate.

(B)

An officer considered for separation under this section must be notified and afforded the opportunity to present matters for the Secretary of the military department to consider when making the separation determination. The Secretary of the military department shall review the case to determine whether the retention recommendation of the board is clearly contrary to the substantial weight of the evidence in the record and whether the officer’s conduct discredits the Service, adversely affects good order and discipline, and adversely affects the officer’s performance of duty.

(C)

Exercise of authority to separate an officer under this section shall be reserved for unusual cases where such action is essential to the interests of justice, discipline, and proper administration of the service.

(2)

Authority to direct administrative separation after a board of inquiry’s recommendation to retain an officer may only be delegated to a civilian official within a military department appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The least favorable characterization in such cases will be general (under honorable conditions).

(3)

An officer who is required to show cause for retention on active duty under subsection (a) of section 1181 of this title and who is determined under paragraph (1) to have established that he should be retained on active duty may not again be required to show cause for retention on active duty under such subsection within the one-year period beginning on the date of that determination.

(4)
(A)

Subject to subparagraph (B), an officer who is required to show cause for retention on active duty under subsection (b) of section 1181 of this title and who is determined under paragraph (1) to have established that he should be retained on active duty may again be required to show cause for retention at any time.

(B)

An officer who has been required to show cause for retention on active duty under subsection (b) of section 1181 of this title and who is thereafter retained on active duty may not again be required to show cause for retention on active duty under such subsection solely because of conduct which was the subject of the previous proceedings, unless the findings or recommendations of the board of inquiry that considered his case are determined to have been obtained by fraud or collusion.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

  1. Defense Officer Personnel Management Act

    Pub. L. 96–513 title I § 110 · 94 Stat. 2835

    Enacted · 10 U.S.C. § 1182

    Added Pub. L. 96–513, title I, § 110, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2872

    Source evidence

    Code source credit
    Added Pub. L. 96–513, title I, § 110, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2872

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    Sec. 110. involuntary separation of regular officers for substandard performance of duty or for certain other reasons Part II of subtitle A is amended by inserting after chapter 59 the following new chapter: “CHAPTER 60— SEPARATION OF REGULAR OFFICERS FOR SUBSTANDARD PERFORMANCE OF DUTY OR FOR CERTAIN OTHER REASONS “Sec. “1181. Authority to convene boards of officers to consider separation of officers for substandard performance of duty or for certain other reasons. “1182. Boards of inquiry. “1183. Boards of review. “1184. Removal of officer: action by Secretary upon recommendation of board of review. “1185. Rights and procedures. “1186. Officer considered for removal: voluntary retirement or discharge. “1187. Officers eligible to serve on boards. “§1181. Authority to convene boards of officers to consider separation of officers for substandard performance of duty or for certain other reasons “(a) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the military department concerned may at any time convene a board of officers to review the record of any commissioned officer (other than a commissioned warrant officer or a retired officer) of the Regular Army, Regular Navy, Regular Air Force, or Regular Marine Corps to determine whether such officer shall be required, because his performance of duty has fallen below standards prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, to show cause for his retention on active duty. “(b) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the military department concerned may at any time convene a board of officers to review the record of any commissioned officer (other than a commissioned warrant officer or a retired officer) of the Regular Army, Regular Navy, Regular Air Force, or Regular Marine Corps to determine whether such officer should be required, because of misconduct, because of moral or professional dereliction, or because his retention is not clearly consistent with the interests of national security, to show cause for his retention on active duty. “§1182. Boards of inquiry “(a) The Secretary of the military department concerned shall convene boards of inquiry at such times and places as the Secretary may prescribe to receive evidence and make findings and recommendations as to whether an officer who is required under section 1181 of this title to show cause for retention on active duty should be retained on active duty. Each board of inquiry shall be composed of not less than three officers having the qualifications prescribed by section 1187 of this title. “(b) A board of inquiry shall give a fair and impartial hearing to each officer required under section 1181 of this title to show cause for retention on active duty. “(c) If a board of inquiry determines that the officer has failed to Review board establish that he should be retained on active duty, it shall send the record of its proceedings to a board of review convened under section 1183 of this title. “(d) (1) If a board of inquiry determines that the officer has established that he should be retained on active duty, the officer’s case is closed. “(2) An officer who is required to show cause for retention on active duty under subsection (a) of section 1181 of this title and who is determined under paragraph (1) to have established that he should be retained on active duty may not again be required to show cause for retention on active duty under such subsection within the one-year period beginning on the date of that determination. “(3) (A) Subject to subparagraph (B), an officer who is required to show cause for retention on active duty under subsection (b) of section 1181 of this title and who is determined under paragraph (1) to have established that he should be retained on active duty may again be required to show cause for retention at any time. “(B) An officer who has been required to show cause for retention on active duty under subsection (b) of section 1181 of this title and who is thereafter retained on active duty may not again be required to show cause for retention on active duty under such subsection solely because of conduct which was the subject of the previous proceedings, unless the findings or recommendations of the board of inquiry that considered his case are determined to have been obtained by fraud or collusion. “§1183. Boards of review “(a) The Secretary of the military department concerned shall convene boards of review at such times as the Secretary may prescribe to review the cases of officers who a board of inquiry has determined have failed to establish that they should be retained on active duty. Each board of review shall be composed of not less than three officers having the qualifications prescribed by section 1187 of this title. “(b) If, after reviewing the record of the case of any officer, a board Recommendation to Secretary. of review determines that the officer has failed to establish that he should be retained on active duty, the board of review shall recommend to the Secretary concerned that the officer not be retained on active duty. “(c) (1) If, after reviewing the record of the case of any officer, a board of review determines that the officer has established that he should be retained on active duty, the officer’s case is closed. “(2) An officer who is required to show cause for retention under subsection (a) of section 1181 of this title and who is determined under paragraph (1) to have established that he should be retained on active duty may not again be required to show cause for retention under such subsection within the one-year period beginning on the date of that determination. “(3) (A) Subject to subparagraph (B), an officer who is required to show cause for retention under subsection (b) of section 1181 of this title and who is determined under paragraph (1) to have established that he should be retained on active duty may again be required to show cause for retention at any time. “(B) An officer who has been required to show cause for retention as a result of proceedings under subsection (b) of section 1181 of this title and who is thereafter retained on active duty may not again be required to show cause for retention on active duty under such subsection solely because of conduct which was the subject of the previous proceeding, unless the findings or recommendations of the board of inquiry or board of review that considered his case are determined to have been obtained by fraud or collusion. “§1184. Removal of officer: action by Secretary upon recommendation of board of review “The Secretary of the military department concerned may remove an officer from active duty if the removal of such officer from active duty is recommended by a board of review convened under section 1183 of this title. “§1185. Rights and procedures “(a) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, each officer required under section 1181 of this title to show cause for retention on active duty— “(1) shall be notified in writing, at least 30 days before the hearing of his case by a board of inquiry, of the reasons for which he is being required to show cause for retention on active duty; “(2) shall be allowed a reasonable time, as determined by the board of inquiry, to prepare his showing of cause for his retention on active duty; “(3) shall be allowed to appear in person and to be represented by counsel at proceedings before the board of inquiry; and “(4) shall be allowed full access to, and shall be furnished copies of, records relevant to his case, except that the board of inquiry shall withhold any record that the Secretary concerned determines should be withheld in the interest of national security. “(b) When a record is withheld under subsection (a)(4), the officer whose case is under consideration shall, to the extent that the interest of national security permits, be furnished a summary of the record so withheld. “§1186. Officer considered for removal: voluntary retirement or discharge “(a) At any time during proceedings under this chapter with respect to the removal of an officer from active duty, the Secretary of the military department concerned may grant a request by the officer— “(1) for voluntary retirement, if the officer is qualified for retirement; or “(2) for discharge in accordance with subsection (b)(2). “(b) An officer removed from active duty under section 1184 of this title shall— “(1) if eligible for voluntary retirement under any provision of law on the date of such removal, be retired in the grade and with the retired pay for which he would be eligible if retired under such provision; and “(2) if ineligible for voluntary retirement under any provision of law on the date of such removal— “(A) be honorably discharged in the grade then held, in the case of an officer whose case was brought under subsection (a) of section 1181 of this title; or “(B) be discharged in the grade then held, in the case of an officer whose case was brought under subsection (b) of section 1181 of this title. “(c) An officer who is discharged under subsection (b)(2) is entitled, if eligible therefor, to separation pay under section 1174(b) of this title. Ante, p. 2870. “§1187. Officers eligible to serve on boards “(a) (1) Each officer who serves on a board convened under this chapter shall be an officer of the same armed force as the officer being required to show cause for retention on active duty. “(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), an officer may not serve on a board under this chapter unless such officer is serving on active duty in a grade above lieutenant colonel or commander and is senior in grade and rank to any officer considered by that board. “(3) If qualified officers on active duty are not available in sufficient Retired officers. numbers to comprise a board convened under this chapter, the Secretary of the military department concerned shall complete the membership of the board by appointing retired officers of the same armed force who are retired in a grade above lieutenant colonel or commander and whose retired grade is senior to the grade of any officer considered by the board. A retired general or flag officer who is on active duty for the purpose of serving on a board convened under this chapter shall not, while so serving, be counted against any limitation on the number of general and flag officers who may be on active duty. “(b) No person may be a member of more than one board convened under this chapter to consider the same officer.”.

  2. Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999

    Pub. L. 105–261 § 503(b)(1) · 112 Stat. 1920

    1. Amended · 10 U.S.C. § 1182(c)

      Pub. L. 105–261, § 503(b)(1), as amended by Pub. L. 106–398

    2. Substituted · 10 U.S.C. § 1182(c)

      Pub. L. 105–261, § 503(b)(1), as substituted “recommend to the Secretary concerned that the officer not be retained on active duty” for “send the record of its proceedings to a board of review convened under section 1183 of this title”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–261, § 503(b)(1), as amended by Pub. L. 106–398, substituted “recommend to the Secretary concerned that the officer not be retained on active duty” for “send the record of its proceedings to a board of review convened under section 1183 of this title”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (1) Section 1182(c) of such title is amended by striking out “send the record of proceedings to a board of review convened under section 1183 of this title” and inserting in lieu thereof “recommend to the Secretary concerned that the officer not be retained on active duty”.

    Effective date note
    Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title X, § 1087(d)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–292, provided that the amendment made by section 1 [[div. A], title X, § 1087(d)(2)] is effective Oct. 17, 1998, and as if included in the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999, Pub. L. 105–261, as enacted.

  3. Pub. L. 106–398 § 1(dA) · 114 Stat. 1654

    Changed · 10 U.S.C. § 1182(c)

    Pub. L. 106–398 made technical correction to directory language of Pub. L. 105–261, § 503(b)(1). See 1998 Amendment note below

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106–398 made technical correction to directory language of Pub. L. 105–261, § 503(b)(1). See 1998 Amendment note below.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    SECTION 1. ENACTMENT OF FISCAL YEAR 2001 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT. The provisions of H.R. 5408 of the 106th Congress, as introduced on October 6, 2000, are hereby enacted into law.

    Effective date note
    Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title X, § 1087(d)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–292, provided that the amendment made by section 1 [[div. A], title X, § 1087(d)(2)] is effective Oct. 17, 1998, and as if included in the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999, Pub. L. 105–261, as enacted.

  4. Pub. L. 107–314 div. A title V § 506(a) · 116 Stat. 2458

    1. Amended · 10 U.S.C. § 1182(c)

      Pub. L. 107–314 designated existing provisions as par. (1)

    2. Added · 10 U.S.C. § 1182(c)

      Pub. L. 107–314 added par. (2)

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–314 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (a) Requirement.— Section 1182(c) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) by inserting “(1)” after “(c)”; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: “(2) Regulations. Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned, an officer as to whom a board of inquiry makes a recommendation under paragraph (1) that the officer not be retained on active duty may be required to take leave pending the completion of the officer’s case under this chapter. The officer may be required to begin such leave at any time following the officer’s receipt of the report of the board of inquiry, including the board’s recommendation for removal from active duty, and the expiration of any period allowed for submission by the officer of a rebuttal to that report. The leave may be continued until the date on which action by the Secretary concerned on the officer’s case is completed or may be terminated at any earlier time.”.

  5. Pub. L. 118–159 § 508(1) · 138 Stat. 1871

    Amended · 10 U.S.C. § 1182(d)(1)

    Pub. L. 118–159, § 508(1), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: “If a board of inquiry determines that the officer has established that he should be retained on active duty, the officer’s case is closed.”

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 118–159 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 118–159, § 508(1), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: “If a board of inquiry determines that the officer has established that he should be retained on active duty, the officer’s case is closed.”

  6. Pub. L. 118–159 § 508(2) · 138 Stat. 1871

    1. Added · 10 U.S.C. § 1182(d)(2)(4)

      Pub. L. 118–159, § 508(2), (3), added par. (2)

    2. Redesignated · 10 U.S.C. § 1182(d)(2)(4)

      Pub. L. 118–159, § 508(2), (3), redesignated former pars. (2) and (3) as (3) and (4), respectively

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 118–159 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (d)(2) to (4). Pub. L. 118–159, § 508(2), (3), added par. (2) and redesignated former pars. (2) and (3) as (3) and (4), respectively.

6 of 9 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 3 unresolved

Editorial Notes

Amendments1998–2024 · 4 rounds

2024

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 118–159, § 508(1), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: “If a board of inquiry determines that the officer has established that he should be retained on active duty, the officer’s case is closed.”

Subsec. (d)(2) to (4). Pub. L. 118–159, § 508(2), (3), added par. (2) and redesignated former pars. (2) and (3) as (3) and (4), respectively.

2002

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–314 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).

2000

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106–398 made technical correction to directory language of Pub. L. 105–261, § 503(b)(1). See 1998 Amendment note below.

1998

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–261, § 503(b)(1), as amended by Pub. L. 106–398, substituted “recommend to the Secretary concerned that the officer not be retained on active duty” for “send the record of its proceedings to a board of review convened under section 1183 of this title”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2000 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title X, § 1087(d)], , 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–292, provided that the amendment made by section 1 [[div. A], title X, § 1087(d)(2)] is effective , and as if included in the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999, Pub. L. 105–261, as enacted.

Effective Date

Section effective , but the authority to prescribe regulations under this section effective on , see section 701 of Pub. L. 96–513, set out as an Effective Date of 1980 Amendment note under section 101 of this title.

Credits

1980–2024 · 5 acts
  1. 1980Added Pub. L. 96–513, title I, § 110, , 94 Stat. 2872
  2. 1998amended Pub. L. 105–261, div. A, title V, § 503(b)(1), , 112 Stat. 2003
  3. 2000Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title X, § 1087(d)(2)], , 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–292
  4. 2002Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title V, § 506(a), , 116 Stat. 2534
  5. 2024Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title V, § 508, , 138 Stat. 1871.
Show as published

(Added Pub. L. 96–513, title I, § 110, , 94 Stat. 2872; amended Pub. L. 105–261, div. A, title V, § 503(b)(1), , 112 Stat. 2003; Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title X, § 1087(d)(2)], , 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–292; Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title V, § 506(a), , 116 Stat. 2534; Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title V, § 508, , 138 Stat. 1871.)

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