(a) Consideration for Early Retirement.—The Secretary of the Air Force may convene selection boards under section 20211(b) of this title to consider for early retirement officers on the Space Force officer list as follows:
(1)
Officers in the grade of lieutenant colonel who have failed of selection for promotion at least one time and whose names are not on a list of officers recommended for promotion.
(2)
Officers in the grade of colonel who have served in that grade for at least two years and whose names are not on a list of officers recommended for promotion.
(3) Officers, other than those described in paragraphs (1) and (2), holding a grade below the grade of colonel—
(A)
who are eligible for retirement under section 20601 of this title or who after two additional years or less of active service would be eligible for retirement under that section; and
(b) Consideration for Discharge.—
(1) The Secretary of the Air Force may convene selection boards under section 20211 of this title to consider for discharge officers on the Space Force officer list—
(C)
who are not eligible to be retired under any provision of law (other than by reason of eligibility pursuant to section 4403 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993) and are not within two years of becoming so eligible.
(c) Discharges and Retirements Considered to Be Involuntary.—
The discharge or retirement of an officer pursuant to this section shall be considered to be involuntary for purposes of any other provision of law.
(Added Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVII, § 1718(a), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 657; amended Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(a)(50), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2206.)