§9342. Cadets: appointment; numbers, territorial distribution

(a) The authorized strength of Air Force Cadets of the Academy is as follows:

(1) 65 cadets selected in order of merit as established by competitive examination from the children of members of the armed forces who were killed in action or died of, or have a service-connected disability rated at not less than 100 per centum resulting from wounds or injuries received or diseases contracted in, or preexisting injury or disease aggravated by, active service, children of members who are in a "missing status" as defined in section 551(2) of title 37, and children of civilian employees who are in "missing status" as defined in section 5561(5) of title 5. The determination of the Department of Veterans Affairs as to service connection of the cause of death or disability, and the percentage at which the disability is rated, is binding upon the Secretary of the Air Force.

(2) Five cadets nominated at large by the Vice President or, if there is no Vice President, by the President pro tempore of the Senate.

(3) Ten cadets from each State, five of whom are nominated by each Senator from that State.

(4) Five cadets from each congressional district, nominated by the Representative from the district.

(5) Five cadets from the District of Columbia, nominated by the Delegate to the House of Representatives from the District of Columbia.

(6) Two cadets from the Virgin Islands, nominated by the Delegate in Congress from the Virgin Islands.

(7) Six cadets from Puerto Rico, five of whom are nominated by the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico and one who is a native of Puerto Rico nominated by the Governor of Puerto Rico.

(8) Two cadets from Guam, nominated by the Delegate in Congress from Guam.

(9) One cadet from American Samoa, nominated by the Delegate in Congress from American Samoa.

Each Senator, Representative, and Delegate in Congress, including the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, is entitled to nominate 10 persons for each vacancy that is available to him under this section. Nominees may be submitted without ranking or with a principal candidate and 9 ranked or unranked alternates. Qualified nominees not selected for appointment under this subsection shall be considered qualified alternates for the purposes of selection under other provisions of this chapter.

(b) In addition, there may be appointed each year at the Academy cadets as follows:

(1) one hundred selected by the President from the children of members of an armed force who-

(A) are on active duty (other than for training) and who have served continuously on active duty for at least eight years;

(B) are, or who died while they were, retired with pay or granted retired or retainer pay, other than those granted retired pay under section 12731 of this title (or under section 1331 of this title as in effect before the effective date of the Reserve Officer Personnel Management Act);

however, a person who is eligible for selection under clause (1) of subsection (a) may not be selected under this clause.

(2) 85 nominated by the Secretary of the Air Force from enlisted members of the Regular Air Force.

(3) 85 nominated by the Secretary of the Air Force from enlisted members of reserve components of the Air Force.

(4) 20 nominated by the Secretary of the Air Force, under regulations prescribed by him, from the honor graduates of schools designated as honor schools by the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, or the Department of the Air Force, and from members of the Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

(5) 150 selected by the Secretary of the Air Force in order of merit (prescribed pursuant to section 9343 of this title) from qualified alternates nominated by persons named in clauses (3) and (4) of subsection (a).

(c) The President may also appoint as cadets at the Academy children of persons who have been awarded the Medal of Honor for acts performed while in the armed forces.

(d) The Superintendent may nominate for appointment each year 50 persons from the country at large. Persons nominated under this paragraph may not displace any appointment authorized under clauses (2) through (9) of subsection (a) and may not cause the total strength of Air Force Cadets to exceed the authorized number.

(e) If the annual quota of cadets under subsection (b)(1), (2), or (3) is not filled, the Secretary may fill the vacancies by nominating for appointment other candidates from any of these sources who were found best qualified on examination for admission and not otherwise nominated.

(f) Each candidate for admission nominated under clauses (3) through (9) of subsection (a) must be domiciled in the State, or in the congressional district, from which he is nominated, or in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, or the Virgin Islands, if nominated from one of those places.

(g) The Secretary of the Air Force may limit the number of cadets authorized to be appointed under this section to the number that can be adequately accommodated at the Academy as determined by the Secretary after consulting with the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives, subject to the following:

(1) Cadets chargeable to each nominating authority named in subsection (a)(3) or (4) may not be limited to less than four.

(2) If the Secretary limits the number of appointments under subsection (a)(3) or (4), appointments under subsection (b)(1)–(4) are limited as follows:

(A) 27 appointments under subsection (b)(1);

(B) 27 appointments under subsection (b)(2);

(C) 27 appointments under subsection (b)(3); and

(D) 13 appointments under subsection (b)(4).

(3) If the Secretary limits the number of appointments under subsection (b)(5), appointments under subsection (b)(2)–(4) are limited as follows:

(A) 27 appointments under subsection (b)(2);

(B) 27 appointments under subsection (b)(3); and

(C) 13 appointments under subsection (b)(4).

(4) The limitations provided for in this subsection do not affect the operation of subsection (e).

(h) The Secretary of the Air Force shall furnish to any Member of Congress, upon the written request of such Member, the name of the Congressman or other nominating authority responsible for the nomination of any named or identified person for appointment to the Academy.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 563 ; Sept. 14, 1962, Pub. L. 87–663, §1(5), (6), 76 Stat. 547 ; Mar. 3, 1964, Pub. L. 88–276, §4(1), 78 Stat. 151 ; Oct. 13, 1966, Pub. L. 89–650, §1(1)–(3), (5), 80 Stat. 896 ; July 5, 1968, Pub. L. 90–374, 82 Stat. 283 ; Oct. 22, 1968, Pub. L. 90–623, §2(8), 82 Stat. 1314 ; Sept. 22, 1970, Pub. L. 91–405, title II, §204(c), 84 Stat. 852 ; Aug. 7, 1972, Pub. L. 92–365, §1(3), 86 Stat. 505 ; Nov. 29, 1973, Pub. L. 93–171, §3(1)–(4), 87 Stat. 690 ; Oct. 7, 1975, Pub. L. 94–106, title VIII, §803(b)(1), 89 Stat. 538 ; Dec. 12, 1980, Pub. L. 96–513, title V, §514(11), 94 Stat. 2935 ; Dec. 24, 1980, Pub. L. 96–600, §2(c), 94 Stat. 3493 ; Oct. 14, 1981, Pub. L. 97–60, title II, §203(c)(1), 95 Stat. 1006 ; Sept. 24, 1983, Pub. L. 98–94, title X, §1005(a)(3), (b)(3), 97 Stat. 660 , 661; Nov. 29, 1989, Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XVI, §1621(a)(1), 103 Stat. 1602 ; Nov. 5, 1990, Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title V, §532(c)(1), 104 Stat. 1563 ; Nov. 30, 1993, Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title V, §531, 107 Stat. 1657 ; Oct. 5, 1994, Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §1674(c)(3), 108 Stat. 3017 .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
9342(a)	10:1092a (1st par., less clauses (a) through (e)). 10:1092a (clauses (a), less 14th through 52d words after 4th semicolon; and less last 32 words).	R.S. 1317. June 30, 1950, ch. 421, §§1, 2 (last proviso), 64 stat. 303, 304; June 3, 1954, ch. 251, §2, 68 Stat. 169 .
	10:1092a (1st 13 words of clause (b)).
	10:1092a (1st 26 words of clause (c)).
	10:1092a (clause (d)).
	10:1092a (clause (e), less last 53 words).
9342(b)	10:1092a (last par.).
	10:1098.
9342(c)	10:1092a (14th through 52d words after 4th semicolon of clause (a)).
	10:1092b (last proviso).
9342(d)	10:1092a (last 32 words of clause (a)).
9342(e)	10:1092a (clause (b), less 1st 13 words, and less 1st proviso).
9342(f)	10:1092a (1st proviso of clause (b)).
9342(g)	10:1092a (clause (c), less 1st 26 words).
9342(h)	10:1092a (last 53 words of clause (e)).

In subsection (a), the words "the authorized strength * * * is as follows-" are substituted for the words "shall be authorized and consist of the following". The words "at large" and "which totals two thousand four hundred and ninety-six", and 10:1092a (clause (d)) are omitted as surplusage.

In subsection (b), the words "from whatever source of admission", in 10:1092a, are omitted as surplusage. 10:1098 (words before last semicolon) is omitted as obsolete.

In subsection (c), the first 15 words are substituted for the words "all of which cadets shall be". The words "domiciled in" are substituted for the words "actual residents of" to conform to opinions of the Judge Advocate General of the Army (R. 29, 83; J.A.G. 351.11, Feb. 10, 1925).

In subsection (e)(4), the words "armed forces" are substituted for the description of the land or naval forces. The date February 1, 1955, fixed by Proclamation No. 3080 (Jan. 7, 1955; 20 F.R. 173), is substituted for the words "such date as shall thereafter be determined by Presidential proclamation or concurrent resolution of the Congress under section 745 of title 38". The words "including male and female members of * * * and all components thereof" are omitted as surplusage.

In subsection (f), the words "whether a death is service-connected" are substituted for the words "as to the service connection of the cause of death".

In subsection (g), the words "(National Guard of the United States, the Air National Guard of the United States and Army Reserve, and the Air Force Reserve)", "Regular components", "by members of the National Guard of the United States, and the Air National Guard of the United States", and "established at the competitive entrance examination" are omitted as surplusage. The word "grades" is substituted for the words "proficiency averages".

In subsection (h), the words "or shall hereafter be" are omitted as surplusage.

References in Text

Section 1331 of this title as in effect before the effective date of the Reserve Officer Personnel Management Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(1)(B), means section 1331 of this title prior to its renumbering as section 12731 of this title and its general revision by Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §1662(j)(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2998 , 2999. A new section 1331 was added by section 1662(j)(7) of Pub. L. 103–337.

Amendments

1994-Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 103–337 substituted "section 12731 of this title (or under section 1331 of this title as in effect before the effective date of the Reserve Officer Personnel Management Act)" for "section 1331 of this title".

1993-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–160, in concluding provisions, substituted "10 persons" for "a principal candidate and nine alternates" and inserted at end "Nominees may be submitted without ranking or with a principal candidate and 9 ranked or unranked alternates. Qualified nominees not selected for appointment under this subsection shall be considered qualified alternates for the purposes of selection under other provisions of this chapter."

1990-Subsec. (a)(8) to (10). Pub. L. 101–510, §532(c)(1)(A), redesignated cls. (9) and (10) as (8) and (9), respectively, and struck out former cl. (8) which read as follows: "One cadet nominated by the Administrator of the Panama Canal Commission from the children of civilian personnel of the United States Government residing in the Republic of Panama who are citizens of the United States."

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–510, §532(c)(1)(B), substituted "clauses (2) through (9)" for "clauses (2)–(7), (9), or (10)".

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 101–510, §532(c)(1)(C), substituted "clauses (3) through (9)" for "clauses (3)–(7), (9) and (10)".

1989-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 101–189 substituted "Department of Veterans Affairs" for "Veterans' Administration".

1983-Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 98–94, §1005(b)(3), substituted: "One cadet nominated by the Administrator of the Panama Canal Commission from the children of civilian personnel of the United States Government residing in the Republic of Panama who are citizens of the United States" for "One cadet nominated by the Governor of the Panama Canal from the children of civilians residing in the Canal Zone or the children of civilian personnel of the United States Government, or the Panama Canal Company, residing in the Republic of Panama".

Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 98–94, §1005(a)(3), substituted "One cadet from American Samoa, nominated by the Delegate in Congress from American Samoa" for "One cadet from American Samoa nominated by the Secretary of the Air Force upon recommendation of the Governor of American Samoa".

1981-Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–60 substituted provisions authorizing the Superintendent to nominate for appointment each year 50 persons from the country at large for provisions that all cadets were to be appointed by the President and that all such appointments were conditional until the cadets were admitted. See section 9341a of this title.

1980-Subsec. (a)(6), (9). Pub. L. 96–600 substituted "Two cadets" for "One cadet".

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 96–513 substituted "The" for "Effective beginning with the nominations for appointment to the Academy in the calendar year 1964, the".

1975-Subsecs. (a)(1), (8), (b)(1), (c). Pub. L. 94–106 substituted "children" for "sons" wherever appearing.

1973-Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 93–171, §3(1), substituted "One cadet from the Virgin Islands, nominated by the Delegate in Congress from the Virgin Islands" for "Five cadets from each Territory, nominated by the Delegate in Congress from that Territory".

Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 93–171, §3(2), struck out reference to American Samoa and Virgin Islands.

Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 93–171, §3(3), added cl. (10).

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 93–171, §3(4), substituted ", (9) and (10) of subsection (a)" for "and (9) of subsection (a)" and struck out reference to Territory.

1972-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 92–365 increased number of Air Force Cadets from 40 to 65 and added sons of members who are in missing status and sons of civilian employees who are in missing status as eligible for competitive examination.

1970-Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 91–405 substituted "delegate to the House of Representatives from the District of Columbia" for "Commissioner of that District".

1968-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 90–374 increased from five to nine the number of alternates for each vacancy each Senator, Representative, and Delegate in Congress, including the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, is entitled to nominate.

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 90–623 substituted "Commissioner" for "Commissioners".

1966-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 89–650, §1(1), provided for selection of cadets to the Air Force Academy from sons of members of the armed forces who have a 100 per centum service-connected disability and removed the limitation to active service during World War I or World War II or after June 26, 1950, and before Feb. 1, 1955.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 89–650, §1(2), provided for nominations to Air Force Academy by President pro tempore of Senate if there is no Vice President.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 89–650, §1(3), increased number of Presidential appointments to Air Force Academy from 75 to 100, provided for selection of eligible persons as stated in items (A) and (B), previously chosen from sons of members of regular components, and declared persons eligible under subsec. (a)(1) ineligible under subsec. (b)(1) of this section.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 89–650, §1(5), substituted "reserve components of the Air Force" for "the Air Force Reserve".

1964-Pub. L. 88–276 amended section generally, and among other changes, in the noncompetitive appointments, increased the number of cadets nominated by the Vice President from three to five, each Senator, Representative and Delegate from 4 to 5, and the Commissioner of Puerto Rico from 4 to 5, authorized the Governor of Puerto Rico to appoint one cadet, each Senator, Representative and Delegate to nominate a principal and five alternates for each vacancy, and, in the competitive appointments, permitted the President to appoint 75 cadets annually from the sons of members of the Regular components, instead of a cumulative total of 89, the Secretary of the Air Force to appoint 85 cadets annually from enlisted members of the Regular Air Force, instead of a cumulative total of 90, 85 annually from enlisted members of the Air Force Reserve, instead of a cumulative total of 90, 20 annually from honor graduates of designated honor schools and the A.F.R.O.T.C., instead of a cumulative total of 40 from honor schools only, 150 annually, in order of merit, from among the qualified alternates nominated by Members of Congress, and when the quota of cadets selected under subsec. (b)(1), (2), (3) is not filled, to fill the vacancies by appointing those best qualified from any of the three sources, decreased the number of cadets nominated by the Commissioners of the District of Columbia from 6 to 5, and by the Governor of the Panama Canal from 2 to 1, limited appointments to the number that can be adequately accommodated at the Academy, within the limitation that congressional appointments cannot be limited to less than four, and if limited, a priority of selection is established for the other categories, and, beginning in 1964, the Secretary may upon request of a Member of Congress, furnish him the name of any nominating authority responsible for the nomination of any identified person to the Academy.

1962-Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 87–663, §1(5), added cl. (10).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 87–663, §1(6), inserted references to American Samoa, Guam, and the Virgin Islands, and substituted "Clauses (1)–(5) and (10)" for "clauses (1)–(5)".

Change of Name

Committee on Armed Services of House of Representatives changed to Committee on National Security of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Fourth Congress, Jan. 4, 1995.

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–337 effective Dec. 1, 1994, except as otherwise provided, see section 1691 of Pub. L. 103–337, set out as an Effective Date note under section 10001 of this title.

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–60 effective with respect to nominations for appointment to the first class admitted to each Academy after Oct. 14, 1981, see section 203(d) of Pub. L. 97–60, set out as an Effective Date note under section 4341a of this title.

Effective Date of 1980 Amendments

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–600 effective beginning with nominations for appointment to the service academies for academic years beginning more than one year after Dec. 24, 1980, see section 2(d) of Pub. L. 96–600, set out as a note under section 4342 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–513 effective Dec. 12, 1980, see section 701(b)(3) of Pub. L. 96–513, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Effective Date of 1973 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 93–171 effective beginning with the nominations for appointment to the service academies in the calendar year 1974, see section 4 of Pub. L. 93–171, set out as a note under section 4342 of this title.

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 91–405 effective Sept. 22, 1970, see section 206(b) of Pub. L. 91–405, set out as an Effective Date note under section 25a of Title 2, The Congress.

Effective Date of 1968 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 90–623 intended to restate without substantive change the law in effect on Oct. 22, 1968, see section 6 of Pub. L. 90–623, set out as a note under section 5334 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Effective Date; Interim System for Appointment of Cadets

Section 52(b) of act Aug. 10, 1956, as amended by Pub. L. 85–182, Aug. 28, 1957, 71 Stat. 463 , provided that section 9342(a) of Title 10, Armed Forces would take effect four years after the entrance of the initial class at the United States Air Force Academy. However, for the four-year period beginning with the class of cadets entering in July 1959, not more than one quarter of the number of cadets authorized by clause (1), (2), (3), (4), (7), or (8) of that section could be appointed in any one academic year; two of the number of cadets authorized by clause (5) of that section could be appointed in the first and third years of that four-year period, and not more than one of the number authorized by it could be appointed in the second and fourth years of that period; and one cadet authorized by clause (6) of that section could be appointed in the first two years of that four-year period, and not more than one of the number authorized by it could be appointed in the second two years of that period. In addition, during that four-year period, the nominating authority named in clauses (1) to (6) of that section could select for each cadet allocated to him for the year concerned a principal candidate and not more than ten alternate candidates, or he could nominate as many candidates as the Secretary prescribed and authorize the Secretary to select the principal candidates in order of merit as determined by competitive examination. In carrying out section 9343 of Title 10, during that four-year period, only qualified alternates who were nominated by the authorities named in clauses (1) to (4) of section 9342(a) could be nominated for appointment as cadets. Not more than one qualified alternate nominated by any one authority named in those classes could be appointed as a cadet, after nomination under section 9343, during each year of that four-year period.

Limitation on Number of Cadets and Midshipmen Authorized To Attend Service Academies

Authorized strength of service academies not to exceed 4,000 per academy for class years beginning after 1994, and any reduction in number of appointments not to be achieved by reduction in number of appointments under subsec. (a) of this section, see section 511 of Pub. L. 102–190, set out as a note under section 4342 of this title.

Eligibility of Female Individuals for Appointment and Admission to Service Academies; Uniform Application of Academic and Other Standards to Male and Female Individuals

Secretary required to take such action as may be necessary and appropriate to insure that (1) female individuals shall be eligible for appointment and admission to the United States Air Force Academy, beginning with appointments to such academy for the class beginning in calendar year 1976, and (2) the academic and other relevant standards required for appointment, admission, training, graduation, and commissioning of female individuals shall be the same as those required for male individuals, except for those minimum essential adjustments in such standards required because of physiological differences between male and female individuals, see section 803(a) of Pub. L. 94–106, set out as a note under section 4342 of this title.

Secretary To Implement Policy of Expeditious Admission of Women to the Academy

Secretary to continue to exercise the authority granted under this chapter and chapters 403 and 603 of this title, but such authority to be exercised within a program providing for the orderly and expeditious admission of women to the Academy, consistent with the needs of the services, see section 803(c) of Pub. L. 94–106, set out as a note under section 4342 of this title.

Cross References

Effect upon enlisted status of acceptance of appointment as cadet, see section 516 of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 9343, 9344 of this title.