Title 10 of the United States Code addresses the armed forces of the United States. 10 USC § 101 defines the "armed forces" as the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard. It provides the legal basis for the roles, missions and organization of each of the services as well as the United States Department of Defense. Each of the five subtitles deals with a separate aspect or component of the armed services.
Subtitle A—General Military Law, defines the armed forces, and includes the Uniform Code of Military Justice Subtitle B—Army Subtitle C—Navy and Marine Corps Subtitle D—Air Force and Space Force Subtitle E—Reserve Components Subtitle F—Alternative Military Personnel Systems
The current Title 10 was the result of an overhaul and renumbering of the former Title 10 and Title 34 into one title by an act of Congress on August 10, 1956. The provisions of United States Code within Title 10 that are outlined in this article are up to date as of March 13, 2024.
Title 32 outlines the related but different legal basis for the roles, missions and organization of the United States National Guard in the United States Code. Laws regarding the National Guard in federal service are in Title 10, Chapter 1211.
History
Subtitle A — General Military Law Subtitle A
Part I — Organization and General Military Powers Part I
Chapter 1 — Definitions, rules of construction, cross-references, and related matters Chapter 2 — Department of Defense Chapter 3 — General powers and functions Chapter 4 — Office of the Secretary of Defense Chapter 5 — Joint Chiefs of Staff Chapter 6 — Combatant commands Chapter 7 — Boards, councils, and committees Chapter 8 — Defense agencies and Department of Defense field activities Chapter 9 — Defense budget matters Chapter 9A — Audit Chapter 11 — Reserve components Chapter 12 — The militia Chapter 13 — Insurrection Chapter 14 — Arming of American vessels Chapter 15 — Military support for civilian law enforcement agencies Chapter 16 — Security cooperation Chapter 19 — Cyber and information operations matters Chapter 20 — Humanitarian and other assistance Chapter 21 — Department of Defense intelligence matters Chapter 22 — National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Chapter 23 — Miscellaneous studies and reports Chapter 24 — Nuclear posture Chapter 25 — Electromagnetic Warfare
Part II — Personnel Part II
Chapter 31 — Enlistments Chapter 32 — Officer strength and distribution in grade Chapter 33 — Original appointments of regular officers in grades above warrant officer grades Chapter 33A — Appointment, promotion, and involuntary separation and retirement for members on the warrant officer active-duty list Chapter 34 — Appointments as reserve officers Chapter 35 — Temporary appointments in officer grades Chapter 36 — Promotion, separation, and involuntary retirement of officers on the active-duty list Chapter 37 — General service requirements Chapter 38 — Joint officer management Chapter 39 — Active duty Chapter 40 — Leave Chapter 41 — Special appointments, assignments, details, and duties Chapter 43 — Rank and command Chapter 45 — The uniform Chapter 47 — Uniform Code of Military Justice Chapter 47A — Military commissions Chapter 48 — Military correctional facilities Chapter 49 — Miscellaneous prohibitions and penalties Chapter 50 — Miscellaneous command responsibilities Chapter 51 — Reserve components: Standards and procedures for retention and promotion Chapter 53 — Miscellaneous rights and benefits Chapter 54 — Commissary and exchange benefits Chapter 55 — Medical and dental care Chapter 56 — Department of Defense Medicare-eligible retiree health care fund Chapter 57 — Decorations and awards Chapter 58 — Benefits and services for members being separated or recently separated Chapter 59 — Separation Chapter 60 — Separation of regular officers for substandard performance of duty or for certain other reasons Chapter 61 — Retirement or separation for physical disability Chapter 63 — Retirement for age Chapter 65 — Retirement of warrant officers for length of service Chapter 67 — Retired pay for non-regular service Chapter 69 — Retired grade Chapter 71 — Computation of retired pay Chapter 73 — Annuities based on retired or retainer pay Chapter 74 — Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund Chapter 75 — Deceased personnel Chapter 76 — Missing persons Chapter 77 — Posthumous commissions and warrants Chapter 79 — Correction of military records Chapter 80 — Miscellaneous investigation requirements and other duties Chapter 81 — Civilian employees Chapter 83 — Civilian Defense Intelligence Employees Chapter 87 — Defense Acquisition Workforce Chapter 88 — Military family programs and military child care
Part III — Training and Education Part III
Chapter 101 — Training generally Chapter 102 — Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps Chapter 103 — Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps Chapter 104 — Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Chapter 105 — Armed Forces Health Professions Financial Assistance Programs Chapter 106 — Educational Assistance for Members of the Selected Reserve Chapter 106A — Educational Assistance for Persons Enlisting for Active Duty Chapter 107 — Professional Military Education Chapter 108 — Department of Defense Schools Chapter 109 — Educational Loan Repayment Programs Chapter 110 — Educational Assistance for Members Held as Captives and Their Dependents Chapter 111 — Support of Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Education Chapter 112 — Cyber Scholarship Program Chapter 113 — Defense Civilian Training Corps
Part IV — Service, Supply, and Property Part IV
Chapter 131 — Planning and Coordination Chapter 133 — Facilities for Reserve Components Chapter 134 — Miscellaneous Administrative Provisions Chapter 135 — Space Programs Chapter 136 — Provisions Relating to Specific Programs Chapter 138 — Cooperative Agreements with NATO Allies and Other Countries Chapter 141 — Miscellaneous Provisions Relating to Property Chapter 143 — Production by Military Agencies Chapter 145 — Cataloging and Standardization Chapter 146 — Contracting for Performance of Civilian Commercial or Industrial Type Functions Chapter 147 — Commissaries and Exchanges and Other Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Activities Chapter 152 — Issue of Supplies, Services, and Facilities Chapter 153 — Exchange of Material and Disposal of Obsolete, Surplus, or Unclaimed Property Chapter 155 — Acceptance of Gifts and Services Chapter 157 — Transportation Chapter 159 — Real Property; Related Personal Property; and Lease of Non-Excess Property Chapter 160 — Environmental Restoration Chapter 161 — Property Records and Report of Theft or Loss of Certain Property Chapter 163 — Military Claims Chapter 165 — Accountability and Responsibility Chapter 169 — Military Construction and Military Family Housing Chapter 172 — Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Chapter 173 — Energy Security
Part V — Acquisition Part V
Subpart A — General Chapter 201 — Definitions Chapter 203 — General matters Chapter 205 — Defense acquisition system Chapter 207 — Budgeting and appropriations Chapter 209 — Operational contract support Subpart B — Acquisition Planning Chapter 221 — Planning and solicitation generally Chapter 222 — Independent cost estimation and cost analysis Chapter 223 — Other provisions relating to planning and solicitation generally Subpart C — Contracting Methods and Contract Types Chapter 241 — Awarding of contracts Chapter 242 — Specific types of contracts Chapter 243 — Other matters relating to awarding of contracts Chapter 244 — Undefinitized contractual actions Chapter 245 — Task and delivery order contracts (multiple award contracts) Chapter 247 — Procurement of commercial products and commercial services Chapter 249 — Multiyear contracts Chapter 251 — Simplified acquisition procedures Chapter 253 — Rapid acquisition procedures Chapter 255 — Contracting with or through other agencies Chapter 257 — Contracts for long-term lease or charter of vessels, aircraft, and combat vehicles Chapter 258 — Other types of contracts used for procurements for particular purposes Subpart D — General Contracting Provisions Chapter 271 — Truthful cost or pricing data (Truth in negotiations) Chapter 273 — Allowable costs Chapter 275 — Proprietary contractor data and rights in technical data Chapter 277 — Contract financing Chapter 279 — Contractor audits and accounting Chapter 281 — Claims and disputes Chapter 287 — Other contracting programs Subpart E — Research and Engineering Chapter 301 — Research and engineering generally Chapter 303 — Research and engineering activities Chapter 305 — Universities Chapter 307 — Test and evaluation Subpart F — Major Systems, Major Defense Acquisition Programs, and Weapon Systems Development Chapter 321 — General matters Chapter 322 — Major systems and major defense acquisition programs generally Chapter 323 — Life-cycle and sustainment Chapter 324 — Selected acquisition reports Chapter 325 — Cost growth—unit cost reports (Nunn-McCurdy) Chapter 327 — Weapon systems development and related matters Subpart G — Other Special Categories Of Contracting Chapter 341 — Acquisition of services generally Chapter 345 — Acquisition of information technology Subpart H — Contract Management Chapter 361 — Contract administration Chapter 363 — Prohibition and penalties Chapter 365 — Contractor workforce Chapter 367 — Other administrative matters Subpart I — Defense Industrial Base Chapter 381 — Defense industrial base generally Chapter 382 — Policies and planning Chapter 383 — Development, application, and support of dual-use technologies Chapter 384 — Manufacturing technology Chapter 385 — Other technology base policies and programs Chapter 387 — Small business programs Chapter 388 — Procurement technical assistance cooperative agreement program Chapter 389 — Loan guarantee programs
Subtitle B — Army Subtitle B
Part I — Organization Part I
Chapter 701 — Definitions Chapter 703 — Department of the Army Chapter 705 — The Army Staff Chapter 707 — The Army
Part II — Personnel Part II
Chapter 711 — Strength Chapter 713 — Enlistments Chapter 715 — Appointments in the Regular Army Chapter 719 — Temporary appointments Chapter 721 — Active duty Chapter 723 — Special appointments, assignments, details, and duties Chapter 725 — Rank and command Chapter 729 — Miscellaneous prohibitions and penalties Chapter 733 — Miscellaneous rights and benefits Chapter 735 — Hospitalization Chapter 737 — Decorations and awards Chapter 741 — Retirement for length of service Chapter 743 — Retired grade Chapter 745 — Computation of retired pay Chapter 747 — Civilian employees Chapter 749 — Miscellaneous investigation requirements and other duties
Part III — Training Part III
Chapter 751 — Training generally Chapter 753 — United States Military Academy Chapter 757 — Schools and camps
Part IV — Service, Supply, and Procurement Part IV
Chapter 763 — Procurement Chapter 764 — Armaments industrial base Chapter 765 — Issue of serviceable material to armed forces Chapter 767 — Utilities and services Chapter 769 — Sale of serviceable material Chapter 771 — Issue of serviceable material other than to armed forces Chapter 773 — Disposal of obsolete or surplus material Chapter 775 — Disposition of effects of deceased persons; captured flags Chapter 776 — Army national military cemeteries Chapter 777 — Transportation Chapter 779 — Real property Chapter 781 — Military claims Chapter 783 — Accountability and responsibility
Subtitle C — Navy and Marine Corps Subtitle C Part I — Organization Part I
Chapter 801 — Definitions Chapter 803 — Department of the Navy Chapter 805 — Office of the Chief of Naval Operations