Maryland Public Safety Section 13-601
§ 13-601.
(a) The Governor shall appoint and commission each officer of the organized militia on recommendation by:
(1) the brigade commander if a commanding officer of a unit of a brigade; or
(2) the commanding officer of the respective unit or chief of the respective staff corps or department if any other officer.
(b) (1) Each individual appointed as an officer shall be:
(i) an officer or enlisted individual of the National Guard;
(ii) a retired, reserve, or former officer of the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard;
(iii) an enlisted individual from the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard or a formerly enlisted individual who received an honorable discharge;
(iv) a graduate of the United States Military Academy, Naval Academy, or Air Force Academy;
(v) a graduate of a school, college, university, or officers' training school who received military instruction under the supervision of an officer of the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard who certified the graduate's fitness for appointment as a commissioned officer; or
(vi) a civilian who is specially qualified for duty in the technical branches or staff corps and departments.
(2) Before taking office, each individual appointed as an officer shall take the oath as required by § 13-602 of this subtitle.
(c) When appointed, a general officer or colonel must:
(1) be an officer in the National Guard of a grade of field officer; or
(2) have been in active service in the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard or National Guard with a grade higher than captain.
(d) When appointed, a lieutenant-colonel or major of the line must have had active service as an officer for at least 2 years in the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard or National Guard.
