2020 US Code
Title 10 - Armed Forces
Subtitle B - Army
Part I - Organization
Chapter 705 - The Army Staff
Sec. 7033 - Chief of Staff

(a)(1) There is a Chief of Staff of the Army, appointed for a period of four years by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from the general officers of the Army. He serves at the pleasure of the President. In time of war or during a national emergency declared by Congress, he may be reappointed for a term of not more than four years.

(2) The President may appoint an officer as Chief of Staff only if—

(3) The President may waive paragraph (2) in the case of an officer if the President determines such action is necessary in the national interest.

(b) The Chief of Staff, while so serving, has the grade of general without vacating his permanent grade.

(c) Except as otherwise prescribed by law and subject to section 7013(f) of this title, the Chief of Staff performs his duties under the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of the Army and is directly responsible to the Secretary.

(d) Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of the Army, the Chief of Staff shall—

(e)(1) The Chief of Staff shall also perform the duties prescribed for him as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under section 151 of this title.

(2) To the extent that such action does not impair the independence of the Chief of Staff in the performance of his duties as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief of Staff shall inform the Secretary regarding military advice rendered by members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on matters affecting the Department of the Army.

(3) Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Defense, the Chief of Staff shall keep the Secretary of the Army fully informed of significant military operations affecting the duties and responsibilities of the Secretary.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 162, §3034; Pub. L. 85–599, §4(a), Aug. 6, 1958, 72 Stat. 516; Pub. L. 87–651, title I, §114, Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 513; Pub. L. 90–22, title IV, §401, June 5, 1967, 81 Stat. 53; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, §502(2), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2909; Pub. L. 97–22, §10(b)(4), July 10, 1981, 95 Stat. 137; renumbered §3033 and amended Pub. L. 99–433, title V, §502(c), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1040; Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title V, §519(a)(3), Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 1972; Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VIII, §802(d)(4)(A), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 880; renumbered §7033 and amended Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §§808(a), 809(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1838, 1840; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, §1847(e)(6)(B), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4257.)

Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, §§1801(d), 1847(e)(6)(B), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4151, 4257, provided that, effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, subsection (d)(5) of this section is amended by striking "and 2547" and inserting ", 3103, and 4274". See 2021 Amendment note below.

In subsection (a), the words "not for" are substituted for the words "no person shall serve as Chief of Staff for a term of".

In subsection (b), the words "so serving" are substituted for the words "holding office as such". The words "regular or reserve" are substituted for the word "permanent", since there are no other "permanent" grades. The words "in the Army" are omitted as surplusage. The words "and shall take rank as prescribed by law" are omitted as covered by section 743 of this title. The words "He shall receive the compensation prescribed by law" are omitted as covered by the Career Compensation Act of 1949, 63 Stat. 802 (37 U.S.C. 231 et seq.).

In subsection (c), the provisions of 10:21d relating to the direction of the Secretary of the Army over the Chief of Staff are combined. The words "and of subsection (c) of this section" and "state of" are omitted as surplusage.

In subsection (d), 10:38 (last par.) is omitted as covered by 10:21d(a). The words "by sections 1a–1g, 19, 21a–21h, 61–1, 81–1, 231a and 316–1 of this title and section 181–3 to 181–5 of Title 5" are omitted as covered by the words "other provisions of law".

The changes correct references to section 202(j) of the National Security Act of 1947, which is now set out as section 124 of title 10.

Section 664(f) of this title, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(B), was redesignated as section 664(d) of this title by Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title V, §510(g)(1), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2111.

2021—Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 116–283 substituted ", 3103, and 4274" for "and 2547".

2018—Pub. L. 115–232, §808(a), renumbered section 3033 of this title as this section.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–232, §809(a), substituted "section 7013(f)" for "section 3013(f)".

2015—Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 114–92 substituted "sections 171 and 2547" for "section 171".

1988—Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 100–456 substituted "full tour of duty in a joint duty assignment (as defined in section 664(f) of this title)" for "joint duty assignment".

1986—Pub. L. 99–433 renumbered section 3034 of this title as this section, substituted "Chief of Staff" for "Chief of Staff: appointment; duties" in section catchline, and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:

"(a) The Chief of Staff shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a period of four years, from the general officers of the Army. He serves during the pleasure of the President. In time of war or national emergency, declared by the Congress after December 31, 1968, he may be reappointed for a term of not more than four years.

"(b) The Chief of Staff, while so serving, has the grade of general without vacating his regular or reserve grade.

"(c) Except as otherwise prescribed by law and subject to section 3012(c) and (d) of this title, the Chief of Staff performs his duties under the direction of the Secretary of the Army, and is directly responsible to the Secretary for the efficiency of the Army, its preparedness for military operations, and plans therefor.

"(d) The Chief of Staff shall—

1981—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–22 struck out a comma after "regular or reserve grade".

1980—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–513 struck out provision under which the Chief of Staff is counted as one of the officers authorized to serve in a grade above lieutenant general under section 3066 of this title.

1967—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 90–22 changed requirement that Chief of Staff be reappointed only with advice and consent of Senate by providing for his reappointment for a term of not more than four years by President without such advice and consent in a time of war or national emergency as declared by Congress.

1962—Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 87–651 substituted "under section 124 of this title" for "pursuant to section 202(j) of the National Security Act of 1947, as amended".

1958—Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 85–599 required Chief of Staff to exercise supervision only as Secretary of the Army determines and in a manner consistent with full operational command vested in unified or specified combatant commanders.

Amendment by Pub. L. 116–283 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

Pub. L. 97–22, §10(b), July 10, 1981, 95 Stat. 137, provided that the amendment made by section 10(b)(4) is effective Sept. 15, 1981.

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–513 effective Sept. 15, 1981, see section 701 of Pub. L. 96–513, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Pub. L. 90–22, title IV, §405, June 5, 1967, 81 Stat. 53, provided that: "The amendments made by this title [amending sections 3034, 5081, 5201, and 8034 of this title] shall take effect as of January 1, 1969."

¹ See References in Text note below.