Reserve components: qualifications

§ 591. Reserve components: qualifications (a) To become an officer of a reserve component a person must be appointed as a Reserve of an armed force in a grade corresponding to a grade authorized for the regular component of the armed force concerned and subscribe to the oath prescribed by section 16 of title 5. In addition, to become an officer of the Army National Guard of the United States or the Air National Guard of the United States, he must first be appointed to, and be federally recognized in, the same grade in the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard, as the case may be. (b) Except as otherwise provided by law, the Secretary concerned shall prescribe physical, mental, moral, professional, and age qualifications for the appointment of persons as Reserves of the armed forces under his jurisdiction. However, except as provided in section 454 (i) (7) of title 50, appendix, no person may be appointed as a Reserve unless he is at least 18 years of age and— (1) he is, or has made a declaration of intention to become, a citizen of the United States or of a possession thereof; or (2) he has previously served in the armed forces or in the National Security Training Corps. (c) Women may be appointed as Reserves of the armed forces for service in the Army Reserve, Naval Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve. Women are appointed in grades corresponding to the grades authorized for female officers of the regular component of the armed force concerned. Any female former officer of an armed force may, if otherwise qualified, be appointed as a Reserve of that armed force in the highest grade in which she previously served satisfactorily on active duty (other than for training). (d) A person who is otherwise qualified, but who has a physical defect that the Secretary concerned determines will not interfere with the performance of the duties to which that person may be as-25signed, may be appointed as a Reserve of any armed force under the jurisdiction of that Secretary.