Regular Navy and Regular Marine Corps: officers designated for limited duty

§ 5589. Regular Navy and Regular Marine Corps: officers designated for limited duty (a) Original appointments to the active list of the Navy in the grade of ensign in the line, in the Supply Corps, and in the Civil Engineer Corps may be made from male— (1) warrant officers; (2) chief petty officers; and (3) first-class petty officers; in the Regular Navy, for the performance of duty in the technical fields indicated by their warrants or ratings. (b) Original appointments to the active list of the Marine Corps in the grade of second lieutenant may be made from male— (1) warrant officers; (2) master sergeants; and (3) technical sergeants; in the Regular Marine Corps, for the performance of duty in the technical fields in which they are proficient. (c) To be eligible for an appointment under this section a member must have completed at least 10 years of active naval service, excluding active duty for training in a reserve component. (d) Each officer appointed under this section is known as an officer designated for limited duty. He may not suffer any reduction in the pay and allowances to which he was entitled at the time of his appointment because of his former permanent status. (e) Any officer designated for limited duty, upon his application and upon determination by the Secretary of the Navy that he is qualified, may— (1) if he is in the line of the Navy, be designated for engineering duty, aeronautical engineering duty, or special duty, or be assigned to unrestricted performance of duty; 327 (2) if he is in a staff corps of the Navy, be assigned to unrestricted performance of duty in that corps; or (3) if he is in the Marine Corps, be designated for supply duty or be assigned to unrestricted performance of duty. When an officer is so designated or assigned, his status as an officer designated for limited duty terminates. (f) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations for the appointment, designation, and assignment of officers under this section.