Rank: commissioned officers in regular grades below brigadier general

§ 8574. Rank: commissioned officers in regular grades below brigadier general (a) Among commissioned officers of the same grade in the Regular Air Force who are on the same promotion list, rank in regular grade is determined by the order in which their names appear on that list. (b) Among commissioned officers of the same grade in the Regular Air Force who are not on the same promotion list or not on a promotion list, rank in regular grade is determined— (1) by date of rank; (2) if the dates of rank are the same, by length of continuous active commissioned service in the Regular Air Force; (3) if the dates of rank and length of continuous active commissioned service in the Regular Air Force are the same, by rank established at the time of original appointment in the Regular Air Force: and (4) in other cases, by the Secretary of the Air Force. (c) Rank among the graduates of each class at the United States Military or Air Force Academy who, upon graduation, are appointed in the Regular Air Force shall be fixed under regulations prescribed by the Secretary.