CONTINUITY OF GRADE OF ADMIRALS AND VICE ADMIRALS.

SEC. 204. CONTINUITY OF GRADE OF ADMIRALS AND VICE ADMIRALS. (a) Section 46(a) of title 14, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: “(a) A Commandant who is not reappointed shall be retired with the grade of admiral at the expiration of the appointed term, except as provided in subsection 51(d) of this title.”. (b) (1) Section 47 of title 14, United States Code, is amended— (A) in the heading by striking “; retirement”; (B) in subsection (a) by— (i) striking “(a)” at the beginning thereof, and (ii) striking the last sentence and inserting the following: “The appointment and grade of a Vice Commandant shall be effective on the date the officer assumes that duty, and shall terminate on the date the officer is detached from that duty, except as provided in subsection 51(d) of this title.”; and (C) by striking subsections (b), (c), and (d). (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 3 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 47 and inserting the following: “47. Vice Commandant; assignment.”. (c) Section 50(b) of title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking the last sentence and inserting “The appointment and grade of an area commander shall be effective on the date the officer assumes that duty, and shall terminate on the date the officer is detached from that duty, except as provided in subsection 51(d) of this title.”. (d) Section 51 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: “(d) An officer serving in the grade of admiral or vice admiral shall continue to hold that grade— “(1) while being processed for physical disability retirement, beginning on the day of the processing and ending on the 107 STAT. 2422day that officer is retired, but not for more than 180 days; and “(2) while awaiting retirement, beginning on the day that officer is relieved from the position of Commandant, Vice Commandant, Area Commander, or Chief of Staff and ending on the day before the officer’s retirement, but not for more than 60 days”.