10 U.S.C. § 14705 — Selective early retirement: reserve general and flag officers of the Navy and Marine Corps

(a) Authority To Consider. A Navy Reserve officer at the rank of rear admiral (lower half) or rear admiral, or a Marine Corps Reserve officer at the rank of brigadier general or major general, can be considered for early retirement whenever the Secretary of the Navy decides it is necessary. (b) Boards. (1) If the Secretary decides this kind of review is needed, the Secretary must convene a selection board under section 14101(b) of this title to recommend the right number of officers for early retirement. (2) For a board reviewing rear admirals or major generals, the Secretary of the Navy can appoint the board without following section 14102(b) of this title's usual rules. But the Secretary must still make sure that (A) every regular commissioned officer on the board outranks rear admiral or major general, and (B) at least one board member is a reserve officer who holds the grade of rear admiral or major general. (c) Separation Under Section 14514. Any officer chosen for early retirement under this section must be separated following section 14514 of this title.