10 U.S.C. § 12683 — Reserve officers: limitation on involuntary separation

(a) An officer in a reserve component who has served at least five years as a commissioned officer cannot be separated from that component without their consent -- unless (1) a board of officers, convened by an authority the Secretary concerned names, recommends it and that recommendation is approved, or (2) a court-martial sentences the officer to separation and that sentence is approved. (b) This protection in subsection (a) does not apply to: (1) a separation under section 12684, 14901, or 14907 of this title; (2) a dismissal under section 1161(a) of this title; (3) a transfer under section 12213, 12214, 14514, or 14515 of this title; or (4) the separation of an officer who is inactive in the Standby Reserve, if that officer either does not qualify to transfer to the Retired Reserve, or qualifies but does not apply for that transfer.