10 U.S.C. § 645 — Definitions

In this chapter: (1) “Promotion zone” means a promotion-eligibility category made up of officers on an active-duty list^* who are in the same grade^* and competitive category and—(A) meet the following conditions: (i) For officers below colonel in the Army^*, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force, or below captain in the Navy, they have neither (I) failed to be selected for promotion to the next higher grade nor (II) been removed from a list of officers recommended for promotion to that grade, unless they were put on that list after being selected from below the promotion zone. (ii) For officers who are colonels or brigadier generals in the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force, or captains or rear admirals (lower half) in the Navy, they have neither (I) not been recommended for promotion to the next higher grade when considered in the promotion zone nor (II) been removed from a list of officers recommended for promotion to that grade, unless they were put on that list after being selected from below the promotion zone; and (B) are senior to the officer^* whom the Secretary of the military department concerned designates as the junior officer in the promotion zone who is eligible for consideration for promotion to the next higher grade. (2) “Officers above the promotion zone” means a group of officers on an active-duty list who are in the same grade and competitive category and who (A) are eligible for consideration for promotion to the next higher grade; (B) are in the same grade as the officers in the promotion zone for that competitive category; and (C) are senior to the senior officer in the promotion zone for that competitive category. (3) “Officers below the promotion zone” means a group of officers on an active-duty list who are in the same grade and competitive category and who (A) are eligible for consideration for promotion to the next higher grade; (B) are in the same grade as the officers in the promotion zone for that competitive category; and (C) are junior to the junior officer in the promotion zone for that competitive category. This section does not define “active-duty list,” “grade,” or “competitive category.”