§ 3579. Command: commissioned officers of Army Medical Department

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a commissioned officer of the Army Medical Department is not entitled to exercise command because of his rank, except within the Army Medical Department.

(b) An officer of the Medical Service Corps may exercise command of troops that are not part of the Army Medical Department whenever authorized by the Secretary of the Army. The Secretary of the Army may delegate such authority to appropriate commanders as the interest of the Army may require.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 206; Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(60), (87), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1462, 1482; Pub. L. 87–142, Aug. 17, 1961, 75 Stat. 364; Pub. L. 90–329, June 4, 1968, 82 Stat. 170; Pub. L. 96–513, title II, § 212(a), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2885; Pub. L. 98–525, title XIV, § 1405(46), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2625.)

Historical And Revision

Historical and Revision Notes
1956 Act
Revised section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
3579(a)	10:82.	R.S. 1169.
3579(b)	10:166e (less 1st sentence).	Apr. 16, 1947, ch. 38, § 106 (less 1st sentence), 61 Stat. 44.

In subsection (a), the word “commissioned” is inserted for clarity. The words “Except as provided in section 94 of this title”, not contained in section 1169 of the Revised Statutes, but contained in 10:94, are omitted as surplusage, since 10:94 deals exclusively with assignments. The words “except within the Army Medical Service” are substituted for the words “in the line or in other staff corps”. Officers of the Army Nurse Corps and Women’s Medical Specialist Corps are not covered by subsection (a), since their command authority is specifically stated in subsection (b).

In subsection (b), 10:166e (last 22 words of 1st sentence) is omitted as superseded by sections 3012(e) and 3065 of this title. The words “may exercise command only” are substituted for the words “shall not be entitled * * * to command except”. The words “by virtue of their rank” and “by competent authority” are omitted as surplusage.

1958 Act
Revised section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
3579(a)	10 App.:376(b).	Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 654, § 2, 69 Stat. 579.

The amendment of subsec. (b) also reflects the authority contained in section 3357 of this title to appoint males as reserve officers of the Corps concerned.

Amendments

Amendments

1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–525 substituted “subsection (b)” for “subsection (c)”.

1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–513, § 212(a)(1), struck out “, other than an officer of the Army Nurse Corps or Army Medical Specialist Corps,” after “officer of the Army Medical Department”.

Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 96–513, § 212(a)(2), (3), redesignated subsec. (c) as (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) which provided that an officer of the Army Nurse Corps or the Army Medical Specialist Corps exercise command only within his branch, or over persons placed under his charge.

1968—Pub. L. 90–329 substituted “Army Medical Department” for “Army Medical Service” in section catchline and in subsecs. (a) and (c).

1961—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 87–142, § 1(1), substituted “Except as provided in subsection (c), a” for “A”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 87–142, § 1(2), added subsec. (c).

1958—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(60), substituted “Army Medical Specialist Corps” for “Women’s Medical Specialist Corps”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(60), (87), substituted “Army Medical Specialist Corps” for “Women’s Medical Specialist Corps” and “his” for “her own” and “her”.

Effective Date Of Amendment

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–513 effective Sept. 15, 1981, but the authority to prescribe regulations under the amendment by Pub. L. 96–513 effective on Dec. 12, 1980, see section 701 of Pub. L. 96–513, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.