10 U.S.C. § 580a: Enhanced authority for selective early discharges

The Secretary of Defense may authorize the Secretary of a military department, during the period beginning on October 1, 2015 , and ending on October 1, 2019 , to take the action set forth in subsection (b) with respect to regular warrant officers of an armed force under the jurisdiction of that Secretary. who have served at least one year of active duty in the grade currently held; whose names are not on a list of warrant officers recommended for promotion; and who are not eligible to be retired under any provision of law and are not within two years of becoming so eligible. the names of all regular warrant officers described in that subsection in a particular grade and competitive category; or the names of all regular warrant officers described in that subsection in a particular grade and competitive category who also are in particular year groups or specialties, or both, within that competitive category. in each grade in each competitive category; or in each grade, year group, or specialty (or combination thereof) in each competitive category. A warrant officer who is recommended for discharge by a selection board convened pursuant to subsection (b) and whose discharge is approved by the Secretary concerned shall be discharged on a date specified by the Secretary concerned. Selection of warrant officers for discharge under this subsection shall be based on the needs of the service. The discharge of any warrant officer pursuant to this section shall be considered involuntary for purposes of any other provision of law. This section applies to the Secretary of Homeland Security in the same manner and to the same extent as it applies to the Secretary of Defense. The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall take the action set forth in subsection (b) with respect to regular warrant officers of the Coast Guard.