Military and Veterans Code section 400

For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:

(a)

“Armed Forces” means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard.

(b)

“Military orders,” with respect to a service member, means official military orders, or any notification, certification, or verification from the service member’s commanding officer with respect to the service member’s current or future military duty status.

(c)

“Military service” means, as to a member of the militia, full-time active state service or full-time active federal service. As to a person who is not a member of the militia, “military service” means full-time active duty for a period in excess of seven days in any 14-day period.

(d)

“Service member” means all of the following:

(1)

A member of the militia, as defined in Section 120, called or ordered into active state or federal service pursuant to Section 143 or 146 or federal law.

(2)

A member of an active or reserve component of the Armed Forces who is ordered into active duty pursuant to federal law.

Source: Section 400, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=MVC§ionNum=400.­ (updated Jan. 1, 2023; accessed Jul. 20, 2026).

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Verified:
Jul. 20, 2026

§ 400's source at ca​.gov