Military and Veterans Code section 502.1
(a)
The Adjutant General shall determine by the adoption of rules and regulations the grade and rank to be held by individuals appointed in the California Cadet Corps by reason of their military experience, professional knowledge, or both. These individuals shall be appointed pursuant to the rules and regulations adopted by the Adjutant General.(b)
(1)A person who has previously been an officer, warrant officer, or noncommissioned officer of, and discharged under honorable conditions from, the United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Space Force, the United States Coast Guard, a reserve component of those federal forces, the California National Guard, the State Guard, or the active militia may be appointed in the California Cadet Corps in the same rank last held in such federal or state military forces.(2)
Each officer, warrant officer, or noncommissioned officer shall hold office pursuant to the rules and regulations adopted by the Adjutant General.(3)
(A)Upon recommendation of the Adjutant General, the Governor may commission one Commander of the California Cadet Corps as a brigadier general or colonel, up to two Deputy Commanders of the California Cadet Corps as a colonel or lieutenant colonel, one Chief of Staff as a colonel or lieutenant colonel, and the necessary number of staff and regional advisors in the same grade and rank last held in federal or state military forces, not to exceed lieutenant colonel, pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the Adjutant General.(B)
The Commander of the California Cadet Corps may be appointed to a brigadier general, and the Deputy Commanders may be appointed as a colonel, once the total number of enrolled cadets exceeds 10,000 annually or there are more than 100 California Cadet Corps units.(4)
Upon the recommendation of the Adjutant General, the Governor may appoint commissioned officers, warrant officers, and noncommissioned officers to the same grade and rank last held in federal or state military forces for service in the California Cadet Corps by virtue of their professional knowledge and experience. Pay and expenses shall be taken from the funds appropriated for the maintenance and support of the California Cadet Corps.
Source:
Section 502.1, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=MVC§ionNum=502.1. (updated Jan. 1, 2025; accessed Jul. 14, 2025).
