Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 41 Part 1.djvu/783

 That nothing in this section shall operate to reduce the pay which any enlisted man is now receiving, during his current enlistment and while he holds his present grade, nor to change the present rate of pay of any enlisted men now on the retired list.

"Sec. 4c. .—Officers and enlisted men shall be assigned to the several branches of the Army as hereafter directed, a suitable proportion of each grade in each branch, but the President may increase or diminish the number of officers or enlisted men assigned to any branch by not more than a total of 15 per centum: That the total number authorized in any grade by this Act is not exceeded: Provided further, That the number of enlisted men herein authorized for any branch shall include such number of Philippine Scouts as may be organized in that branch: Provided further, That no officer shall be transferred from one branch of the service to another under the provisions of this section without his own consent. Except as otherwise herein prescribed, chiefs and assistants to chiefs of the several branches shall hereafter be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a period of four years, and such appointments shall not create vacancies. Appointment as chief of any branch shall be made from among officers commissioned in grades not below that of colonel, and as assistant from among officers of not less than fifteen years' commissioned service, who have demonstrated by actual and extended service in such branch or on similar duty that they are qualified for such appointment: Provided, That the chiefs of the several branches shall make recommendations to the Secretary of War for appointment: Provided further, That in making the first appointment to any such office created by this Act, the chief of a branch may be selected from among officers of not less than twenty-two years' commissioned service. Any officer who shall have served four years as chief of a branch, and who may subsequently be retired, shall be retired with the rank, pay and allowances authorized by law for the grade held by him as such chief. In time of peace no officer of the line shall be or remain detailed as a member of the General Staff Corps unless he has served for two of the next preceding six years in actual command of troops of one or more of the combatant arms; and in time of peace every officer service in a grade below that of brigadier general shall perform duty with troops of one or more of the combatant arms for at least one year in every period of five consecutive years, except that officers of less than one year’s commissioned service in the Regular Army may be detailed as students at service service schools: Provided, That an officer commissioned in a staff corps shall not be or remain detailed as a member of the General Staff Corps unless he has served for one of the next preceding five years with troops of one or more of the combatant arms. In the administration of this provision, all duty performed between April 6, 1917, and July 1, 1920, inclusive, or as a student at service schools, other than those of the noncombatant branches, at any time, shall be regarded as satisfying the requirements of service with combatant arms. Existing laws in so far as they restrict the detail or assignment of officers are hereby repealed. The Secretary of War shall annually report to Congress the numbers, grades, and assignments of the officers and enlisted men of the Army, and the number, kinds, and strength of organizations pertaining to each branch of the service."

. That section 5 of said Act be, and the same is hereby, amended by striking out the same and inserting the following in lieu thereof: ". 5. .—The General Staff Corps shall consist of the Chief of Staff, the War Department General Staff and the General Staff with troops. The War Department General Staff