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 or professional knowledge, or both. These individuals shall be appointed pursuant to the rules and regulations adopted by the Adjutant General.

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 Coast Guard, or any reserve component of such federal forces, the California National Guard, the State Military Reserve, 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. Each officer, warrant officer, or noncommissioned officer shall hold office pursuant to the rules and regulations adopted by the Adjutant General. Upon recommendation of the Adjutant General, the Governor may commission one executive officer of the California Cadet Corps as colonel, one assistant executive officer of the California Cadet Corps as lieutenant colonel, and the necessary number of 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. Upon the recommendation of the Adjutant General, the Governor may appoint Special Project 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.

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 630, Sec. 5. (SB 537) Effective January 1, 2012.)