The authorized daily average number of enlisted members on active duty (other than for training) in an armed force in pay grades E–8 and E–9 in a fiscal year may not be more than 2.5 percent and 1.25 percent, respectively, of the number of enlisted members of that armed force who are on active duty (other than for training) on the first day of that fiscal year. In computing the limitations prescribed in the preceding sentence, there shall be excluded enlisted members of an armed force on active duty as authorized under section 115(a)(1)(B) or 115(b) of this title, or excluded from counting for active duty end strengths under section 115(i) of this title.

Whenever the number of members serving in pay grade E–9 is less than the number authorized for that grade under subsection (a), the difference between the two numbers may be applied to increase the number authorized under such subsection for pay grade E–8.

Whenever under section 527 of this title the President may suspend the operation of any provision of section 523, 525, or 526 of this title, the Secretary of Defense may suspend the operation of any provision of this section. Any such suspension shall, if not sooner ended, end in the manner specified in section 527 for a suspension under that section.

(Added Pub. L. 87–649, § 2(1), Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 492; amended Pub. L. 96–584, § 4, Dec. 23, 1980, 94 Stat. 3377; Pub. L. 97–86, title V, § 503(1), (2), Dec. 1, 1981, 95 Stat. 1107, 1108; Pub. L. 97–252, title V, § 503(a), Sept. 8, 1982, 96 Stat. 727; Pub. L. 98–94, title V, § 503(a), Sept. 24, 1983, 97 Stat. 631; Pub. L. 98–525, title IV, §§ 413(a), 414(a)(2), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2517, 2518; Pub. L. 99–145, title IV, § 413(a), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 619; Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title IV, § 413(a), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1083; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title IV, § 413(a), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1433; Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title IV, § 413(a), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1352; Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title IV, § 413(a), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1642; Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title V, § 552(a), title XVI, § 1662(a)(4), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2772, 2988; Pub. L. 105–261, div. A, title IV, § 407(a), title X, § 1069(a)(2), Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 1996, 2135; Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title IV, § 421(a)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–95; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title IV, § 403, Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1069; Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title IV, § 416(f), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1868; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title IV, § 406, Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 89.)