(a) A regular officer of the Navy in a staff corps in a grade not above lieutenant commander may be appointed in the line of the Navy to the same grade.
(b) A regular officer in the line of the Navy in a grade not above lieutenant commander may be appointed to the same grade in a staff corps under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.
Structure US Code
Subtitle C— Navy and Marine Corps
CHAPTER 815— ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS
§ 8132. Regular Navy: transfers, line and staff corps
§ 8135. Regular Marine Corps: order of filling vacancies in grade of second lieutenant
§ 8138. Regular Marine Corps: judge advocates
§ 8139. Regular Navy and Regular Marine Corps: officers designated for limited duty
§ 8146. Navy and Marine Corps: temporary appointments of officers designated for limited duty