Section 15.31. Department of military affairs; creation.

  There is created a department of military affairs under the direction and supervision of the adjutant general who shall be appointed by the governor for a 5-year term. The adjutant general may be reappointed to successive terms. Notwithstanding s. 17.28 , if a vacancy occurs in the office of the adjutant general, the governor shall appoint a successor for a 5-year term. A person must meet all of the following requirements to be appointed as the adjutant general:

(1)  Hold the federally recognized minimum rank of full colonel.

(2)  Except for those qualified under sub. (4) , be a current participating member of one of the following components:

(a) The Wisconsin army national guard.

(b) The army national guard of the United States.

(c) The U.S. army reserve.

(d) The Wisconsin air national guard.

(e) The air national guard of the United States.

(f) The U.S. air force reserve.

(3)  Be fully qualified to receive federal recognition at the minimum rank of brigadier general and have successfully completed a war college course or the military equivalent acceptable to the appropriate service.

(4)  If the applicant is already a federally recognized general officer, meet all of the following conditions:

(a) Be retired from active drilling status within the proceeding 2 years.

(b) The basis of the applicant's retired status was service with one of the service components noted in sub. (2) .

(c) Be 62 years of age or less.

(d) Continue to be eligible for federal recognition as a major general.

1981 c. 35 ; 1983 a. 391 ; 1987 a. 63 ; 1989 a. 19 ; 2003 a. 25 , 321 .