(1) In addition to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau and the Director of the Joint Staff of the National Guard Bureau, there shall be assigned to the National Guard Bureau
(A) two general officers selected by the Secretary of the Army from officers of the Army National Guard of the United States who have been nominated by their respective Governors or, in the case of the District of Columbia, the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard, the senior of whom shall be appointed in accordance with paragraph (3), shall hold the grade of lieutenant general while so serving, and shall serve as Director, Army National Guard, with the other serving as Deputy Director, Army National Guard; and
(B) two general officers selected by the Secretary of the Air Force from officers of the Air National Guard of the United States who have been nominated by their respective Governors or, in the case of the District of Columbia, the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard, the senior of whom shall be appointed in accordance with paragraph (3), shall hold the grade of lieutenant general while so serving, and shall serve as Director, Air National Guard, with the other serving as Deputy Director, Air National Guard.
(3)
(A) The President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint the Director, Army National Guard, from general officers of the Army National Guard of the United States and shall appoint the Director, Air National Guard, from general officers of the Air National Guard of the United States.
(B) The Secretary of Defense may not recommend an officer to the President for appointment as Director, Army National Guard, or as Director, Air National Guard, unless the officer
(i) is recommended by the Secretary of the military department concerned; and
(ii) is determined by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in accordance with criteria and as a result of a process established by the Chairman, to have significant joint duty experience.
(C) An officer on active duty for service as the Director, Army National Guard, or the Director, Air National Guard, shall be counted for purposes of the grade limitations under sections
525 and
526 of this title.
(D) Until December 31, 2006, the Secretary of Defense may waive clause (ii) of subparagraph (B) with respect to the appointment of an officer as Director, Army National Guard, or as Director, Air National Guard, if the Secretary of the military department concerned requests the waiver and, in the judgment of the Secretary of Defense
(i) the officer is qualified for service in the position; and
(ii) the waiver is necessary for the good of the service.
Any such waiver shall be made on a case-by-case basis.
(E) The Director, Army National Guard, and the Director, Air National Guard, are appointed for a period of four years, but may be removed for cause at any time. An officer serving as either Director may be reappointed for one additional four-year period.