192 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

SEC. 33. Commissioned officers must be citizens of the United
States, of the age of twenty-one years and upwards. No person
who has been expelled or dishonorably discharged from any
military organizations of any State shall be commissioned
unless he has re-enlisted and served as provided in this chapter.
No person shall be commissioned unless he shall possess the
additional requirements herein prescribed for the particular
office to which he is to be commissioned. A Brigadier General
at the time of his election must be an officer in active service in
the National Guard of this State, of the grade of Field Officer,
or have been in active service in said National Guard as a Field
Officer, or in the service of the Army or Marine Corps of the
United States as a Field Officer. A Colonel of a regiment, at
the time of his election, must either be an officer in active ser-
vice in the National Guard of this State, or, if not in active
service at the time of his election, must have had prior service
of at least three years in the National Guard of this State, or in
the Army or Marine Corps of the United States, or in all com-
bined as commissioned officer. A Lieutenant Colonel and Major
of the line at the time of his election must either be an officer in
active service, and for two successive years immediately pre-
ceding his election must have been in active service in the
National Guard of this or some other State as a commissioned
officer; or, if not in active service at the time of his election,
must have had prior service of at least three years in the1
National Guard of this or some other State, or in the Army
or Marine Corps of the United States, or in all combined, as a
commissioned officer. The Captain of the Naval Brigade shall
have been an officer in the Naval Brigade, or has served as an
officer in the United States Navy for at least three years.

SEC. 34. Before receiving a commission or being commissioned
to a higher grade as a result of promotion, every officer must
have passed a satisfactory examination before a board as to his
knowledge of military affairs and general knowledge and fitness
for the service, and any one failing to pass such an examination
shall not be eligible for an office in the National Guard of the
State, or for promotion for the period of one year from date of
such failure, except upon the recommendation of the command-
ing officer of the regiment or separate organization when an-
other examination may be ordered. The Brigadier General is
exempt from examination.

SEC. 35. Boards of examination, provided for in the preced-
ing section, shall be appointed by the Commander-in-Chief, or
caused by him to be appointed by the Commanding Officer of
the First Brigade of not less than three officers, including at
least one Field Officer from each Regiment, and shall inquire