(a)
(1) The Adjutant General is authorized to appoint, subject to the approval of the Governor, four (4) deputy adjutants general who will hold rank of not higher than one (1) grade below that held by the Adjutant General up to and including the rank of major general.
(2) Two (2) deputy adjutants general will be Army National Guard and two (2) deputy adjutants general will be Air National Guard.
(3) However, the foregoing shall not preclude the appointment of federally recognized lieutenant generals to perform the additional duties of deputy adjutants general.
(b) At the time of the appointment:
(1) He or she must be an officer in the active service in the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard of this state for three (3) successive years immediately preceding his or her appointment; or
(2) He or she must have been in the active service in the branch or arm for which appointed of the Army National Guard or Air National Guard as a commissioned officer; or
(3) If not in active National Guard service at the time of appointment, he or she must have had prior service of at least six (6) years in the branch or arm of the Army National Guard or Air National Guard of this state.
(c) The deputy adjutants general must have a thorough knowledge of the organization and missions of the departments and components of the armed forces of the United States.
(d) To be eligible for appointment as a Deputy Adjutant General for Air, the officer must be assigned to the Air National Guard in the rank of colonel, federally recognized.
(e) He or she shall subscribe to the oath of office prescribed for members of the Arkansas Army National Guard and Air National Guard, which oath shall be deposited in the office of the Adjutant General.
(f) He or she shall, during his or her term of office, be entitled to all rights, privileges, and immunities granted officers of like rank in the Arkansas National Guard.
(g) He or she shall aid the Adjutant General by the performance of such duties as may be assigned to him or her.