The Adjutant General shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall serve during the pleasure of the Governor. No person shall be eligible to hold the office of the Adjutant General of this state, unless, at the time of his appointment, he is a federally recognized officer of the National Guard of Oklahoma, and of the National Guard of the United States, not below the rank of Major, and that his status as a federally recognized officer, both of the National Guard of Oklahoma and of the National Guard of the United States, shall have existed for at least three (3) years prior to the time of such appointment; or unless, within five (5) years prior to the time of his appointment, he has been a federally recognized officer of the National Guard of Oklahoma, and of the National Guard of the United States, not below the rank of Major, and that during his military service he served for a period of three (3) years as a federally recognized officer, both of the National Guard of Oklahoma and of the National Guard of the United States; provided that if the National Guard of Oklahoma is in active federal service and no persons having the above qualifications are available within the state, then the Governor may appoint, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, any suitably qualified person who at any time in the preceding ten (10) years would have been qualified, as above, and who has served at least two (2) years in active federal service in the grade of Major or higher.