CHAPTER 21 - PERSONNEL; OFFICERS

Title 14 > CHAPTER 21

Sections (61)

§ 2101 Original appointment of permanent commissioned officers

(a) The President may appoint permanent commissioned officers in the Regular Coast Guard in grades appropriate to their qualification, experience, and length of service, as the needs of the Coast Guard may require, from among the following categories: Graduates of the Coast Guard Academy. Commissioned warrant officers, warrant officers, and enlisted members of the Regular Coast Guard. Members of the Coast Guard Reserve who have served at least 2 years as such. Licensed officers of the United States merchant marine who have served 2 or more years aboard a vessel of the United States in the capacity of a licensed officer. Original appointments under this section in the grades of lieutenant commander and above shall be made by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Original appointments under this section in the grades of ensign through lieutenant shall be made by the President alone.

(b) No individual shall be appointed a commissioned officer under this section until his mental, moral, physical, and professional fitness to perform the duties of a commissioned officer has been established under such regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe.

(c) Appointees under this section shall take precedence in the grade to which appointed in accordance with the dates of their commissions as commissioned officers in such grade. Appointees whose dates of commission are the same shall take precedence with each other as the Secretary shall determine.

(d) For the purposes of this section, the term “original”, with respect to the appointment of a member of the Coast Guard, refers to that member’s most recent appointment in the Coast Guard that is neither a promotion nor a demotion.

§ 2102 Active duty promotion list

(a) The Secretary shall maintain a single active duty promotion list of officers of the Coast Guard on active duty in the grades of ensign and above. Reserve officers on active duty, other than pursuant to an active duty agreement executed under section 12311 of title 10 , retired officers, officers of the permanent commissioned teaching staff of the Coast Guard Academy, and officers designated by the Secretary pursuant this section shall not be included on the active duty promotion list.

(b) Officers shall be carried on the active duty promotion list in the order of seniority of the grades in which they are serving. Officers serving in the same grade shall be carried in the order of their seniority in that grade. The Secretary may correct any erroneous position on the active duty promotion list that was caused by administrative error.

(c) An individual appointed in the grade of ensign or above in the Regular Coast Guard shall be placed on the active duty promotion list in the order of his date of rank and seniority.

(d) A Reserve officer, other than one excluded by subsection (a), shall, when he enters on active duty, be placed on the active duty promotion list in accordance with his grade and seniority. The position of such a Reserve officer among other officers of the Coast Guard on active duty who have the same date of rank shall be determined by the Secretary.

§ 2103 Number and distribution of commissioned officers on active duty promotion list

(a) Maximum Total Number.— The total number of Coast Guard commissioned officers on the active duty promotion list, excluding warrant officers, shall not exceed— 7,100 in fiscal year 2022; 7,200 in fiscal year 2023; 7,300 in fiscal year 2024; and 7,400 in fiscal year 2025 and each subsequent fiscal year. Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Commandant may temporarily increase the total number of commissioned officers permitted under such paragraph by up to 4 percent for not more than 60 days after the date of the commissioning of a Coast Guard Academy class. Not later than 30 days after exceeding the total number of commissioned officers permitted under paragraphs (1) and (2), and each 30 days thereafter until the total number of commissioned officers no longer exceeds the number of such officers permitted under paragraphs (1) and (2), the Commandant shall notify the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate of the number of officers on the active duty promotion list on the last day of the preceding 30-day period.

(b) Distribution Percentages by Grade.— The total number of commissioned officers authorized by this section shall be distributed in grade in the following percentages: 0.375 percent for rear admiral; 0.375 percent for rear admiral (lower half); 6.0 percent for captain; 15.0 percent for commander; and 22.0 percent for lieutenant commander. The Secretary shall prescribe the percentages applicable to the grades of lieutenant, lieutenant (junior grade), and ensign. The Secretary— may reduce, as the needs of the Coast Guard require, any of the percentages set forth in paragraph (1); and shall apply that total percentage reduction to any other lower grade or combination of lower grades.

(c) Computations.— The Secretary shall compute, at least once each year, the total number of commissioned officers authorized to serve in each grade by applying the grade distribution percentages established by or under this section to the total number of commissioned officers listed on the current active duty promotion list. Subject to subsection (a), in making the computations under paragraph (1), any fraction shall be rounded to the nearest whole number. The number of commissioned officers on the active duty promotion list below the rank of vice admiral serving with other Federal departments or agencies on a reimbursable basis or excluded under section 324(d) of title 49 shall not be counted against the total number of commissioned officers authorized to serve in each grade.

(d) Use of Numbers; Temporary Increases.— The numbers resulting from computations under subsection (c) shall be, for all purposes, the authorized number in each grade; except that the authorized number for a grade is temporarily increased during the period between one computation and the next by the number of officers originally appointed in that grade during that period and the number of officers of that grade for whom vacancies exist in the next higher grade but whose promotion has been delayed for any reason.

(e) Secretary to Prescribe Numbers for Certain Officers.— The Secretary shall prescribe the number of officers authorized to be serving on active duty in each grade of— the permanent commissioned teaching staff of the Coast Guard Academy; the officers designated by the Secretary pursuant to this section; and the officers of the Reserve serving in connection with organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the reserve components.

§ 2104 Appointment of temporary officers

(a) The president may appoint temporary commissioned officers— in the Regular Coast Guard in a grade, not above lieutenant, appropriate to their qualifications, experience, and length of service, as the needs of the Coast Guard may require, from among the commissioned warrant officers, warrant officers, and enlisted members of the Coast Guard, and from holders of licenses issued under chapter 71 of title 46; and in the Coast Guard Reserve in a grade, not above lieutenant, appropriate to their qualifications, experience, and length of service, as the needs of the Coast Guard may require, from among the commissioned warrant officers of the Coast Guard Reserve.

(b) Temporary appointments under this section do not change the permanent, probationary, or acting status of individuals so appointed, prejudice them in regard to promotion or appointment, or abridge their rights or benefits. An individual who is appointed under this section may not suffer any reduction in the rate of pay and allowances to which he would have been entitled had he remained in his former grade and continued to receive the increases in pay and allowances authorized for that grade.

(c) An appointment under this section, or a subsequent promotion appointment of a temporary officer, may be vacated by the appointing officer at any time. Each officer whose appointment is so vacated shall revert to his permanent status.

(d) Appointees under this section shall take precedence in the grade to which appointed in accordance with the dates of their appointments as officers in such grade. Appointees whose dates of appointment are the same shall take precedence with each other as the Secretary shall determine.

§ 2105 Rank of warrant officers

(a) Among warrant officer grades, warrant officers of a higher numerical designation are senior to warrant officer grades of a lower numerical designation.

(b) Warrant officers shall take precedence in the grade to which appointed in accordance with the dates of their commissions as commissioned officers in the Coast Guard in such grade. Precedence among warrant officers of the same grade who have the same date of commission shall be determined by regulations prescribed by the Secretary.

§ 2106 Selection boards; convening of boards

At least once a year and at such other times as the needs of the service require, the Secretary shall convene selection boards to recommend for promotion to the next higher grade officers on the active duty promotion list in each grade from lieutenant (junior grade) through captain, with separate boards for each grade. However, the Secretary is not required to convene a board to recommend officers for promotion to a grade when no vacancies exist in the grade concerned, and he estimates that none will occur in the next twelve months. (Added Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C) , Sept. 24, 1963 , 77 Stat. 178 , § 251; renumbered § 2106, Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 112(b) , Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4216 .)

§ 2107 Selection boards; composition of boards

A board convened under section 2106 of this title shall consist of five or more officers on the active duty promotion list who are serving in or above the grade to which the board may recommend officers for promotion. No officer may be a member of two successive boards convened to consider officers of the same grade for promotion. (Added Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C) , Sept. 24, 1963 , 77 Stat. 179 , § 252; renumbered § 2107 and amended Pub. L. 115–282, title I , §§ 112(b), 123(b)(2), Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4216 , 4240.)

§ 2108 Selection boards; notice of convening; communication with board

(a) Before a board is convened under section 2106 of this title , notice of the convening date, the promotion zone to be considered, and the officers eligible for consideration shall be given to the service at large.

(b) Each officer eligible for consideration by a selection board convened under section 2106 of this title may send a communication through official channels to the board, to arrive not later than the date the board convenes, inviting attention to any matter of record in the armed forces concerning such officer. A communication sent under this section may not criticize any officer or reflect upon the character, conduct, or motive of any officer.

§ 2109 Selection boards; oath of members

Each member of a selection board shall swear— that the member will, without prejudice or partiality, and having in view both the special fitness of officers and the efficiency of the Coast Guard, perform the duties imposed upon the member; and an oath in accordance with section 931. (Added Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C) , Sept. 24, 1963 , 77 Stat. 179 , § 254; amended Pub. L. 112–213, title II, § 207 , Dec. 20, 2012 , 126 Stat. 1546 ; renumbered § 2109 and amended Pub. L. 115–282, title I , §§ 112(b), 123(b)(2), Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4216 , 4240.)

§ 2110 Number of officers to be selected for promotion

Before convening a board under section 2106 of this title to recommend officers for promotion to any grade, the Secretary shall determine the total number of officers to be selected for promotion to that grade. This number shall be equal to the number of vacancies existing in the grade, plus the number of additional vacancies estimated for the next twelve months, less the number of officers on the selection list for the grade. (Added Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C) , Sept. 24, 1963 , 77 Stat. 179 , § 255; renumbered § 2110 and amended Pub. L. 115–282, title I , §§ 112(b), 123(b)(2), Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4216 , 4240.)

§ 2111 Promotion zones

(a) Before convening a selection board to recommend officers for promotion to any grade above lieutenant (junior grade) and below rear admiral (lower half), the Secretary shall establish a promotion zone for the grade to be considered. The promotion zone for each grade shall consist of the most senior officers of that grade on the active duty promotion list who are eligible for consideration for promotion to the next higher grade and who have not previously been placed in a promotion zone for selection for promotion to the next higher grade. The number of officers in each zone shall be determined after considering— the needs of the service; the estimated numbers of vacancies available in future years to provide comparable opportunity for promotion of officers in successive year groups; and the extent to which current terms of service in that grade conform to a desirable career promotion pattern. However, such number of officers shall not exceed the number to be selected for promotion divided by one-half.

(b) Promotion zones from which officers will be selected for promotion to the grade of rear admiral (lower half) shall be established by the Secretary as the needs of the service require.

§ 2112 Promotion year; defined

For the purposes of this chapter, “promotion year” means the period which commences on July 1 of each year and ends on June 30 of the following year. (Added Pub. L. 94–546, § 1(17) , Oct. 18, 1976 , 90 Stat. 2520 , § 256a; renumbered § 2112, Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 112(b) , Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4216 .)

§ 2113 Eligibility of officers for consideration for promotion

(a) An officer on the active duty promotion list becomes eligible for consideration for promotion to the next higher grade at the beginning of the promotion year in which he completes the following amount of service computed from his date of rank in the grade in which he is serving: two years in the grade of lieutenant (junior grade); three years in the grade of lieutenant; four years in the grade of lieutenant commander; four years in the grade of commander; and three years in the grade of captain.

(b) For the purpose of this section, service in a grade includes all qualifying service in that grade or a higher grade, under either a temporary or permanent appointment. However, service in a grade under a temporary service appointment under section 2125 of this title is considered as service only in the grade that the officer concerned would have held had he not been so appointed.

(c) No officer may become eligible for consideration for promotion until all officers of his grade senior to him are so eligible.

(d) Except when his name is on a list of selectees, each officer who becomes eligible for consideration for promotion to the next higher grade remains eligible so long as he— continues on active duty; and is not promoted to that grade.

(e) An officer whose involuntary retirement or separation is deferred under section 2156 of this title is not eligible for consideration for promotion to the next higher grade during the period of that deferment.

(f) The Secretary may waive subsection (a) to the extent necessary to allow officers described therein to have at least two opportunities for consideration for promotion to the next higher grade as officers below the promotion zone.

(g) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Commandant may provide that an officer may, upon the officer’s request and with the approval of the Commandant, be excluded from consideration by a selection board convened under section 2106. The Commandant shall approve a request under paragraph (1) only if— the basis for the request is to allow the officer to complete a broadening assignment, advanced education, another assignment of significant value to the Coast Guard, a career progression requirement delayed by the assignment or education, or a qualifying personal or professional circumstance, as determined by the Commandant; the Commandant determines the exclusion from consideration is in the best interest of the Coast Guard; and the officer has not previously failed of selection for promotion to the grade for which the officer requests the exclusion from consideration.

§ 2114 United States Deputy Marshals in Alaska

Commissioned officers may be appointed as United States Deputy Marshals in Alaska. (Added Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 112(c)(3) , Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4221 .)

§ 2115 Selection boards; information to be furnished boards

(a) In General.— The Secretary shall furnish the appropriate selection board convened under section 2106 of this title with— the number of officers that the board may recommend for promotion to the next higher grade; the names and records of all officers who are eligible for consideration for promotion to the grade to which the board will recommend officers for promotion; and in the case of an eligible officer considered for promotion to a rank above lieutenant, any credible information of an adverse nature, including any substantiated adverse finding or conclusion from an officially documented investigation or inquiry and any information placed in the personnel service record of the officer under section 1745(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 ( Public Law 113–66 ; 10 U.S.C. 1561 note), shall be furnished to the selection board in accordance with standards and procedures set out in the regulations prescribed by the Secretary.

(b) Provision of Direction and Guidance.— In addition to the information provided pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary may furnish the selection board— specific direction relating to the needs of the Coast Guard for officers having particular skills, including direction relating to the need for a minimum number of officers with particular skills within a specialty; and any other guidance that the Secretary believes may be necessary to enable the board to properly perform its functions. Selections made based on the direction and guidance provided under this subsection shall not exceed the maximum percentage of officers who may be selected from below the announced promotion zone at any given selection board convened under section 2106 of this title .

§ 2116 Officers to be recommended for promotion

(a) A selection board convened to recommend officers for promotion shall recommend those eligible officers whom the board, giving due consideration to the needs of the Coast Guard for officers with particular skills so noted in specific direction furnished to the board by the Secretary under section 2115 of this title , considers best qualified of the officers under consideration for promotion. No officer may be recommended for promotion unless he receives the recommendation of at least a majority of the members of a board composed of five members, or at least two-thirds of the members of a board composed of more than five members.

(b) The number of officers that a board convened under section 2106 of this title may recommend for promotion to a grade below rear admiral (lower half) from among eligible officers junior in rank to the junior officer in the appropriate promotion zone may not exceed— 5 percent of the total number of officers that the board is authorized to recommend for promotion to the grade of lieutenant or lieutenant commander; 7½ percent of the total number of officers that the board is authorized to recommend for promotion to the grade of commander; and 10 percent of the total number of officers that the board is authorized to recommend for promotion to the grade of captain; unless such percentage is a number less than one, in which case the board may recommend one such officer for promotion.

(c) In selecting the officers to be recommended for promotion, a selection board may recommend officers of particular merit, from among those officers chosen for promotion, to be placed at the top of the list of selectees promulgated by the Secretary under section 2121(a) of this title . The number of officers that a board may recommend to be placed at the top of the list of selectees may not exceed three times the percentages set forth in subsection (b) unless such a percentage is a number less than one, in which case the board may recommend one officer for such placement. No officer may be recommended to be placed at the top of the list of selectees unless he or she receives the recommendation of at least a majority of the members of a board composed of five members, or at least two-thirds of the members of a board composed of more than five members. The Secretary shall conduct a survey of the Coast Guard officer corps to determine if implementation of this subsection will improve Coast Guard officer retention. A selection board may not make any recommendation under this subsection before the date on which the Secretary publishes a finding, based upon the results of the survey, that implementation of this subsection will improve Coast Guard officer retention. The Secretary shall submit any finding made by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (2) to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

§ 2117 Selection boards; reports

(a) Each board convened under section 2106 of this title shall submit a report in writing, signed by all the members thereof, containing the names of the officers recommended for promotion and the names of those officers recommended to be advanced to the top of the list of selectees established by the Secretary under section 2121(a) of this title .

(b) A board convened under section 2106 of this title shall certify that, in the opinion of at least a majority of the members if the board has five members, or in the opinion of at least two-thirds of the members if the board has more than five members, the officers recommended for promotion are the best qualified for promotion to meet the needs of the service (as noted in specific direction furnished the board by the Secretary under section 2115 of this title ) of those officers whose names have been furnished to the board.

§ 2118 Selection boards; submission of reports

(a) A board convened under section 2106 of this title shall submit its report to the Secretary. If the board has acted contrary to law or regulation, the Secretary may return the report for proceedings in revision and resubmission to the Secretary. After his final review, the Secretary shall submit the report of the board to the President for his approval, modification, or disapproval.

(b) If any officer recommended for promotion is not acceptable to the President, the President may remove the name of that officer from the report of the board.

(c) Upon approval by the President the names of officers selected for promotion by a board convened under section 2106 of this title shall be promptly disseminated to the service at large.

(d) Except as required by this section, the proceedings of a selection board, including a special selection board convened under section 2120, shall not be disclosed to any individual who is not a member of the board.

(e) If the Secretary makes a recommendation under this section that the name of an officer be removed from a report of a selection board and the recommendation is accompanied by information that was not presented to that selection board, that information shall be made available to that officer. The officer shall then be afforded a reasonable opportunity to submit comments on that information to the officials making the recommendation and the officials reviewing the recommendation. If an eligible officer cannot be given access to such information because of its classification status, the officer shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be provided with an appropriate summary of the information.

§ 2119 Failure of selection for promotion

An officer, other than an officer serving in the grade of captain, who is, or is senior to, the junior officer in the promotion zone established for his grade under section 2111 of this title , fails of selection if he is not selected for promotion by the selection board which considered him, or if having been recommended for promotion by the board, his name is thereafter removed from the report of the board by the President. (Added Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C) , Sept. 24, 1963 , 77 Stat. 181 , § 262; amended Pub. L. 112–213, title II, § 208(c) , Dec. 20, 2012 , 126 Stat. 1549 ; renumbered § 2119 and amended Pub. L. 115–282, title I , §§ 112(b), 123(b)(2), Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4216 , 4240.)

§ 2120 Special selection boards; correction of errors

(a) Officers Not Considered Due to Administrative Error.— If the Secretary determines that as the result of an administrative error— an officer or former officer was not considered for selection for promotion by a selection board convened under section 2106; or the name of an officer or former officer was not placed on an all-fully-qualified-officers list; the Secretary shall convene a special selection board to determine whether such officer or former officer should be recommended for promotion and such officer or former officer shall not be considered to have failed of selection for promotion prior to the consideration of the special selection board. If a special selection board convened under paragraph (1) does not recommend for promotion an officer or former officer, whose grade is below the grade of captain and whose name was referred to that board for consideration, the officer or former officer shall be considered to have failed of selection for promotion.

(b) Officers Considered But Not Selected; Material Error.— In the case of an officer or former officer who was eligible for promotion, was considered for selection for promotion by a selection board convened under section 2106, and was not selected for promotion by that board, the Secretary may convene a special selection board to determine whether the officer or former officer should be recommended for promotion, if the Secretary determines that— an action of the selection board that considered the officer or former officer— was contrary to law in a matter material to the decision of the board; or involved material error of fact or material administrative error; or the selection board that considered the officer or former officer did not have before it for consideration material information. If a special selection board convened under paragraph (1) does not recommend for promotion an officer or former officer, whose grade is that of commander or below and whose name was referred to that board for consideration, the officer or former officer shall be considered— to have failed of selection for promotion with respect to the board that considered the officer or former officer prior to the consideration of the special selection board; and to incur no additional failure of selection for promotion as a result of the action of the special selection board.

(c) Requirements for Special Selection Boards.— Each special selection board convened under this section shall— be composed in accordance with section 2107 and the members of the board shall be required to swear the oaths described in section 2109; consider the record of an applicable officer or former officer as that record, if corrected, would have appeared to the selection board that should have considered or did consider the officer or former officer prior to the consideration of the special selection board and that record shall be compared with a sampling of the records of— those officers of the same grade who were recommended for promotion by such prior selection board; and those officers of the same grade who were not recommended for promotion by such prior selection board; and submit to the Secretary a written report in a manner consistent with sections 2117 and 2118.

(d) Appointment of Officers Recommended for Promotion.— An officer or former officer whose name is placed on a promotion list as a result of the recommendation of a special selection board convened under this section shall be appointed, as soon as practicable, to the next higher grade in accordance with the law and policies that would have been applicable to the officer or former officer had the officer or former officer been recommended for promotion by the selection board that should have considered or did consider the officer or former officer prior to the consideration of the special selection board. An officer or former officer who is promoted to the next higher grade as a result of the recommendation of a special selection board convened under this section shall have, upon such promotion, the same date of rank, the same effective date for the pay and allowances of that grade, and the same position on the active duty promotion list as the officer or former officer would have had if the officer or former officer had been recommended for promotion to that grade by the selection board that should have considered or did consider the officer or former officer prior to the consideration of the special selection board. If the report of a special selection board convened under this section, as approved by the President, recommends for promotion to the next higher grade an officer not eligible for promotion or a former officer whose name was referred to the board for consideration, the Secretary may act under section 1552 of title 10 to correct the military record of the officer or former officer to correct an error or remove an injustice resulting from the officer or former officer not being selected for promotion by the selection board that should have considered or did consider the officer or former officer prior to the consideration of the special selection board.

(e) Application Process and Time Limits.— The Secretary shall issue regulations regarding the process by which an officer or former officer may apply to have a matter considered by a special selection board convened under this section, including time limits related to such applications.

(f) Limitation of Other Jurisdiction.— No official or court of the United States shall have authority or jurisdiction over any claim based in any way on the failure of an officer or former officer to be selected for promotion by a selection board convened under section 2106, until— the claim has been referred to a special selection board convened under this section and acted upon by that board; or the claim has been rejected by the Secretary without consideration by a special selection board convened under this section.

(g) Judicial Review.— A court of the United States may review— a decision of the Secretary not to convene a special selection board under this section to determine if the court finds that the decision of the Secretary was arbitrary or capricious, not based on substantial evidence, or otherwise contrary to law; and an action of a special selection board under this section to determine if the court finds that the action of the special selection board was contrary to law or involved material error of fact or material administrative error. If, with respect to a review under paragraph (1), a court makes a finding described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of that paragraph, the court shall remand the case to the Secretary and the Secretary shall provide the applicable officer or former officer consideration by a new special selection board convened under this section.

(h) Designation of Boards.— The Secretary may designate a selection board convened under section 2106 as a special selection board convened under this section. A selection board so designated may function in the capacity of a selection board convened under section 2106 and a special selection board convened under this section.

§ 2120a Special selection review boards

(a) In General.— If the Secretary determines that a person recommended by a promotion board for promotion to a grade at or below the grade of rear admiral is the subject of credible information of an adverse nature, including any substantiated adverse finding or conclusion described in section 2115(a)(3) of this title that was not furnished to the promotion board during its consideration of the person for promotion as otherwise required by such section, the Secretary shall convene a special selection review board under this section to review the person and recommend whether the recommendation for promotion of the person should be sustained. If a person and the recommendation for promotion of the person is subject to review under this section by a special selection review board convened under this section, the name of the person— shall not be disseminated or publicly released on the list of officers recommended for promotion by the promotion board recommending the promotion of the person; and shall not be forwarded to the President or the Senate, as applicable, or included on a promotion list under section 2121 of this title .

(b) Convening.— Any special selection review board convened under this section shall be convened in accordance with the provisions of section 2120(c) of this title . Any special selection review board convened under this section may review such number of persons, and recommendations for promotion of such persons, as the Secretary shall specify in convening such special selection review board.

(c) Information Considered.— In reviewing a person and recommending whether the recommendation for promotion of the person should be sustained under this section, a special selection review board convened under this section shall be furnished and consider the following: The record and information concerning the person furnished in accordance with section 2115 of this title to the promotion board that recommended the person for promotion. Any credible information of an adverse nature on the person, including any substantiated adverse finding or conclusion from an officially documented investigation or inquiry described in section 2115(a)(3) of this title . The furnishing of information to a special selection review board under paragraph (1)(B) shall be governed by the standards and procedures referred to in section 2115 of this title . Before information on a person described in paragraph (1)(B) is furnished to a special selection review board for purposes of this section, the Secretary shall ensure that— such information is made available to the person; and subject to subparagraphs (C) and (D), the person is afforded a reasonable opportunity to submit comments on such information to the special selection review board before its review of the person and the recommendation for promotion of the person under this section. If information on a person described in paragraph (1)(B) is not made available to the person as otherwise required by subparagraph (A)(i) due to the classification status of such information, the person shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be furnished a summary of such information appropriate to the person’s authorization for access to classified information. An opportunity to submit comments on information is not required for a person under subparagraph (A)(ii) if— such information was made available to the person in connection with the furnishing of such information under section 2115(a) of this title to the promotion board that recommended the promotion of the person subject to review under this section; and the person submitted comments on such information to that promotion board. The comments on information of a person described in clause (i)(II) shall be furnished to the special selection review board. A person may waive either or both of the following: The right to submit comments to a special selection review board under subparagraph (A)(ii). The furnishing of comments to a special selection review board under subparagraph (C)(ii).

(d) Consideration.— In considering the record and information on a person under this section, the special selection review board shall compare such record and information with an appropriate sampling of the records of those officers who were recommended for promotion by the promotion board that recommended the person for promotion, and an appropriate sampling of the records of those officers who were considered by and not recommended for promotion by that promotion board. Records and information shall be presented to a special selection review board for purposes of paragraph (1) in a manner that does not indicate or disclose the person or persons for whom the special selection review board was convened. In considering whether the recommendation for promotion of a person should be sustained under this section, a special selection review board shall, to the greatest extent practicable, apply standards used by the promotion board that recommended the person for promotion. The recommendation for promotion of a person may be sustained under this section only if the special selection review board determines that the person— ranks on an order of merit created by the special selection review board as better qualified for promotion than the sample officer highest on the order of merit list who was considered by and not recommended for promotion by the promotion board concerned; and is comparable in qualification for promotion to those sample officers who were recommended for promotion by that promotion board. A recommendation for promotion of a person may be sustained under this section only by a vote of a majority of the members of the special selection review board. If a special selection review board does not sustain a recommendation for promotion of a person under this section, the person shall be considered to have failed of selection for promotion.

(e) Reports.— Each special selection review board convened under this section shall submit to the Secretary a written report, signed by each member of the board, containing the name of each person whose recommendation for promotion it recommends for sustainment and certifying that the board has carefully considered the record and information of each person whose name was referred to it. The provisions of sections 2117(a) of this title apply to the report and proceedings of a special selection review board convened under this section in the same manner as they apply to the report and proceedings of a promotion board convened under section 2106 of this title .

(f) Appointment of Persons.— If the report of a special selection review board convened under this section recommends the sustainment of the recommendation for promotion to the next higher grade of a person whose name was referred to it for review under this section, and the President approves the report, the person shall, as soon as practicable, be appointed to that grade in accordance with section 2121 of this title . A person who is appointed to the next higher grade as described in paragraph (1) shall, upon that appointment, have the same date of rank, the same effective date for the pay and allowances of that grade, and the same position on the active-duty list as the person would have had pursuant to the original recommendation for promotion of the promotion board concerned.

(g) Regulations.— The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section.

(h) Promotion Board Defined.— In this section, the term “promotion board” means a selection board convened by the Secretary under section 2106 of this title .

§ 2121 Promotions; appointments

(a) When the report of a board convened to recommend officers for promotion has been approved by the President, the Secretary shall place the names of all officers selected and approved on a list of selectees in the order of their seniority on the active duty promotion list. The names of all officers approved by the President and recommended by the board to be placed at the top of the list of selectees shall be placed at the top of the list of selectees in the order of seniority on the active duty promotion list.

(b) Officers on the list of selectees may be promoted by appointment in the next higher grade to fill vacancies in the authorized active duty strength of the grade as determined under section 2103 of this title after officers on any previous list of selectees for that grade have been promoted. Officers shall be promoted in the order that their names appear on the list of selectees. The date of rank of an officer promoted under this subsection shall be the date of his appointment in that grade.

(c) An officer serving on active duty in the grade of ensign may, if found fully qualified for promotion in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary, be promoted to the grade of lieutenant (junior grade) by appointment after he has completed twelve months’ active service in grade. The date of rank of an officer promoted under this subsection shall be the date of his appointment in the grade of lieutenant (junior grade) as specified by the Secretary.

(d) When a vacancy in the grade of rear admiral occurs, the senior rear admiral (lower half) serving on the active duty promotion list shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to fill the vacancy. The appointment shall be effective on the date the vacancy occurred.

(e) Appointments of regular officers under this section shall be made by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate except that advice and consent is not required for appointments under this section in the grade of lieutenant (junior grade) or lieutenant. Appointments of Reserve officers shall be made as prescribed in section 12203 of title 10 .

(f) The promotion of an officer may be delayed without prejudice if any of the following applies: The officer is under investigation or proceedings of a court-martial or a board of officers are pending against the officer. A criminal proceeding in a Federal or State court is pending against the officer. The Secretary determines that credible information of an adverse nature, including a substantiated adverse finding or conclusion described in section 2115(a)(3), with respect to the officer will result in the convening of a special selection review board under section 2120a of this title to review the officer and recommend whether the recommendation for promotion of the officer should be sustained. Subject to subparagraph (B), a promotion may be delayed under this subsection until, as applicable— the completion of the investigation or proceedings described in subparagraph (A); a final decision in the proceeding described in subparagraph (B) is issued; or the special selection review board convened under section 2120a of this title issues recommendations with respect to the officer. Unless the Secretary determines that a further delay is necessary in the public interest, a promotion may not be delayed under this subsection for more than one year after the date the officer would otherwise have been promoted. An officer whose promotion is delayed under this subsection and who is subsequently promoted shall be given the date of rank and position on the active duty promotion list in the grade to which promoted that he would have held had his promotion not been so delayed.

§ 2122 Removal of officer from list of selectees for promotion

(a) The President may remove the name of any officer from a list of selectees established under section 2121 of this title .

(b) If the Senate does not consent to the appointment of an officer whose name is on a list of selectees established under section 2121 of this title , that officer’s name shall be removed from this list.

(c) An officer whose name is removed from a list under subsection (a) or (b) continues to be eligible for consideration for promotion. If he is selected for promotion by the next selection board and promoted, he shall be given the date of rank and position on the active duty promotion list in the grade to which promoted that he would have held if his name had not been removed. However, if the officer is not selected by the next selection board or if his name is again removed from the list of selectees, he shall be considered for all purposes as having twice failed of selection for promotion.

§ 2123 Promotions; acceptance; oath of office

(a) An officer who receives an appointment under section 2121 of this title is considered to have accepted his appointment on its effective date, unless he expressly declines the appointment.

(b) An officer who has served continuously since he subscribed to the oath of office prescribed in section 3331 of title 5 is not required to take a new oath upon his appointment in a higher grade.

§ 2124 Promotions; pay and allowances

An officer who is promoted under section 2121 of this title shall be entitled to the pay and allowances of the grade to which promoted from his date of rank in such grade. (Added Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C) , Sept. 24, 1963 , 77 Stat. 182 , § 274; renumbered § 2124 and amended Pub. L. 115–282, title I , §§ 112(b), 123(b)(2), Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4216 , 4240.)

§ 2125 Wartime temporary service promotions

(a) In time of war, or of national emergency declared by the President or Congress, the President may suspend any section of this chapter relating to the selection, promotion, or involuntary separation of officers. Such a suspension may not continue beyond six months after the termination of the war or national emergency.

(b) When the preceding sections of this chapter relating to selection and promotion of officers are suspended in accordance with subsection (a), and the needs of the service require, the President may, under regulations prescribed by him, promote to a higher grade any officer serving on active duty in the grade of ensign or above in the Coast Guard.

(c) In time of war, or of national emergency declared by the President or Congress, the President may, under regulations to be prescribed by him, promote to the next higher warrant officer grade any warrant officer serving on active duty in a grade below chief warrant officer, W–4.

([(d) Repealed. Pub. L. 97–417, § 2(6) , Jan. 4, 1983 , 96 Stat. 2085 .]

(e) A promotion under this section to a grade above lieutenant may be made only upon the recommendation of a board of officers convened for that purpose.

(f) A promotion under this section shall be made by an appointment for temporary service. Original appointments under this section in the grades of lieutenant commander and above shall be made by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Original appointments under this section in the grades of ensign through lieutenant shall be made by the President alone. Any other appointments under this section shall be made by the President alone.

(g) An appointment under this section, unless expressly declined, is regarded as accepted on the date specified by the Secretary as the date of the appointment, and the officer so promoted is entitled to pay and allowances of the grade to which appointed from that date.

(h) An appointment under this section does not terminate any appointments held by an officer concerned under any other provisions of this title. The President may terminate temporary appointments made under this section at any time. An appointment under this section is effective for such period as the President determines. However, an appointment may not be effective later than six months after the end of the war or national emergency. When his temporary appointment under this section is terminated or expires, the officer shall revert to his former grade.

(i) Not later than six months after the end of the war or national emergency the President shall, under such regulations as he may prescribe, reestablish the active duty promotion list with adjustments and additions appropriate to the conditions of original appointment and wartime service of all officers to be included thereon. The President may, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint officers on the reestablished active duty promotion list to fill vacancies in the authorized active duty strength of each grade. Such appointments shall be considered to have been made under section 2121 of this title .

§ 2126 Promotion of officers not included on active duty promotion list

Officers who are not included on the active duty promotion list may be promoted under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary. These regulations shall, as to officers serving in connection with organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the reserve components and as to officers designated by the Secretary pursuant to this section, provide as nearly as practicable, that such officers will be selected and promoted in the same manner and will be afforded equal opportunity for promotion as officers of the corresponding grade on the active duty promotion list. (Added Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C) , Sept. 24, 1963 , 77 Stat. 183 , § 276; renumbered § 2126, Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 112(b) , Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4216 ; amended Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXII, § 7221(c)(3) , Dec. 18, 2025 , 139 Stat. 1700 .)

§ 2127 Recall to active duty during war or national emergency

In time of war or national emergency, the Secretary may order any regular officer on the retired list to active duty. (Added Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C) , Sept. 24, 1963 , 77 Stat. 189 , § 331; renumbered § 2127, Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 112(b) , Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4216 .)

§ 2128 Recall to active duty with consent of officer

(a) Any regular officer on the retired list may, with that officer’s consent, be assigned to such duties as that officer may be able to perform.

(b) The number of retired officers on active duty in the grade of lieutenant commander, commander, or captain shall not exceed 2 percent of the authorized number of officers on active duty in each such grade. However, this limitation does not apply to retired officers of these grades recalled to serve as members of courts, boards, panels, surveys, or special projects for periods not to exceed one year.

§ 2129 Aviation cadets; appointment as Reserve officers

(a) An aviation cadet designated under section 2317 who fulfills the eligibility requirements of section 2003 of title 10 for designation as a naval aviator may be appointed an ensign in the Coast Guard Reserve and designated a Coast Guard aviator.

(b) Aviation cadets who complete their training at approximately the same time are considered for all purposes to have begun their commissioned service on the same date, and the decision of the Secretary in this regard is conclusive.

§ 2130 Promotion to certain grades for officers with critical skills: captain, commander, lieutenant commander, lieutenant

(a) In General.— An officer in the grade of lieutenant (junior grade), lieutenant, lieutenant commander, or commander who is described in subsection (b) may be temporarily promoted to the grade of lieutenant, lieutenant commander, commander, or captain under regulations prescribed by the Secretary. Appointments under this section shall be made by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(b) Covered Officers.— An officer described in this subsection is any officer in a grade specified in subsection (a) who— has a skill in which the Coast Guard has a critical shortage of personnel (as determined by the Secretary); and is serving in a position (as determined by the Secretary) that— is designated to be held by a lieutenant, lieutenant commander, commander, or captain; and requires that an officer serving in such position have the skill possessed by such officer.

(c) Preservation of Position and Status of Officers Appointed.— The temporary positions authorized under this section shall not be counted among or included in the list of positions on the active duty promotion list. An appointment under this section does not change the position on the active duty list or the permanent, probationary, or acting status of the officer so appointed, prejudice the officer in regard to other promotions or appointments, or abridge the rights or benefits of the officer.

(d) Board Recommendation Required.— A temporary promotion under this section may be made only upon the recommendation of a board of officers convened by the Secretary for the purpose of recommending officers for such promotions.

(e) Acceptance and Effective Date of Appointment.— Each appointment under this section, unless expressly declined, is, without formal acceptance, regarded as accepted on the date such appointment is made, and a member so appointed is entitled to the pay and allowances of the grade of the temporary promotion under this section beginning on the date the appointment is made.

(f) Termination of Appointment.— Unless sooner terminated, an appointment under this section terminates— on the date the officer who received the appointment is promoted to the permanent grade of lieutenant, lieutenant commander, commander, or captain; on the date the officer is detached from a position described in subsection (b)(2), unless the officer is on a promotion list to the permanent grade of lieutenant, lieutenant commander, commander, or captain, in which case the appointment terminates on the date the officer is promoted to that grade; when the appointment officer determines that the officer who received the appointment has engaged in misconduct or has displayed substandard performance; or when otherwise determined by the Commandant to be in the best interests of the Coast Guard.

(g) Limitation on Number of Eligible Positions.— An appointment under this section may only be made for service in a position designated by the Secretary for the purposes of this section. The number of positions so designated may not exceed the following percentages of the respective grades: As lieutenant, 0.5 percent. As lieutenant commander, 3.0 percent. As commander, 2.6 percent. As captain, 2.6 percent.

§ 2131 College student pre-commissioning initiative

(a) In General.— There is authorized within the Coast Guard a college student pre-commissioning initiative program (in this section referred to as the “Program” ) for eligible undergraduate students to enlist and receive a guaranteed commission as an officer in the Coast Guard.

(b) Criteria for Selection.— To be eligible for the Program a student must meet the following requirements upon submitting an application: A student must be not less than 19 years old and not more than 27 years old as of September 30 of the fiscal year in which the Program selection panel selecting such student convenes. All applicants must be of outstanding moral character and meet other character requirements as set forth by the Commandant. An applicant serving in the Coast Guard may not be commissioned if in the 36 months prior to the first Officer Candidate School class convening date in the selection cycle, such applicant was convicted by a court-martial or awarded nonjudicial punishment, or did not meet performance or character requirements set forth by the Commandant. A student must be a United States citizen. A student must be eligible for a secret clearance. A student may not have more than 2 dependents. A student who is single may not have sole or primary custody of dependents. A student must be an undergraduate sophomore or junior— at a historically Black college or university described in section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1061(2) ) or an institution of higher education described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1067q(a) ); or an undergraduate sophomore or junior enrolled at an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 )) that, at the time of application of the sophomore or junior, has had for 3 consecutive years an enrollment of undergraduate full-time equivalent students (as defined in section 312(e) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1058(e) )) that is a total of at least 50 percent Black American, Hispanic, Asian American (as defined in section 371(c) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1067q(c) )), Native American Pacific Islander (as defined in such section), or Native American (as defined in such section), among other criteria, as determined by the Commandant. The institution at which such student is an undergraduate must be within 100 miles of a Coast guard 1 unit or Coast Guard Recruiting Office unless otherwise approved by the Commandant. A student must meet credit and grade point average requirements set forth by the Commandant. A student must meet other medical and administrative requirements as set forth by the Commandant.

(c) Enlistment and Obligation.— Individuals selected and accept to participate in the Program shall enlist in the Coast Guard in pay grade E–3 with a 4-year duty obligation and 4-year inactive Reserve obligation.

(d) Military Activities Prior to Officer Candidate School.— Individuals enrolled in the Program shall participate in military activities each month, as required by the Commandant, prior to attending Officer Candidate School.

(e) Participation in Officer Candidate School.— Each graduate of the Program shall attend the first enrollment of Officer Candidate School that commences after the date of such graduate’s graduation.

(f) Commissioning.— Upon graduation from Officer Candidate School, Program graduates shall be discharged from enlisted status and commissioned as an O–1 with an initial 3-year duty obligation.

(g) Briefing.— Not later than August 15 of each year, the Commandant shall provide a briefing to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the Program. The briefing required under paragraph (1) shall describe— outreach and recruitment efforts over the previous year; and demographic information of enrollees including— race; ethnicity; gender; geographic origin; and educational institution.

§ 2132 Designation of officers with particular expertise in military justice or healthcare

(a) Secretary Designation.— The Secretary may designate a limited number of officers of the Coast Guard as having particular expertise in— military justice; or healthcare.

(b) Promotion and Grade.— An individual designated under this section— shall not be included on the active duty promotion list; shall be promoted under section 2126; and may not be promoted to a grade higher than captain.

§ 2141 Revocation of commissions during first five years of commissioned service

The Secretary, under such regulations as he may prescribe, may revoke the commission of any regular officer on active duty who, at the date of such revocation, has had less than five years of continuous service as a commissioned officer in the Regular Coast Guard. (Added Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C) , Sept. 24, 1963 , 77 Stat. 183 , § 281; amended Pub. L. 107–295, title IV, § 416(a)(1) , Nov. 25, 2002 , 116 Stat. 2121 ; renumbered § 2141, Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 112(b) , Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4216 .)

§ 2142 Regular lieutenants (junior grade); separation for failure of selection for promotion

Each officer of the Regular Coast Guard appointed under section 2101 of this title who is serving in the grade of lieutenant (junior grade) and who has failed of selection for promotion to the grade of lieutenant for the second time, shall: be honorably discharged on June 30 of the promotion year in which his second failure of selection occurs; or if he so requests, be honorably discharged at an earlier date without loss of benefits that would accrue if he were discharged on that date under clause (1); or if, on the date specified for his discharge in this section, he is eligible for retirement under any law, be retired on that date. (Added Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C) , Sept. 24, 1963 , 77 Stat. 184 , § 282; amended Pub. L. 94–546, § 1(21) , Oct. 18, 1976 , 90 Stat. 2520 ; renumbered § 2142 and amended Pub. L. 115–282, title I , §§ 112(b), 123(b)(2), Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4216 , 4240.)

§ 2143 Regular lieutenants; separation for failure of selection for promotion; continuation

(a) Each officer of the Regular Coast Guard appointed under section 2101 of this title who is serving in the grade of lieutenant and who has failed of selection for promotion to the grade of lieutenant commander for the second time shall: be honorably discharged on June 30 of the promotion year in which his second failure of selection occurs; or if he so requests, be honorably discharged at an earlier date without loss of benefits that would accrue if he were discharged on that date under clause (1); or if, on the date specified for his discharge in this section, he has completed at least 20 years of active service or is eligible for retirement under any law, be retired on that date; or if, on the date specified for his discharge in clause (1), he has completed at least eighteen years of active service, be retained on active duty and retired on the last day of the month in which he completes twenty years of active service, unless earlier removed under another provision of law.

(b) When the needs of the service require, the Secretary may direct a selection board, which has been convened under section 2106 of this title , to recommend for continuation on active duty for terms of not less than two nor more than four years a designated number of officers of the grade of lieutenant who would otherwise be discharged or retired under this section. When so directed, the board shall recommend for continuation on active duty those officers under consideration who are, in the opinion of the board, best qualified for continuation. Each officer so recommended may, with the approval of the Secretary, and notwithstanding subsection (a), be continued on active duty for the term recommended. Upon the completion of a term under paragraph (1), an officer shall, unless selected for further continuation— except as provided in subparagraph (B), be honorably discharged with separation pay computed under section 2146 of this title ; in the case of an officer who has completed at least 18 years of active service on the date of discharge under subparagraph (A), be retained on active duty and retired on the last day of the month in which the officer completes 20 years of active service, unless earlier removed under another provision of law; or if, on the date specified for the officer’s discharge under this section, the officer has completed at least 20 years of active service or is eligible for retirement under any law, be retired on that date.

(c) Each officer who has been continued on active duty under subsection (b) shall, unless earlier removed from active duty, be retired on the last day of the month in which he completes twenty years of active service.

§ 2144 Regular Coast Guard; officers serving under temporary appointments

(a) Each officer of the Regular Coast Guard appointed under section 2104 of this title who is serving in the grade of lieutenant (junior grade) or lieutenant and who has failed of selection for promotion to the grade of lieutenant or lieutenant commander, respectively, for the second time shall: be honorably discharged on June 30 of the promotion year in which his second failure of selection occurs; or if he so requests, be honorably discharged at an earlier date without loss of benefits that would accrue if he were discharged on that date under clause (1); or if on the date specified for his discharge in this section he is eligible for retirement under any law, be retired under that law on that date.

(b) Each officer subject to discharge or retirement under subsection (a) may elect to revert to his permanent grade.

§ 2145 Regular lieutenant commanders and commanders; retirement for failure of selection for promotion

(a) Each officer of the Regular Coast Guard serving in the grade of lieutenant commander or commander, who has failed of selection for promotion to the grade of commander or captain, respectively, for the second time shall: if he has completed at least 20 years of active service or is eligible for retirement under any law on June 30 of the promotion year in which his second failure of selection occurs, be retired on that date; or if ineligible for retirement on the date specified in clause (1) be retained on active duty and retired on the last day of the month in which he completes twenty years of active service, unless earlier removed under another provision of law.

(b) A lieutenant commander or commander of the Regular Coast Guard subject to discharge or retirement under subsection (a) may be continued on active duty when the Secretary directs a selection board convened under section 2106 of this title to continue up to a specified number of lieutenant commanders or commanders on active duty. When so directed, the selection board shall recommend those officers who in the opinion of the board are best qualified to advance the needs and efficiency of the Coast Guard. When the recommendations of the board are approved by the Secretary, the officers recommended for continuation shall be notified that they have been recommended for continuation and offered an additional term of service that fulfills the needs of the Coast Guard.

(c) An officer who holds the grade of lieutenant commander of the Regular Coast Guard may not be continued on active duty under subsection (b) for a period that extends beyond 24 years of active commissioned service unless promoted to the grade of commander of the Regular Coast Guard. An officer who holds the grade of commander of the Regular Coast Guard may not be continued on active duty under subsection (b) for a period that extends beyond 26 years of active commissioned service unless promoted to the grade of captain of the Regular Coast Guard. Unless retired or discharged under another provision of law, each officer who is continued on active duty under subsection (b) but is not subsequently promoted or continued on active duty, and is not on a list of officers recommended for continuation or for promotion to the next higher grade, shall, if eligible for retirement under any provision of law, be retired under that law on the first day of the first month following the month in which the period of continued service is completed.

§ 2146 Discharge in lieu of retirement; separation pay

(a) Each officer who is retained on active duty under section 2143(a)(4), 2143(b), or 2145 of this title may, if he so requests, with the approval of the Secretary, be honorably discharged at any time prior to the date otherwise specified for his retirement or discharge.

(b) An officer of the Regular Coast Guard who is discharged under this section or section 2142, 2143, or 2144 of this title and has completed 6 or more, but less than 20, continuous years of active service immediately before that discharge or release is entitled to separation pay computed under subsection (d)(1) of section 1174 of title 10 .

(c) An officer of the Regular Coast Guard who is discharged under section 2164 of this title and has completed 6 or more, but less than 20, continuous years of active service immediately before that discharge or release is entitled to separation pay computed under subsection (d)(1) or (d)(2) of section 1174 of title 10 as determined under regulations promulgated by the Secretary.

(d) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), an officer discharged under this chapter for twice failing of selection for promotion to the next higher grade is not entitled to separation pay under this section if the officer requested in writing or otherwise sought not to be selected for promotion, or requested removal from the list of selectees.

§ 2147 Regular warrant officers: separation pay

(a) A regular warrant officer of the Coast Guard who is discharged under section 580 of title 10 , and has completed 6 or more, but less than 20, continuous years of active service immediately before that discharge is entitled to separation pay computed under subsection (d)(1) of section 1174 of title 10 .

(b) A regular warrant officer of the Coast Guard who is discharged under section 1165 or 1166 of title 10, and has completed 6 or more, but less than 20, continuous years of active service immediately before that discharge is entitled to separation pay computed under subsection (d)(1) or (d)(2) of section 1174 of title 10 , as determined under regulations promulgated by the Secretary.

(c) In determining a member’s years of active service for the purpose of computing separation pay under this section, each full month of service that is in addition to the number of full years of service creditable to the member is counted as one-twelfth of a year and any remaining fractional part of a month is disregarded.

(d) The acceptance of separation pay under this section does not deprive an individual of any retirement benefits from the United States. However, there shall be deducted from each of his retirement payments so much thereof as is based on the service for which he has received separation pay under this section, until the total deductions equal the amount of such separation pay.

§ 2148 Separation for failure of selection for promotion or continuation; time of

If, under section 2142, 2143, 2144, 2145, 2150, or 2151 of this title, the discharge or retirement of any officer would be required less than six months following approval of the report of the board which considered but did not select him for promotion or continuation, the discharge or retirement of such officer shall be deferred until the last day of the sixth calendar month after such approval. (Added Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C) , Sept. 24, 1963 , 77 Stat. 185 , § 287; amended Pub. L. 92–451, § 1(6) , Oct. 2, 1972 , 86 Stat. 755 ; renumbered § 2148 and amended Pub. L. 115–282, title I , §§ 112(b), 123(b)(2), Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4216 , 4240.)

§ 2149 Regular captains; retirement

(a) Each officer of the Regular Coast Guard serving in the grade of captain whose name is not carried on an approved list of officers selected for promotion to the grade of rear admiral (lower half) shall, unless retired under some other provision of law, be retired on June 30 of the promotion year in which he, or any captain junior to him on the active duty promotion list who has not lost numbers or precedence, completes thirty years of active commissioned service in the Coast Guard. An officer advanced in precedence on the active duty promotion list because of his promotion resulting from selection for promotion from below the zone, or from being placed at the top of the list of selectees promulgated by the Secretary under section 2121(a) of this title , is not subject to involuntary retirement under this section earlier than if he had not been selected from below the zone or placed at the top of the list of selectees, as applicable.

(b) Retired pay computed under section 2504(a) of this title of an officer retired under this section shall not be less than 50 percent of the basic pay upon which the computation of his retired pay is based.

§ 2150 Captains; continuation on active duty; involuntary retirement

(a) The Secretary may, whenever the needs of the service require, but not more often than annually, convene a board consisting of not less than six officers of the grade of rear admiral (lower half) or rear admiral to recommend for continuation on active duty officers on the active duty promotion list serving in the grade of captain, who during the promotion year in which the board meets will complete at least three years’ service in that grade and who have not been selected for promotion to the grade of rear admiral (lower half). Officers who are subject to retirement under section 2149 of this title during the promotion year in which the board meets shall not be considered by this board.

(b) Whenever he convenes a board under this section, the Secretary shall establish a continuation zone. The zone shall consist of the most senior captains eligible for consideration for continuation on active duty who have not previously been placed in a continuation zone under this section. The Secretary shall, based upon the needs of the service, prescribe the number of captains to be included in the zone.

(c) Based on the needs of the service the Secretary shall furnish the board with the number of officers that may be recommended for continuation on active duty. This number shall be no less than 50 percent of the number considered. The board shall select from the designated continuation zone, in the number directed by the Secretary, those officers who are, in the opinion of the board, best qualified for continuation on active duty.

(d) The provisions of sections 2108, 2109, 2115, and 2117 of this title relating to selection for promotion shall, to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section, apply to boards convened under this section.

(e) The Secretary shall prescribe by regulation the detailed procedures whereby officers in a continuation zone will be selected for continuation on active duty.

(f) A board convened under this section shall submit its report to the Secretary. If the board has acted contrary to law or regulation, the Secretary may return the report for proceedings in revision and resubmission to the Secretary. After his final review the Secretary shall submit the report of the board to the President for his approval. Except as required by the procedures of this section, the proceedings of the board shall not be disclosed to any individual who is not a member of the board.

(g) Each officer who is considered but not recommended for continuation on active duty under the provisions of this section shall, unless retired under some other provision of law, be retired on June 30 of the promotion year in which the report of the continuation board convened under this section is approved, or the last day of the month in which he completes twenty years of active service, whichever is later.

(h) Notwithstanding subsection (g) and section 2149 of this title , the Commandant may by annual action retain on active duty from promotion year to promotion year any officer who would otherwise be retired under subsection (g) or section 2149 of this title . An officer so retained, unless retired under some other provision of law, shall be retired on June 30 of that promotion year in which no action is taken to further retain the officer under this subsection.

§ 2151 Rear admirals and rear admirals (lower half); continuation on active duty; involuntary retirement

(a) The Secretary shall from time to time convene boards to recommend for continuation on active duty the most senior officers on the active duty promotion list serving in the grade of rear admiral (lower half) or rear admiral who have not previously been considered for continuation in that grade. Officers serving for the time being or who have served in or above the grade of vice admiral are not subject to consideration for continuation under this subsection, and as to all other provisions of this section shall be considered as having been continued at the grade of rear admiral. A board shall consist of at least 5 officers (other than the Commandant) serving in the grade of admiral or vice admiral or as rear admirals previously continued. Boards shall be convened frequently enough to assure that each officer serving in the grade of rear admiral (lower half) or rear admiral is subject to consideration for continuation during a promotion year in which that officer completes not less than four or more than five years combined service in the grades of rear admiral (lower half) and rear admiral.

(b) The Secretary shall, based upon the needs of the service, furnish each board convened under this section with the number of officers to be considered for continuation on active duty. The number that may be recommended for continuation shall be not less than 50 per centum or more than 75 per centum of the number of officers being considered for continuation.

(c) The provisions of sections 2108, 2109, 2115, and 2117 of this title relating to selection and continuation boards shall to the extent they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section, apply to boards convened under this section.

(d) A board convened under this section shall submit its report to the Secretary. If the board has acted contrary to law or regulation, the Secretary may return the report for proceedings in revision and resubmission to the Secretary. After final review the Secretary shall submit the report of the board to the President for approval.

(e) Each officer who is considered but not continued on active duty under the provisions of this section shall, unless retired under some other provision of law, be retired on July 1 of the promotion year immediately following the promotion year in which the report of the continuation board convened under this section is approved.

(f) Unless retired under another provision of law, each officer who is continued on active duty under this section shall, except as provided in paragraph (2), be retired on July 1 of the promotion year immediately following the promotion year in which that officer completes seven years of combined service in the grades of rear admiral (lower half) and rear admiral, unless that officer is selected for or serving in the grade of admiral or vice admiral or the position of Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy. The Commandant, with the approval of the Secretary, may by annual action retain on active duty from promotion year to promotion year any officer who would otherwise be retired under paragraph (1). Unless selected for or serving in the grade of admiral or vice admiral or the position of Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy, or retired under another provision of law, an officer so retained shall be retired on July 1 of the promotion year immediately following the promotion year in which no action is taken to further retain that officer under this paragraph.

(g) Unless retired under another provision of law, an officer subject to this section shall, except as provided in paragraph (2), be retired on July 1 of the promotion year immediately following the promotion year in which that officer completes a total of thirty-six years of active commissioned service unless selected for or serving in the grade of admiral. The Commandant, with the approval of the Secretary, may by annual action retain on active duty from promotion year to promotion year any officer who would otherwise be retired under paragraph (1). Unless selected for or serving in the grade of admiral or retired under another provision of law, an officer so retained shall be retired on July 1 of the promotion year immediately following the promotion year in which no action is taken to further retain that officer under this paragraph.

§ 2152 Voluntary retirement after twenty years’ service

Any regular commissioned officer who has completed twenty years’ active service in the Coast Guard, Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force, or the Reserve components thereof, including active duty for training, at least ten years of which shall have been active commissioned service, may, upon his own application, in the discretion of the President, be retired from active service. (Added Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C) , Sept. 24, 1963 , 77 Stat. 187 , § 291; amended Pub. L. 99–348, title II, § 205(b)(5) , July 1, 1986 , 100 Stat. 700 ; renumbered § 2152, Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 112(b) , Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4216 ; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 927(b)(1) , Jan. 1, 2021 , 134 Stat. 3831 .)

§ 2153 Voluntary retirement after thirty years’ service

Any regular commissioned officer who has completed thirty years’ service may, upon his own application, in the discretion of the Secretary, be retired from active service. 1 (Added Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C) , Sept. 24, 1963 , 77 Stat. 187 , § 292; amended Pub. L. 99–348, title II, § 205(b)(5) , July 1, 1986 , 100 Stat. 700 ; renumbered § 2153, Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 112(b) , Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4216 .)

§ 2154 Compulsory retirement

(a) Regular Commissioned Officers.— Any regular commissioned officer, except a commissioned warrant officer, serving in a grade below rear admiral (lower half) shall be retired on the first day of the month following the month in which the officer becomes 62 years of age.

(b) Flag-Officer Grades.— Except as provided in paragraph (2), any regular commissioned officer serving in a grade of rear admiral (lower half) or above shall be retired on the first day of the month following the month in which the officer becomes 64 years of age. The retirement of an officer under paragraph (1) may be deferred— by the President, but such a deferment may not extend beyond the first day of the month following the month in which the officer becomes 68 years of age; or by the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, but such a deferment may not extend beyond the first day of the month following the month in which the officer becomes 66 years of age.

(c) Deferred Retirement or Separation for Health Professions Officers.— Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary may defer the retirement or separation under subsection (a) of a health professions officer if, during the period of the deferment, the health professions officer will be performing duties that consist primarily of providing patient care or performing other clinical duties. A deferment under this subsection may not extend beyond the first day of the month following the month in which the health professions officer concerned becomes 68 years of age. The Secretary may designate as health professions officers a category of members of the Coast Guard whose duties consist primarily of— providing health care; performing other clinical care, including radiology, specialty care, behavioral health care, pharmacy care, medical laboratory, or testing; or performing health care-related administrative duties. Nothing in this subsection may be construed to prohibit or modify the application of any provision relating to mandatory separation or disciplinary action. In this subsection, the term “health professions officer” means an officer or enlisted member of the Coast Guard in good standing who is— a physician, surgeon, medical specialist, nurse or nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, health service technician, therapist, fully licensed clinical psychotherapist, counselor, social worker, medical assistant, radiology assistant, pharmacist, pharmacy assistant, nutritionist, dietitian, any administrative personnel associated with a Coast Guard medical program (including a clinic), personnel who works in a medical laboratory, physical therapist, physical therapist aide, occupational therapist, or occupational therapist aide; a dentist, dental assistant, oral surgeon, or any other dental-related personnel; or a member of a category designated by the Secretary under paragraph (3).

§ 2155 Retirement for physical disability after selection for promotion; grade in which retired

An officer whose name appears on an approved list of officers selected for promotion to the next higher grade and who is retired for physical disability under the provisions of chapter 61 of title 10 prior to being promoted shall be retired in the grade to which he was selected for promotion. (Added Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C) , Sept. 24, 1963 , 77 Stat. 187 , § 294; renumbered § 2155, Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 112(b) , Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4216 .)

§ 2156 Deferment of retirement or separation for medical reasons

(a) Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary may defer the retirement or separation of a commissioned officer, other than a commissioned warrant officer, if the evaluation of the physical condition of the officer and determination of the officer’s entitlement to retirement or separation for physical disability require hospitalization, medical observation, or other physical disability processing that cannot be completed before the date on which the officer would otherwise be retired or separated.

(b) A deferment under subsection (a)— may only be made with the consent of the officer involved; and if the Secretary receives written notice from the officer withdrawing that consent, shall end not later than the end of the sixty-day period beginning on the date the Secretary receives that notice.

§ 2157 Flag officers

During any period in which the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Navy, section 1216(d) of title 10 does not apply with respect to flag officers of the Coast Guard. (Added Pub. L. 113–281, title II, § 212(a) , Dec. 18, 2014 , 128 Stat. 3029 , § 296; renumbered § 2157, Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 112(b) , Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4216 .)

§ 2158 Review of records of officers

The Secretary shall prescribe, by regulation, procedures to review the record of any officer of the Regular Coast Guard to determine whether he shall be required to show cause for his retention on active duty— because his performance of duty has fallen below the standards prescribed by the Secretary, or because of moral dereliction, professional dereliction, or because his retention is not clearly consistent with the interests of national security. (Added Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C) , Sept. 24, 1963 , 77 Stat. 187 , § 321; renumbered § 2158, Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 112(b) , Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4216 ; amended Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXII, § 7223(a) , Dec. 18, 2025 , 139 Stat. 1702 .)

§ 2159 Boards of inquiry

(a) Boards of inquiry shall be convened at such places as the Secretary may prescribe to receive evidence and make findings and recommendations whether an officer who is required to show cause for retention under section 2158 of this title should be retained on active duty.

(b) A fair and impartial hearing before a board of inquiry shall be given to each officer so required to show cause for retention.

(c) If a board of inquiry determines that the officer has failed to establish that he should be retained, it shall recommend to the Secretary that the officer not be retained on active duty.

(d) If a board of inquiry determines that the officer has established that he should be retained, his case is closed. However, at any time after one year from the date of the determination in a case arising under clause (1) of section 2158 of this title , and at any time after the date of the determination in a case arising under clause (2) of that section, an officer may again be required to show cause for retention.

[§ 2160 Repealed. Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXII, § 7223(c), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1702]

§ 2161 Composition of boards

(a) A board convened under section 2158 or 2159 of this title shall consist of at least three officers of the grade of commander or above, all of whom are serving in a grade senior to the grade of any officer considered by the board.

(b) No individual may be a member of more than one board convened under section 2158 or 2159 of this title to consider the same officer.

§ 2162 Rights and procedures

Each officer under consideration for removal under section 2159 of this title shall be— notified in writing at least thirty days before the hearing of the case by a board of inquiry of the reasons for which the officer is being required to show cause for retention; allowed reasonable time, as determined by the board of inquiry under regulations of the Secretary, to prepare his defense; allowed to appear in person and by counsel at proceedings before a board of inquiry; and allowed full access to, and furnished copies of, records relevant to the case at all stages of the proceeding, except that a board shall withhold any records that the Secretary determines should be withheld in the interests of national security. In any case where any records are withheld under this clause, the officer whose case is under consideration shall, to the extent that the national security permits, be furnished a summary of the records so withheld. (Added Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C) , Sept. 24, 1963 , 77 Stat. 188 , § 325; renumbered § 2162 and amended Pub. L. 115–282, title I , §§ 112(b), 123(b)(2), Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4216 , 4240.)

§ 2163 Removal of officer from active duty; action by Secretary

The Secretary may remove an officer from active duty if his removal is recommended by a board of inquiry under section 2159 of this title . The Secretary’s action in such as case is final and conclusive. (Added Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C) , Sept. 24, 1963 , 77 Stat. 189 , § 326; renumbered § 2163 and amended Pub. L. 115–282, title I , §§ 112(b), 123(b)(2), Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4216 , 4240; Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXII, § 7223(d)(1)(B) , Dec. 18, 2025 , 139 Stat. 1702 .)

§ 2164 Officers considered for removal; retirement or discharge; separation benefits

(a) At any time during proceedings under section 2159 of this title , and before the removal of an officer, the Secretary may grant a request— for voluntary retirement, if the officer is otherwise qualified therefor; or for discharge with separation benefits under section 2146(c) of this title .

(b) Each officer removed from active duty under section 2163 of this title shall— if on the date of removal the officer is eligible for voluntary retirement under any law, be retired in the grade for which he would be eligible if retired at his request; or if on that date the officer is ineligible for voluntary retirement under any law, be honorably discharged with separation benefits under section 2146(c) of this title , unless under regulations promulgated by the Secretary the condition under which the officer is discharged does not warrant an honorable discharge.

§ 2165 Relief of retired officer promoted while on active duty

Any regular officer on the retired list recalled to active duty who during such active duty is advanced to a higher grade under an appointment shall, upon relief from active duty, if his performance of duty under such appointment has been satisfactory, be advanced on the retired list to the highest grade held while on such active duty. (Added Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C) , Sept. 24, 1963 , 77 Stat. 189 , § 333; renumbered § 2165, Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 112(b) , Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4216 .)

§ 2166 Continuation on active duty; Coast Guard officers with certain critical skills

(a) In General.— The Commandant may authorize an officer in a grade above grade O–2 to remain on active duty after the date otherwise provided for the retirement of such officer in section 2154 of this title , if the officer possesses a critical skill, or specialty, or is in a career field designated pursuant to subsection (b).

(b) Critical Skills, Specialty, or Career Field.— The Commandant shall designate any critical skill, specialty, or career field eligible for continuation on active duty as provided in subsection (a).

(c) Duration of Continuation.— An officer continued on active duty pursuant to this section shall, if not earlier retired, be retired on the first day of the month after the month in which the officer completes 40 years of active service.

(d) Policy.— The Commandant shall carry out this section by prescribing policy which shall specify the criteria to be used in designating any critical skill, specialty, or career field for purposes of subsection (b).

§ 2181 Physical fitness of officers

The Secretary shall prescribe regulations under which the physical fitness of officers to perform their duties shall be periodically determined. (Added Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C) , Sept. 24, 1963 , 77 Stat. 190 , § 335; renumbered § 2181, Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 112(b) , Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4216 .)

§ 2182 Multirater assessment of certain personnel

(a) Multirater Assessment of Certain Personnel.— Commencing not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016, the Commandant shall develop and implement a plan to conduct every two years a multirater assessment for each of the following: Each flag officer of the Coast Guard. Each member of the Senior Executive Service of the Coast Guard. Each officer of the Coast Guard nominated for promotion to the grade of flag officer. Each officer of the Coast Guard shall undergo a multirater assessment before promotion to— the grade of O–4; the grade of O–5; and the grade of O–6. Each enlisted member of the Coast Guard shall undergo a multirater assessment before advancement to— the grade of E–7; the grade of E–8; the grade of E–9; and the grade of E–10. An individual assessed shall not be permitted to select the peers and subordinates who provide opinions for the multirater assessment of such individual. Following an assessment of an individual pursuant to paragraphs (1) through (3), the individual shall be provided appropriate post-assessment counseling and leadership coaching. The supervisor of the individual assessed shall be provided with the results of the multirater assessment.

(b) Multirater Assessment Defined.— In this section, the term “multirater assessment” means a review that seeks opinion from members senior to the reviewee and the peers and subordinates of the reviewee.