Title 14 — Coast Guard

This title was enacted by act Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, §1, 63 Stat. 495

PART I—REGULAR COAST GUARD

Chapter 1. Establishment and Duties

§1 · Establishment of Coast Guard

The Coast Guard as established January 28, 1915, shall be a military service and a branch of the armed forces of the United States at all times. The Coast Guard shall be a service in the Department of Transportation, except when operating as a service in the Navy.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 496; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(1), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2519.

§2 · Primary duties

The Coast Guard shall enforce or assist in the enforcement of all applicable Federal laws on, under, and over the high seas and waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; shall engage in maritime air surveillance or interdiction to enforce or assist in the enforcement of the laws of the United States; shall administer laws and promulgate and enforce regulations for the promotion of safety of life and property on and under the high seas and waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States covering all matters not specifically delegated by law to some other executive department; shall develop, establish, maintain, and operate, with due regard to the requirements of national defense, aids to maritime navigation, ice-breaking facilities, and rescue facilities for the promotion of safety on, under, and over the high seas and waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; shall, pursuant to international agreements, develop, establish, maintain, and operate icebreaking facilities on, under, and over waters other than the high seas and waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; shall engage in oceanographic research of the high seas and in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; and shall maintain a state of readiness to function as a specialized service in the Navy in time of war, including the fulfillment of Maritime Defense Zone command responsibilities..

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 496; Pub. L. 87–396, §1, Oct. 5, 1961, 75 Stat. 827; Pub. L. 91–278, §1(1), June 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 304; Pub. L. 93–519, Dec. 13, 1974, 88 Stat. 1659; Pub. L. 99–640, §6, Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3547; Pub. L. 100–448, §17, Sept. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 1845; Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, §7403, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4484.

§3 · Relationship to Navy Department

Upon the declaration of war or when the President directs, the Coast Guard shall operate as a service in the Navy, and shall so continue until the President, by Executive order, transfers the Coast Guard back to the Department of Transportation. While operating as a service in the Navy, the Coast Guard shall be subject to the orders of the Secretary of the Navy who may order changes in Coast Guard operations to render them uniform, to the extent he deems advisable, with Navy operations.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 496; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(2), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2519.

§4 · Operation as a service in the Navy

Whenever the Coast Guard operates as a service in the Navy:

(a) applicable appropriations of the Navy Department shall be available for the expense of the Coast Guard;

(b) applicable appropriations of the Coast Guard shall be available for transfer to the Navy Department;

(c) precedence between commissioned officers of corresponding grades in the Coast Guard and the Navy shall be determined by the date of rank stated by their commissions in those grades;

(d) personnel of the Coast Guard shall be eligible to receive gratuities, medals, and other insignia of honor on the same basis as personnel in the naval service or serving in any capacity with the Navy; and

(e) the Secretary may place on furlough any officer of the Coast Guard and officers on furlough shall receive one half of the pay to which they would be entitled if on leave of absence, but officers of the Coast Guard Reserve shall not be so placed on furlough.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 497; May 5, 1950, ch. 169, §14(u), 64 Stat. 148; Pub. L. 89–444, §1(1), June 9, 1966, 80 Stat. 195.

§5 · “Secretary” defined

As used in this title, the term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the respective department in which the Coast Guard is operating.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 497.

Chapter 3. Composition and Organization

§41 · Grades and ratings

In the Coast Guard there shall be an admiral, vice admirals; rear admirals; rear admirals (lower half); captains; commanders; lieutenant commanders; lieutenants; lieutenants (junior grade); ensigns; chief warrant officers; cadets; warrant officers; and enlisted members. Enlisted members shall be distributed in ratings established by the Secretary.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 497; Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, §§6, 53, 70A Stat. 620, 679; Pub. L. 86–474, §1(1), May 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 144; Pub. L. 92–451, §1(1), Oct. 2, 1972, 86 Stat. 755; Pub. L. 97–417, §2(1), Jan. 4, 1983, 96 Stat. 2085; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(B), (C), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, §514(a)(2), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 628; Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title V, §541(f)(4), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2766.

§41a · 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, and officers of the permanent commissioned teaching staff of the Coast Guard Academy 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) A person 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.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(1), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 174; amended Pub. L. 91–278, §1(2), June 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 304; Pub. L. 93–174, §1(1), Dec. 5, 1973, 87 Stat. 692; Pub. L. 97–136, §6(a), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1706; Pub. L. 103–206, title II, §205(a), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2422; Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §1677(b)(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 3019.

§42 · Number and distribution of commissioned officers

(a) The total number of commissioned officers, excluding commissioned warrant officers, on active duty in the Coast Guard shall not exceed 6,200.

(b) The commissioned officers on the active duty promotion list shall be distributed in grade in the following percentages, respectively: rear admiral 0.375; rear admiral (lower half) 0.375; captain 6.0; commander 12.0; lieutenant commander 18.0. The Secretary shall prescribe the percentages applicable to the grades of lieutenant, lieutenant (junior grade), and ensign. The Secretary may, as the needs of the Coast Guard require, reduce the percentage applicable to any grade above lieutenant commander, and in order to compensate for such reduction increase correspondingly the percentage applicable to any lower grade.

(c) The Secretary shall, at least once each year, make a computation to determine the number of officers on the active duty promotion list authorized to be serving in each grade. The number in each grade shall be computed by applying the applicable percentage to the total number of such officers serving on active duty on the date the computation is made. In making computations under this section the nearest whole number shall be regarded as the authorized number in any case where there is a fraction in the final result.

(d) The numbers resulting from such computations 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) Officers who are not included on the active duty promotion list, officers serving as extra numbers in grade under sections 432 and 433 

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 497; July 20, 1956, ch. 647, §2, 70 Stat. 588; Pub. L. 86–474, §1(2), May 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 144; Pub. L. 88–130, §1(2), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 174; Pub. L. 89–444, §1(2), June 9, 1966, 80 Stat. 195; Pub. L. 90–385, July 5, 1968, 82 Stat. 293; Pub. L. 92–451, §1(2), Oct. 2, 1972, 86 Stat. 755; Pub. L. 93–174, §1(2), Dec. 5, 1973, 87 Stat. 692; Pub. L. 96–23, §4, June 13, 1979, 93 Stat. 68; Pub. L. 97–417, §2(2), Jan. 4, 1983, 96 Stat. 2085; Pub. L. 97–449, §5(b), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2442; Pub. L. 98–557, §25(a)(1), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2872; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, §514(c)(1), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 629; Pub. L. 103–206, title II, §201, Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2420.

[§43 · Repealed. Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, §53, 70A Stat. 641]

§44 · Commandant; appointment

The President may appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, one Commandant for a period of four years, who may be reappointed for further periods of four years, who shall act as Chief of the Coast Guard. The Commandant shall be appointed from the officers on the active duty promotion list serving above the grade of captain who have completed at least ten years of active service as a commissioned officer in the Coast Guard. The Commandant while so serving shall have the grade of admiral.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 498; Pub. L. 86–474, §1(3), May 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 144; Pub. L. 88–130, §1(3), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 175; Pub. L. 89–444, §1(3), June 9, 1966, 80 Stat. 195; Pub. L. 92–451, §1(3), Oct. 2, 1972, 86 Stat. 755.

[§45 · Repealed. Pub. L. 86–474, §1(4), May 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 144]

§46 · Retirement of Commandant

(a) A Commandant who is not reappointed shall be retired with the grade of admiral at the expiration of the appointed term, except as provided in subsection 

(b) A Commandant who is retired for physical disability shall be placed on the retired list with the grade of admiral.

(c) An officer who is retired prior to the expiration of his term, while serving as Commandant, may, in the discretion of the President, be retired with the grade of admiral.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 499; Pub. L. 86–474, §1(5), May 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 144; Pub. L. 88–130, §1(4), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 175; Pub. L. 89–444, §1(4), (5), June 9, 1966, 80 Stat. 195; Pub. L. 97–295, §2(1), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1301; Pub. L. 99–348, title II, §205(b)(1), July 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 699; Pub. L. 103–206, title II, §204(a), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2421.

§47 · Vice Commandant; assignment

The President may appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, one Vice Commandant who shall rank next after the Commandant, shall perform such duties as the Commandant may prescribe and shall act as Commandant during the absence or disability of the Commandant or in the event that there is a vacancy in the office of Commandant. The Vice Commandant shall be selected from the officers on the active duty promotion list serving above the grade of captain. The Commandant shall make recommendation for such appointment. The Vice Commandant shall, while so serving, have the grade of vice admiral with pay and allowances of that grade. The appointment and grade of a Vice Commandant shall be effective on the date the officer assumes that duty, and shall terminate on the date the officer is detached from that duty, except as provided in subsection 

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 499; Pub. L. 86–474, §1(6), May 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 144; Pub. L. 88–130, §1(5), (6), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 175; Pub. L. 89–444, §1(6), (7), June 9, 1966, 80 Stat. 195; Pub. L. 92–451, §1(4), Oct. 2, 1972, 86 Stat. 755; Pub. L. 97–295, §2(2), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1301; Pub. L. 99–348, title II, §205(b)(2), July 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 700; Pub. L. 103–206, title II, §204(b)(1), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2421.

[§§48, 49 · Repealed. Pub. L. 86–474, §1(7), May 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 145]

§50 · Area commanders

(a) The President may appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a Commander, Atlantic Area, and a Commander, Pacific Area, each of whom shall be an intermediate commander between the Commandant and the district commanders in his respective area and shall perform such duties as the Commandant may prescribe. The area commanders shall be appointed from officers on the active duty promotion list serving above the grade of captain. The Commandant shall make recommendations for such appointments.

(b) An area commander shall, while so serving, have the grade of vice admiral with pay and allowances of that grade. The appointment and grade of an area commander shall be effective on the date the officer assumes that duty, and shall terminate on the date the officer is detached from that duty, except as provided in subsection 

Added Pub. L. 92–451, §1(5), Oct. 2, 1972, 86 Stat. 755; amended Pub. L. 103–206, title II, §204(c), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2421.

§50a · Chief of Staff

(a) The President may appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a Chief of Staff of the Coast Guard who shall rank next after the area commanders and who shall perform duties as prescribed by the Commandant. The Chief of Staff shall be appointed from the officers on the active duty promotion list serving above the grade of captain. The Commandant shall make recommendations for the appointment.

(b) The Chief of Staff shall have the grade of vice admiral with the pay and allowances of that grade. The appointment and grade of the Chief of Staff shall be effective on the date the officer assumes that duty, and shall terminate on the date the officer is detached from that duty, except as provided in section 51(d) of this title.

Added Pub. L. 103–206, title II, §205(b)(1), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2422.

§51 · Retirement

(a) An officer who, while serving in the grade of vice admiral, is retired for physical disability shall be placed on the retired list with the grade of vice admiral.

(b) An officer who is retired while serving in the grade of vice admiral, or who, after serving at least two and one-half years in the grade of vice admiral, is retired while serving in a lower grade, may in the discretion of the President, be retired with the grade of vice admiral.

(c) An officer who, after serving less than two and one-half years in the grade of vice admiral, is retired while serving in a lower grade, shall be retired in his permanent grade.

(d) An officer serving in the grade of admiral or vice admiral shall continue to hold that grade—

(1) while being processed for physical disability retirement, beginning on the day of the processing and ending on the day that officer is retired, but not for more than 180 days; and

(2) while awaiting retirement, beginning on the day that officer is relieved from the position of Commandant, Vice Commandant, Area Commander, or Chief of Staff and ending on the day before the officer's retirement, but not for more than 60 days.

Added Pub. L. 92–451, §1(5), Oct. 2, 1972, 86 Stat. 755; amended Pub. L. 99–348, title II, §205(b)(3), July 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 700; Pub. L. 103–206, title II, §§204(d), 205(c), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2421, 2422.

§52 · Vice admirals, continuity of grade

The continuity of an officer's precedence on the active duty promotion list, date of rank, grade, pay, and allowances as a vice admiral shall not be interrupted by the termination of an appointment for the purpose of reappointment to another position as a vice admiral or admiral.

Added Pub. L. 97–322, title I, §115(a)(1), Oct. 15, 1982, 96 Stat. 1585; amended Pub. L. 101–225, title II, §203(1), Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1911.

§53 · Office of the Coast Guard Reserve; Director

(a) Establishment of Office; Director.—There is in the executive part of the Coast Guard an Office of the Coast Guard Reserve. The head of the Office is the Director of the Coast Guard Reserve. The Director of the Coast Guard Reserve is the principal adviser to the Commandant on Coast Guard Reserve matters and may have such additional functions as the Commandant may direct.

(b) Appointment.—The President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint the Director of the Coast Guard Reserve, from officers of the Coast Guard who—

(1) have had at least 10 years of commissioned service;

(2) are in a grade above captain; and

(3) have been recommended by the Secretary of Transportation.

(c) Term.—(1) The Director of the Coast Guard Reserve holds office for a term determined by the President, normally two years, but not more than four years. An officer may be removed from the position of Director for cause at any time.

(2) The Director of the Coast Guard Reserve, while so serving, holds a grade above Captain, without vacating the officer's permanent grade.

(d) Budget.—The Director of the Coast Guard Reserve is the official within the executive part of the Coast Guard who, subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Transportation and the Commandant, is responsible for preparation, justification, and execution of the personnel, operation and maintenance, and construction budgets for the Coast Guard Reserve. As such, the Director of the Coast Guard Reserve is the director and functional manager of appropriations made for the Coast Guard Reserve in those areas.

(e) Annual Report.—The Director of the Coast Guard Reserve shall submit to the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Defense an annual report on the state of the Coast Guard Reserve and the ability of the Coast Guard Reserve to meet its missions. The report shall be prepared in conjunction with the Commandant and may be submitted in classified and unclassified versions.

Added Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title V, §557(a), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 619.

Chapter 5. Functions and Powers

§81 · Aids to navigation authorized

In order to aid navigation and to prevent disasters, collisions, and wrecks of vessels and aircraft, the Coast Guard may establish, maintain, and operate:

(1) aids to maritime navigation required to serve the needs of the armed forces or of the commerce of the United States;

(2) aids to air navigation required to serve the needs of the armed forces of the United States peculiar to warfare and primarily of military concern as determined by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of any department within the Department of Defense and as required by any of those officials; and

(3) electronic aids to navigation systems (a) required to serve the needs of the armed forces of the United States peculiar to warfare and primarily of military concern as determined by the Secretary of Defense or any department within the Department of Defense; or (b) required to serve the needs of the maritime commerce of the United States; or (c) required to serve the needs of the air commerce of the United States as requested by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.

These aids to navigation other than electronic aids to navigation systems shall be established and operated only within the United States, the waters above the Continental Shelf, the territories and possessions of the United States, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and beyond the territorial jurisdiction of the United States at places where naval or military bases of the United States are or may be located. The Coast Guard may establish, maintain, and operate aids to maritime navigation under paragraph (1) of this section by contract with any person, public body, or instrumentality.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 500; June 22, 1951, ch. 150, 65 Stat. 89; Sept. 3, 1954, ch. 1263, §30, 68 Stat. 1237; Pub. L. 85–726, title XIV, §1404, Aug. 23, 1958, 72 Stat. 808; Pub. L. 89–662, §1, Oct. 14, 1966, 80 Stat. 912; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(3), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2519; Pub. L. 97–322, title I, §105(a), Oct. 15, 1982, 96 Stat. 1582.

§82 · Cooperation with Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration

The Coast Guard, in establishing, maintaining, or operating any aids to air navigation herein provided, shall solicit the cooperation of the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to the end that the personnel and facilities of the Federal Aviation Administration will be utilized to the fullest possible advantage. Before locating and operating any such aid on military or naval bases or regions, the consent of the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, or the Secretary of the Air Force, as the case may be, shall first be obtained. No such aid shall be located within the territorial jurisdiction of any foreign country without the consent of the government thereof. Nothing in this title shall be deemed to limit the authority granted by subchapter II of chapter 22 of title 10 or part A of subtitle VII of title 49.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 500; Sept. 3, 1954, ch. 1263, §31, 68 Stat. 1237; Pub. L. 85–726, title XIV, §1404, Aug. 23, 1958, 72 Stat. 808; Pub. L. 89–662, §2, Oct. 14, 1966, 80 Stat. 912; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(4), (5), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2519; Pub. L. 97–295, §2(3), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1301; Pub. L. 99–640, §10(a)(3), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3549; Pub. L. 103–272, §5(d), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1373; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title XI, §1122(c), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2687.

§83 · Unauthorized aids to maritime navigation; penalty

No person, or public body, or instrumentality, excluding the armed services, shall establish, erect, or maintain any aid to maritime navigation in or adjacent to the waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, or on the high seas if that person, or public body, or instrumentality is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, without first obtaining authority to do so from the Coast Guard in accordance with applicable regulations. Whoever violates the provisions of this section or any of the regulations issued by the Secretary in accordance herewith shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than $100 for each offense. Each day during which such violation continues shall be considered as a new offense.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 500; Pub. L. 93–283, §1(1), May 14, 1974, 88 Stat. 139.

§84 · Interference with aids to navigation; penalty

It shall be unlawful for any person, or public body, or instrumentality, excluding the armed forces, to remove, change the location of, obstruct, wilfully damage, make fast to, or interfere with any aid to navigation established, installed, operated, or maintained by the Coast Guard pursuant to section 81 of this title, or with any aid to navigation lawfully maintained under authority granted by the Coast Guard pursuant to section 83 of this title, or to anchor any vessel in any of the navigable waters of the United States so as to obstruct or interfere with range lights maintained therein. Whoever violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than $500 for each offense. Each day during which such violation shall continue shall be considered as a new offense.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 500.

§85 · Aids to maritime navigation; penalty

The Secretary shall prescribe and enforce necessary and reasonable rules and regulations, for the protection of marine navigation, relative to the establishment, maintenance, and operation of lights and other signals on fixed and floating structures in or over waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and in the high seas for structures owned or operated by persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Any owner or operator of such a structure, excluding an agency of the United States, who violates any of the rules or regulations prescribed hereunder, commits a misdemeanor and shall be punished, upon conviction thereof, by a fine of not exceeding $100 for each day which such violation continues.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 501; June 4, 1956, ch. 351, §1, 70 Stat. 226; Pub. L. 93–283, §1(2), May 14, 1974, 88 Stat. 139.

§86 · Marking of obstructions

The Secretary may mark for the protection of navigation any sunken vessel or other obstruction existing on the navigable waters or waters above the continental shelf of the United States in such manner and for so long as, in his judgment, the needs of maritime navigation require. The owner of such an obstruction shall be liable to the United States for the cost of such marking until such time as the obstruction is removed or its abandonment legally established or until such earlier time as the Secretary may determine. All moneys received by the United States from the owners of obstructions, in accordance with this section, shall be covered into the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts. This section shall not be construed so as to relieve the owner of any such obstruction from the duty and responsibility suitably to mark the same and remove it as required by law.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 501; Pub. L. 89–191, Sept. 17, 1965, 79 Stat. 822; Pub. L. 93–283, §1(3), May 14, 1974, 88 Stat. 139.

[§87 · Repealed. Pub. L. 94–546, §1(6), (7), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2519]

§88 · Saving life and property

(a) In order to render aid to distressed persons, vessels, and aircraft on and under the high seas and on and under the waters over which the United States has jurisdiction and in order to render aid to persons and property imperiled by flood, the Coast Guard may:

(1) perform any and all acts necessary to rescue and aid persons and protect and save property;

(2) take charge of and protect all property saved from marine or aircraft disasters, or floods, at which the Coast Guard is present, until such property is claimed by persons legally authorized to receive it or until otherwise disposed of in accordance with law or applicable regulations, and care for bodies of those who may have perished in such catastrophes;

(3) furnish clothing, food, lodging, medicines, and other necessary supplies and services to persons succored by the Coast Guard; and

(4) destroy or tow into port sunken or floating dangers to navigation.

(b)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Coast Guard may render aid to persons and protect and save property at any time and at any place at which Coast Guard facilities and personnel are available and can be effectively utilized.

(2) The Commandant shall make full use of all available and qualified resources, including the Coast Guard Auxiliary and individuals licensed by the Secretary pursuant to section 8904(b) of title 46, United States Code, in rendering aid under this subsection in nonemergency cases.

(c) An individual who knowingly and willfully communicates a false distress message to the Coast Guard or causes the Coast Guard to attempt to save lives and property when no help is needed is—

(1) guilty of a class D felony;

(2) subject to a civil penalty of not more than $5,000; and

(3) liable for all costs the Coast Guard incurs as a result of the individual's action.

(d) The Secretary shall establish a helicopter rescue swimming program for the purpose of training selected Coast Guard personnel in rescue swimming skills, which may include rescue diver training.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 501; Pub. L. 91–278, §1(3), June 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 304; Pub. L. 100–448, §30(a), Sept. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 1849; Pub. L. 101–595, title IV, §401, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2989; Pub. L. 104–324, title II, §213(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3915.

§89 · Law enforcement

(a) The Coast Guard may make inquiries, examinations, inspections, searches, seizures, and arrests upon the high seas and waters over which the United States has jurisdiction, for the prevention, detection, and suppression of violations of laws of the United States. For such purposes, commissioned, warrant, and petty officers may at any time go on board of any vessel subject to the jurisdiction, or to the operation of any law, of the United States, address inquiries to those on board, examine the ship's documents and papers, and examine, inspect, and search the vessel and use all necessary force to compel compliance. When from such inquiries, examination, inspection, or search it appears that a breach of the laws of the United States rendering a person liable to arrest is being, or has been committed, by any person, such person shall be arrested or, if escaping to shore, shall be immediately pursued and arrested on shore, or other lawful and appropriate action shall be taken; or, if it shall appear that a breach of the laws of the United States has been committed so as to render such vessel, or the merchandise, or any part thereof, on board of, or brought into the United States by, such vessel, liable to forfeiture, or so as to render such vessel liable to a fine or penalty and if necessary to secure such fine or penalty, such vessel or such merchandise, or both, shall be seized.

(b) The officers of the Coast Guard insofar as they are engaged, pursuant to the authority contained in this section, in enforcing any law of the United States shall:

(1) be deemed to be acting as agents of the particular executive department or independent establishment charged with the administration of the particular law; and

(2) be subject to all the rules and regulations promulgated by such department or independent establishment with respect to the enforcement of that law.

(c) The provisions of this section are in addition to any powers conferred by law upon such officers, and not in limitation of any powers conferred by law upon such officers, or any other officers of the United States.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 502; Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §1, 64 Stat. 406.

§90 · Ocean stations

(a) The Coast Guard is authorized to operate and maintain floating ocean stations for the purpose of providing search and rescue, communication, and air navigation facilities, and meteorological services in such ocean areas as are regularly traversed by aircraft of the United States.

(b) The Coast Guard is authorized, subject to approval by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, to operate, on floating ocean stations authorized herein, such air navigation facilities as the Administrator may find necessary or desirable for the safe and efficient protection and control of air traffic. The Coast Guard, in establishing, maintaining, or operating such air navigation facilities shall request the cooperation of the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to the end that the personnel and facilities of the Federal Aviation Administration will be utilized to the fullest possible advantage.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 502; Pub. L. 85–726, title XIV, §1404, Aug. 23, 1958, 72 Stat. 808; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(8), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2519.

§91 · Safety of naval vessels

(a) The Secretary may control the anchorage and movement of any vessel in the navigable waters of the United States to ensure the safety or security of any United States naval vessel in those waters.

(b) If the Secretary does not exercise the authority in subsection (a) of this section and immediate action is required, the senior naval officer present in command may control the anchorage or movement of any vessel in the navigable waters of the United States to ensure the safety and security of any United States naval vessel under the officer's command.

(c) If a person violates, or a vessel is operated in violation of, this section or a regulation or order issued under this section, the person or vessel is subject to the enforcement provisions in section 13 of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act (33 U.S.C. 1232).

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 503; Pub. L. 99–640, §10(a)(4), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3549.

§92 · Secretary; general powers

For the purpose of executing the duties and functions of the Coast Guard the Secretary may within the limits of appropriations made therefor:

(a) establish, change the limits of, consolidate, discontinue, and re-establish Coast Guard districts;

(b) arrange with the Secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force to assign members of the Coast Guard to any school maintained by the Army, Navy, and Air Force, for instruction and training, including aviation schools;

(c) construct, or cause to be constructed, Coast Guard shore establishments;

(d) design or cause to be designed, cause to be constructed, accept as gift, or otherwise acquire vessels, and subject to applicable regulations under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 471 et seq.) dispose of them;

[(e) Repealed. Oct. 31, 1951, ch. 654, §1(32), 65 Stat. 702]

(f) acquire land or interests in land, including acceptance of gifts thereof, where required for the purpose of carrying out any project or purpose for which an appropriation has been made;

(g) exchange land or interests in land in part or in full payment for such other land or interests in land as may be necessary or desirable, the balance of such part payment to be defrayable in accordance with other provisions of this section;

(h) exercise any of the powers vested by this title in the Commandant in any case in which the Secretary deems it appropriate; and

(i) do any and all things necessary to carry out the purposes of this title.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 503; Oct. 31, 1951, ch. 654, §§1(32), 2(9), 3(3), 65 Stat. 702, 707, 708; Pub. L. 97–295, §2(4), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1301; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(D), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865.

§93 · Commandant; general powers

For the purpose of executing the duties and functions of the Coast Guard the Commandant may:

(a) maintain water, land, and air patrols, and ice-breaking facilities;

(b) establish and prescribe the purpose of, change the location of, consolidate, discontinue, re-establish, maintain, operate, and repair Coast Guard shore establishments;

(c) assign vessels, aircraft, vehicles, aids to navigation, equipment, appliances, and supplies to Coast Guard districts and shore establishments, and transfer any of the foregoing from one district or shore establishment to another;

(d) conduct experiments, investigate, or cause to be investigated, plans, devices, and inventions relating to the performance of any Coast Guard function and cooperate and coordinate such activities with other Government agencies and with private agencies;

(e) conduct any investigations or studies that may be of assistance to the Coast Guard in the performance of any of its powers, duties, or functions;

(f) collect, publish, and distribute information concerning Coast Guard operations;

(g) conduct or make available to personnel of the Coast Guard such specialized training and courses of instruction, including correspondence courses, as may be necessary or desirable for the good of the service;

(h) design or cause to be designed, cause to be constructed, accept as gift, or otherwise acquire patrol boats and other small craft, equip, operate, maintain, supply, and repair such patrol boats, other small craft, aircraft, and vehicles, and subject to applicable regulations under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 471 et seq.) dispose of them;

(i) acquire, accept as gift, maintain, repair, and discontinue aids to navigation, appliances, equipment, and supplies;

(j) equip, operate, maintain, supply, and repair Coast Guard districts and shore establishments;

[(k) Repealed. Oct. 31, 1951, ch. 654, §1(33), 65 Stat. 702]

(l) establish, equip, operate, and maintain shops, depots, and yards for the manufacture and construction of aids to navigation, equipment, apparatus, vessels, vehicles, and aircraft not normally or economically obtainable from private contractors, and for the maintenance and repair of any property used by the Coast Guard;

(m) accept and utilize, in times of emergency in order to save life or protect property, such voluntary services as may be offered to the Coast Guard;

(n) rent or lease, under such terms and conditions as are deemed advisable, for a period not exceeding five years, such real property under the control of the Coast Guard as may not be required for immediate use by the Coast Guard, the monies received from any such rental or lease, less amount of expenses incurred (exclusive of governmental personal services), to be deposited in the Treasury;

(o) grant, under such terms and conditions as are deemed advisable, permits, licenses, easements, and rights-of-way over, across, in, and upon lands under the control of the Coast Guard when in the public interest and without substantially injuring the interests of the United States in the property thereby affected;

(p) establish, install, abandon, re-establish, reroute, operate, maintain, repair, purchase, or lease such telephone and telegraph lines and cables, together with all facilities, apparatus, equipment, structures, appurtenances, accessories, and supplies used or useful in connection with the installation, operation, maintenance, or repair of such lines and cables, including telephones in residences leased or owned by the Government of the United States when appropriate to assure efficient response to extraordinary operational contingencies of a limited duration, and acquire such real property rights of way, easements, or attachment privileges as may be required for the installation, operation, and maintenance of such lines, cables, and equipment;

(q) establish, install, abandon, reestablish, change the location of, operate, maintain, and repair radio transmitting and receiving stations;

(r) provide medical and dental care for personnel entitled thereto by law or regulation, including care in private facilities;

(s) accept, under terms and conditions the Commandant establishes, the service of an individual ordered to perform community service under the order of a Federal, State, or municipal court,

(t) notwithstanding any other law, enter into cooperative agreements with States, local governments, non-governmental organizations, and individuals, to accept and utilize voluntary services for the maintenance and improvement of natural and historic resources on, or to benefit natural and historic research on, Coast Guard facilities, subject to the requirement that—

(1) the cooperative agreements shall each provide for the parties to contribute funds or services on a matching basis to defray the costs of such programs, projects, and activities under the agreement; and

(2) a person providing voluntary services under this subsection shall not be considered a Federal employee except for purposes of chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, with respect to compensation for work-related injuries, and chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, with respect to tort claims;

(u) enter into cooperative agreements with other Government agencies and the National Academy of Sciences;

(v) require that any member of the Coast Guard or Coast Guard Reserve (including a cadet or an applicant for appointment or enlistment to any of the foregoing and any member of a uniformed service who is assigned to the Coast Guard) request that all information contained in the National Driver Register pertaining to the individual, as described in section 30304(a) of title 49, be made available to the Commandant under section 30305(a) of title 49, may receive that information, and upon receipt, shall make the information available to the individual;

(w) provide for the honorary recognition of individuals and organizations that significantly contribute to Coast Guard programs, missions, or operations, including State and local governments and commercial and nonprofit organizations, and pay for, using any appropriations or funds available to the Coast Guard, plaques, medals, trophies, badges, and similar items to acknowledge such contribution (including reasonable expenses of ceremony and presentation); and

(x) rent or lease, under such terms and conditions as are considered by the Secretary to be advisable, commercial vehicles to transport the next of kin of eligible retired Coast Guard military personnel to attend funeral services of the service member at a national cemetery.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 504; Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §2, 64 Stat. 406; Oct. 31, 1951, ch. 654, §§1(33), 2(10), 4(1), 65 Stat. 702, 707, 709; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(9), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2519; Pub. L. 97–136, §6(d), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1706; Pub. L. 97–276, §143, Oct. 2, 1982, 96 Stat. 1199; Pub. L. 97–295, §2(4), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1301; Pub. L. 97–322, title I, §115(c), Oct. 15, 1982, 96 Stat. 1586; Pub. L. 102–241, §7, Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2212; Pub. L. 103–206, title II, §202, title III, §316, Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2420, 2426; Pub. L. 104–324, title II, §207(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3908; Pub. L. 105–383, title II, §§202, 203, Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3414, 3415.

§94 · Oceanographic research

The Coast Guard shall conduct such oceanographic research, use such equipment or instruments, and collect and analyze such oceanographic data, in cooperation with other agencies of the Government, or not, as may be in the national interest.

Added Pub. L. 87–396, §1, Oct. 5, 1961, 75 Stat. 827.

§95 · Special agents of the Coast Guard Investigative Service law enforcement authority

(a)(1) A special agent of the Coast Guard Investigative Service designated under subsection (b) has the following authority:

(A) To carry firearms.

(B) To execute and serve any warrant or other process issued under the authority of the United States.

(C) To make arrests without warrant for—

(i) any offense against the United States committed in the agent's presence; or

(ii) any felony cognizable under the laws of the United States if the agent has probable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing the felony.

(2) The authorities provided in paragraph (1) shall be exercised only in the enforcement of statutes for which the Coast Guard has law enforcement authority, or in exigent circumstances.

(b) The Commandant may designate to have the authority provided under subsection (a) any special agent of the Coast Guard Investigative Service whose duties include conducting, supervising, or coordinating investigation of criminal activity in programs and operations of the United States Coast Guard.

(c) The authority provided under subsection (a) shall be exercised in accordance with guidelines prescribed by the Commandant and approved by the Attorney General and any other applicable guidelines prescribed by the Secretary of Transportation or the Attorney General.

Added Pub. L. 100–448, §10(a), Sept. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 1842; amended Pub. L. 105–383, title II, §205(a), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3415.

§96 · Prohibition on overhaul, repair, and maintenance of Coast Guard vessels in foreign shipyards

A Coast Guard vessel the home port of which is in a State of the United States may not be overhauled, repaired, or maintained in a shipyard outside the United States, other than in the case of voyage repairs.

Added Pub. L. 104–324, title III, §311(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3920.

§97 · Procurement of buoy chain

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the Coast Guard may not procure buoy chain—

(1) that is not manufactured in the United States; or

(2) substantially all of the components of which are not produced or manufactured in the United States.

(b) The Coast Guard may procure buoy chain that is not manufactured in the United States if the Secretary determines that—

(1) the price of buoy chain manufactured in the United States is unreasonable; or

(2) emergency circumstances exist.

Added Pub. L. 104–324, title XI, §1128(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3984.

Chapter 7. Cooperation With Other Agencies

§141 · Cooperation with other agencies, States, territories, and political subdivisions

(a) The Coast Guard may, when so requested by proper authority, utilize its personnel and facilities (including members of the Auxiliary and facilities governed under chapter 23) to assist any Federal agency, State, Territory, possession, or political subdivision thereof, or the District of Columbia, to perform any activity for which such personnel and facilities are especially qualified. The Commandant may prescribe conditions, including reimbursement, under which personnel and facilities may be provided under this subsection.

(b) The Coast Guard, with the consent of the head of the agency concerned, may avail itself of such officers and employees, advice, information, and facilities of any Federal agency, State, Territory, possession, or political subdivision thereof, or the District of Columbia as may be helpful in the performance of its duties. In connection with the utilization of personal services of employees of state or local governments, the Coast Guard may make payments for necessary traveling and per diem expenses as prescribed for Federal employees by the standardized Government travel regulations.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 505; Pub. L. 104–324, title IV, §405(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3924.

§142 · State Department

The Coast Guard, through the Secretary, may exchange information, through the Secretary of State, with foreign governments and suggest to the Secretary of State international collaboration and conferences on all matters dealing with the safety of life and property at sea, other than radio communication.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 505.

§143 · Treasury Department

Commissioned, warrant, and petty officers of the Coast Guard are deemed to be officers of the customs and when so acting shall, insofar as performance of the duties relating to customs laws are concerned, be subject to regulations issued by the Secretary of the Treasury governing officers of the customs.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 506.

§144 · Department of the Army and Department of the Air Force

(a) The Secretary of the Army or the Secretary of the Air Force at the request of the Secretary may, with or without reimbursement for the cost thereof, as agreed, receive members of the Coast Guard for instruction in any school, including any aviation school, maintained by the Army or the Air Force, and such members shall be subject to the regulations governing such schools.

(b) Officers and enlisted men of the Coast Guard shall be permitted to purchase quartermaster supplies from the Army at the same price as is charged the officers and enlisted men of the Army.

(c) Articles of ordnance property may be sold by the Secretary of the Army to officers of the Coast Guard for their use in the public service in the same manner as these articles are sold to officers of the Army.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 506; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(10), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2519; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(D), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865.

§145 · Navy Department

(a) The Secretary of the Navy, at the request of the Secretary may, with or without reimbursement for the cost thereof, as agreed:

(1) build any vessel for the Coast Guard at such Navy yards as the Secretary of the Navy may designate;

(2) receive members of the Coast Guard for instruction in any school, including any aviation school maintained by the Navy, and such members shall be subject to the regulations governing such schools; and

(3) permit personnel of the Coast Guard and their dependents to occupy any public quarters maintained by the Navy and available for the purpose.

(b) Officers and enlisted men of the Coast Guard shall be permitted to purchase quartermaster supplies from the Navy and the Marine Corps at the same price as is charged the officers and enlisted men of the Navy and Marine Corps.

(c) When the Coast Guard is operating in the Department of Transportation, the Secretary shall provide for such peacetime training and planning of reserve strength and facilities as is necessary to insure an organized, manned, and equipped Coast Guard when it is required for wartime operation in the Navy. To this end, the Secretary of the Navy for the Navy, and the Secretary of Transportation, for the Coast Guard, may from time to time exchange such information, make available to each other such personnel, vessels, facilities, and equipment, and agree to undertake such assignments and functions for each other as they may agree are necessary and advisable.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 506; Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §3, 64 Stat. 406; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(11), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2519; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(D), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865.

§146 · United States Postal Service

Coast Guard facilities and personnel may be utilized for the transportation and delivery of mail matter during emergency conditions or at isolated locations under such arrangements as may be satisfactory to the Secretary and the United States Postal Service.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 506; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(12), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2519; Pub. L. 99–640, §10(a)(5), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3549.

§147 · Department of Commerce

In order to promote the safety of life and property on and over the high seas and waters over which the United States has jurisdiction, and to facilitate the preparation and dissemination by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the weather reports, forecasts, and warnings essential to the safe and efficient conduct of domestic and international commerce on and over such seas and waters, the Commandant may cooperate with the Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration by procuring, maintaining, and making available, facilities and assistance for observing, investigating, and communicating weather phenomena and for disseminating weather data, forecasts and warnings, the mutually satisfactory terms of such cooperation in weather service to be agreed upon and arranged between the Commandant and the Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 507; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(13), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2520; Pub. L. 97–295, §2(5), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1301.

§147a · Department of Health and Human Services

(a) The Commandant may assist the Secretary of Health and Human Services in providing medical emergency helicopter transportation services to civilians. The Commandant may prescribe conditions, including reimbursement, under which resources may be provided under this section. The following specific limitations apply to assistance provided under this section:

(1) Assistance may be provided only in areas where Coast Guard units able to provide the assistance are regularly assigned. Coast Guard units may not be transferred from one area to another to provide the assistance.

(2) Assistance may be provided only to the extent it does not interfere with the performance of the Coast Guard mission.

(3) Providing assistance may not cause an increase in amounts required for the operation of the Coast Guard.

(b) An individual (or the estate of that individual) who is authorized by the Coast Guard to provide a service under a program established under subsection (a) and who is acting within the scope of that individual's duties is not liable for injury to, or loss of, property or personal injury or death that may be caused incident to providing the service.

Added Pub. L. 97–295, §2(6)(A), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1301.

§148 · Maritime instruction

The Coast Guard may, when so requested by proper authority, detail members for duty in connection with maritime instruction and training by the several States, Territories, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, and when requested by the Maritime Administrator, detail persons in the Coast Guard for duty in connection with maritime instruction and training by the United States. The service rendered by any person so detailed shall be considered Coast Guard duty.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 507; Pub. L. 97–31, §12(4), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 154; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(D), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865.

§149 · Detail of members to assist foreign governments

The President may upon application from the foreign governments concerned, and whenever in his discretion the public interests render such a course advisable, detail members of the Coast Guard to assist foreign governments in matters concerning which the Coast Guard may be of assistance. Members so detailed may accept, from the government to which detailed, offices and such compensation and emoluments thereunder appertaining as may be first approved by the Secretary. While so detailed such members shall receive, in addition to the compensation and emoluments allowed them by such governments, the pay and allowances to which they are entitled in the Coast Guard and shall be allowed the same credit for longevity, retirement, and for all other purposes that they would receive if they were serving with the Coast Guard.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 507; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(D), (E), (4)(A)(i), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865.

§150 · Coast Guard officers as attacheÿAE1s to missions

Commissioned officers may, with the consent of the Secretary of State, be regularly and officially attached to the diplomatic missions of the United States in those nations with which the United States is extensively engaged in maritime commerce. Expenses for the maintenance of such Coast Guard attacheÿAE1s abroad, including office rental and pay of employees and allowances for living quarters, including heat, fuel, and light, may be defrayed by the Coast Guard.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 507.

§151 · Contracts with Government-owned establishments for work and material

All orders or contracts for work or material, under authorization of law, placed with Government-owned establishments by the Coast Guard, shall be considered as obligations in the same manner as provided for similar orders or contracts placed with private contractors, and appropriations for such work or material shall remain available for payment therefor as in the case of orders or contracts placed with private contractors.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 507.

Chapter 9. Coast Guard Academy

§181 · Administration of Academy

The immediate government and military command of the Coast Guard Academy shall be in the Superintendent of the Academy, subject to the direction of the Commandant under the general supervision of the Secretary. The Commandant may select a superintendent from the active list of the Coast Guard who shall serve in the pleasure of the Commandant.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 508.

§181a · Cadet applicants; preappointment travel to Academy

The Secretary is authorized to expend appropriated funds for selective preappointment travel to the Academy for orientation visits of cadet applicants.

Added Pub. L. 98–557, §24(a), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2872.

§182 · Cadets; number, appointment, obligation to serve

(a) The number of cadets appointed annually to the Academy shall be as determined by the Secretary but the number appointed in any one year shall not exceed six hundred. Appointments to cadetships shall be made under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, who shall determine age limits, methods of selection of applicants, term of service as a cadet before graduation, and all other matters affecting such appointments. All such appointments shall be made without regard to the sex, race, color, or religious beliefs of an applicant. In the administration of this chapter, the Secretary shall take such action as may be necessary and appropriate to insure that female individuals shall be eligible for appointment and admission to the Coast Guard Academy, and that the relevant standards required for appointment, admission, training, graduation, and commissioning of female individuals shall be the same as those required for male individuals, except for those minimum essential adjustments in such standards required because of physiological differences between male and female individuals. The Secretary may summarily dismiss from the Coast Guard any cadet who, during his cadetship, is found unsatisfactory in either studies or conduct, or may be deemed not adapted for a career in the Coast Guard. Cadets shall be subject to rules governing discipline prescribed by the Commandant.

(b) Each cadet shall sign an agreement with respect to the cadet's length of service in the Coast Guard. The agreement shall provide that the cadet agrees to the following:

(1) That the cadet will complete the course of instruction at the Coast Guard Academy.

(2) That upon graduation from the Coast Guard Academy the cadet—

(A) will accept an appointment, if tendered, as a commissioned officer of the Coast Guard; and

(B) will serve on active duty for at least five years immediately after such appointment.

(3) That if an appointment described in paragraph (2) is not tendered or if the cadet is permitted to resign as a regular officer before the completion of the commissioned service obligation of the cadet, the cadet—

(A) will accept an appointment as a commissioned officer in the Coast Guard Reserve; and

(B) will remain in that reserve component until completion of the commissioned service obligation of the cadet.

(c)(1) The Secretary may transfer to the Coast Guard Reserve, and may order to active duty for such period of time as the Secretary prescribes (but not to exceed four years), a cadet who breaches an agreement under subsection (b). The period of time for which a cadet is ordered to active duty under this paragraph may be determined without regard to section 651(a) of title 10.

(2) A cadet who is transferred to the Coast Guard Reserve under paragraph (1) shall be transferred in an appropriate enlisted grade or rating, as determined by the Secretary.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a cadet shall be considered to have breached an agreement under subsection (b) if the cadet is separated from the Coast Guard Academy under circumstances which the Secretary determines constitute a breach by the cadet of the cadet's agreement to complete the course of instruction at the Coast Guard Academy and accept an appointment as a commissioned officer upon graduation from the Coast Guard Academy.

(d) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section. Those regulations shall include—

(1) standards for determining what constitutes, for the purpose of subsection (c), a breach of an agreement under subsection (b);

(2) procedures for determining whether such a breach has occurred; and

(3) standards for determining the period of time for which a person may be ordered to serve on active duty under subsection (c).

(e) In this section, “commissioned service obligation”, with respect to an officer who is a graduate of the Academy, means the period beginning on the date of the officer's appointment as a commissioned officer and ending on the sixth anniversary of such appointment or, at the discretion of the Secretary, any later date up to the eighth anniversary of such appointment.

(f)(1) This section does not apply to a cadet who is not a citizen or national of the United States.

(2) In the case of a cadet who is a minor and who has parents or a guardian, the cadet may sign the agreement required by subsection (b) only with the consent of the parent or guardian.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 508; Pub. L. 88–276, §5(b), Mar. 3, 1964, 78 Stat. 153; Pub. L. 89–444, §1(8), June 9, 1966, 80 Stat. 195; Pub. L. 91–278, §1(4), June 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 304; Pub. L. 94–572, §1, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2708; Pub. L. 97–295, §2(8), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1302; Pub. L. 100–448, §12, Sept. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 1843.

§183 · Cadets; initial clothing allowance

The Secretary may prescribe a sum which shall be credited to each new cadet upon first admission to the Academy, to cover the cost of his initial clothing and equipment issue, which sum shall be deducted subsequently from his pay. Each cadet discharged prior to graduation who is indebted to the United States on account of advances of pay to purchase required clothing and equipment shall be required to turn in to the Academy all clothing and equipment of a distinctively military nature to the extent required to discharge such indebtedness; and, if the value of such clothing and equipment so turned in does not cover the indebtedness incurred, then such indebtedness shall be canceled.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 508; Aug. 22, 1951, ch. 340, §3, 65 Stat. 196.

§184 · Cadets; degree of bachelor of science

The Superintendent of the Academy may, under such rules and regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe, confer the degree of bachelor of science upon all graduates of the Academy and may, in addition, confer the degree of bachelor of science upon such other living graduates of the Academy as shall have met the requirements of the Academy for such degree.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 508.

§185 · Cadets; appointment as ensign

The President may, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint as ensigns in the Coast Guard all cadets who shall graduate from the Academy. Ensigns so commissioned on the same date shall take rank according to their proficiency as shown by the order of their merit at date of graduation.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 508.

§186 · Civilian teaching staff

(a) The Secretary may appoint in the Coast Guard such number of civilian faculty members at the Academy as the needs of the Service may require. They shall have such titles and perform duties as prescribed by the Secretary. Leaves of absence and hours of work for civilian faculty members shall be governed by regulations promulgated by the Secretary, without regard to the provisions of title 5.

(b) The compensation of persons employed under this section is as prescribed by the Secretary.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 509; Sept. 3, 1954, ch. 1263, §32, 68 Stat. 1238; Pub. L. 86–474, §1(9), May 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 145; Pub. L. 89–444, §1(9), June 9, 1966, 80 Stat. 195; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(14), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2520.

§187 · Permanent commissioned teaching staff; composition

The permanent commissioned teaching staff at the Academy shall consist of professors, associate professors, assistant professors and instructors, in such numbers as the needs of the Service require. They shall perform duties as prescribed by the Commandant, and exercise command only in the academic department of the Academy.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 509; Pub. L. 86–474, §1(10), May 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 145.

§188 · Appointment of permanent commissioned teaching staff

The President may appoint in the Coast Guard, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, the professors, associate professors, assistant professors, and instructors who are to serve on the permanent commissioned teaching staff of the Academy. An original appointment to the permanent commissioned teaching staff, unless the appointee has served as a civilian member of the teaching staff, regular commissioned officer, temporary commissioned officer, or reserve commissioned officer in the Coast Guard, shall be a temporary appointment until the appointee has satisfactorily completed a probationary term of four years of service; thereafter he may be regularly appointed and his rank shall date from the date of his temporary appointment in the grade in which permanently appointed.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 509; Pub. L. 86–474, §1(11), May 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 145; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(15), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2520.

§189 · Grade of permanent commissioned teaching staff

Professors shall be commissioned officers with grade not above captain, associate and assistant professors with grade not above commander, and instructors with grade not above lieutenant commander. All officers of the permanent commissioned teaching staff shall receive the pay and allowances of other commissioned officers of the same grade and length of service. When any such professor, associate professor, assistant professor, or instructor is appointed or commissioned with grade less than the highest grade permitted, he shall be promoted under regulations prescribed by the Secretary.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 509; Pub. L. 86–474, §1(12), May 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 145.

§190 · Retirement of permanent commissioned teaching staff

Professors, associate professors, assistant professors, and instructors in the Coast Guard shall be subject to retirement or discharge from active service for any cause on the same basis as other commissioned officers of the Coast Guard, except that they shall not be required to retire from active service under the provisions of section 288 of this title, nor shall they be subject to the provisions of section 289 of this title, nor shall they be required to retire at age sixty-two but may be permitted to serve until age sixty-four at which time unless earlier retired or separated they shall be retired. The Secretary may retire any member of the permanent commissioned teaching staff who has completed thirty years’ active service. Service as a civilian member of the teaching staff at the Academy in addition to creditable service authorized by any other law in any of the military services rendered prior to an appointment as a professor, associate professor, assistant professor, or instructor shall be credited in computing length of service for retirement purposes. The provisions of law relating to retirement for disability in line of duty shall not apply in the case of a professor, associate professor, assistant professor, or instructor serving under a temporary appointment.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 509; Pub. L. 86–474, §1(13), May 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 145; Pub. L. 88–130, §1(8), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 175; Pub. L. 89–444, §1(10), June 9, 1966, 80 Stat. 196; Pub. L. 91–278, §1(5), June 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 304.

§191 · Credit for service as member of civilian teaching staff

Service as a member of the civilian teaching staff at the Academy in addition to creditable services authorized by any other law in any of the military services rendered prior to an appointment as professor, associate professor, assistant professor, or instructor shall be credited in computing length of service as a professor, associate professor, assistant professor, or instructor for purposes of pay and allowances.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 510; Pub. L. 86–474, §1(14), May 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 146.

§192 · Assignment of personnel as instructors

The Commandant may assign any member to appropriate instruction duty at the Academy.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 510; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(H), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865.

§193 · Advisory Committee

The Secretary may appoint an Advisory Committee to the Academy, consisting of not more than seven persons of distinction in education and other fields relating to the purposes of the Academy, who shall serve without pay (or, in the case of a member of the Committee who is an officer or employee of the United States, who shall receive no additional pay on account of his service on the Committee). Members of the Advisory Committee shall be appointed for terms of not to exceed three years and may be reappointed. The Secretary shall, in June of each year, appoint one of the members to serve as chairman. The members so appointed shall visit the Academy at least once during the academic year on the call of the chairman and may convene once each year at Headquarters, at the call of the Commandant, for the purpose of examining the course of instruction and advising the Commandant relative thereto. Each member of the Committee shall be reimbursed from Coast Guard appropriations in conformity with the provisions of chapter 57 of title 5. The Secretary shall, not less often than once a year, publish notice in the Federal Register for solicitation of nominations for membership on the Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee is authorized to make available to Congress any information, advice, and recommendations which the Advisory Committee is authorized to give to the Secretary or the Commandant. The Committee terminates on September 30, 1994.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 510; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(16), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2520; Pub. L. 97–322, title I, §118(b), Oct. 15, 1982, 96 Stat. 1586; Pub. L. 100–448, §9, Sept. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 1842; Pub. L. 102–241, §15, Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2213.

§194 · Annual Board of Visitors

(a) In addition to the Advisory Committee, a Board of Visitors to the Academy is established to visit the Academy annually and to make recommendations on the operation of the Academy.

(b) The Board shall be composed of—

(1) two Senators designated by the Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;

(2) three Members of the House of Representatives designated by the Chairman of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the House of Representatives;

(3) one Senator designated by the President of the Senate;

(4) two Members of the House of Representatives designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

(5) the Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Chairman of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the House of Representatives, as ex officio Members.

(c) When a Member is unable to attend the annual meeting another Member may be designated as provided under subsection (b).

(d) When an ex officio Member is unable to attend the annual meeting that Member may designate another Member.

(e) Members of the Board shall be designated in the First Session and serve for the duration of the Congress.

(f) The Board shall visit the Academy annually on the date chosen by the Secretary. Each Member of the Board shall be reimbursed, to the extent permitted by law, by the Coast Guard for actual expenses incurred while engaged in duties as a Member of the Board.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 510; Pub. L. 101–595, title III, §304, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2984.

§195 · Admission of foreign nationals for instruction; restrictions; conditions

(a) A foreign national may not receive instruction at the Academy except as authorized by this section.

(b) The President may designate not more than 36 foreign nationals whom the Secretary may permit to receive instruction at the Academy.

(c) A person receiving instruction under this section is entitled to the same pay and allowances, to be paid from the same appropriations, as a cadet appointed pursuant to section 182 of this title. A person may receive instruction under this section only if his country agrees in advance to reimburse the United States, at a rate determined by the Secretary, for the cost of providing such instruction, including pay and allowances, unless a waiver therefrom has been granted to that country by the Secretary. Funds received by the Secretary for this purpose shall be credited to the appropriations bearing the cost thereof, and may be apportioned between fiscal years.

(d) A person receiving instruction under this section is—

(1) not entitled to any appointment in the Coast Guard by reason of his graduation from the Academy; and

(2) subject to those regulations applicable to the Academy governing admission, attendance, discipline, resignation, discharge, dismissal, and graduation, except as may otherwise be prescribed by the Secretary.

Added Pub. L. 91–278, §1(6), June 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 304; amended Pub. L. 94–468, Oct. 11, 1976, 90 Stat. 2002.

§196 · Participation in Federal, State, or other educational research grants

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the United States Coast Guard Academy may compete for and accept Federal, State, or other educational research grants, subject to the following limitations:

(1) No award may be accepted for the acquisition or construction of facilities.

(2) No award may be accepted for the routine functions of the Academy.

Added Pub. L. 103–206, title III, §305(a), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2424.

Chapter 11. Personnel

OFFICERS

a. appointments

§211 · Original appointment of permanent commissioned officers

(a) The President may appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, permanent commissioned officers in the Regular Coast Guard in grades of ensign or above appropriate to their qualifications, experience, and length of service, as the needs of the Coast Guard may require, from among the following categories:

(1) graduates of the Coast Guard Academy;

(2) commissioned warrant officers, warrant officers, and enlisted members of the Regular Coast Guard;

(3) members of the Coast Guard Reserve who have served at least two years as such; and

(4) licensed officers of the United States merchant marine who has served two or more years aboard a vessel of the United States in the capacity of a licensed officer.

(b) No person 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.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 177; amended Pub. L. 89–444, §1(11), June 9, 1966, 80 Stat. 196; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(B), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865.

[§§212, 213 · Repealed. Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title V, §541(f)(5)(A), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2767]

§214 · 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 licensed officers of the United States merchant marine.

(b) Temporary appointments under this section do not change the permanent, probationary, or acting status of persons so appointed, prejudice them in regard to promotion or appointment, or abridge their rights or benefits. A person 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.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 178; amended Pub. L. 89–444, §1(12)–(14), June 9, 1966, 80 Stat. 196; Pub. L. 93–283, §1(5), May 14, 1974, 88 Stat. 140; Pub. L. 96–376, §6, Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1509; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(B), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865; Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title V, §541(f)(6), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2767; Pub. L. 104–324, title II, §211(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3915.

§215 · 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.

Added Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title V, §541(e)(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2766.

[§§221 to 232 · Repealed. Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(A), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 177]

[§233 · Repealed. Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §36, 64 Stat. 408]

[§§234 to 238 · Repealed. Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(A), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 177]

[§239 · Repealed. Pub. L. 86–155, §10(a)(1), Aug. 11, 1959, 73 Stat. 338]

[§§240 to 244 · Repealed. Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(A), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 177]

[§§245, 246 · Repealed. Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §36, 64 Stat. 408]

[§§247, 248 · Repealed. Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(A), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 177]

b. selection for promotion

§251 · 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.

§252 · Selection boards; composition of boards

A board convened under section 251 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.

§253 · Selection boards; notice of convening; communication with board

(a) Before a board is convened under section 251 of this title, notice of the convening date, the promotion zone to be considered, the officers eligible for consideration, and the number of officers the board may recommend for promotion shall be given to the service at large.

(b) Each officer eligible for consideration by a selection board convened under section 251 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 himself. A communication sent under this section may not criticize any officer or reflect upon the character, conduct, or motive of any officer.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 179; amended Pub. L. 89–444, §1(15), June 9, 1966, 80 Stat. 196.

§254 · Selection boards; oath of members

Each member of a selection board shall swear that he 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 him.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 179.

§255 · Number of officers to be selected for promotion

Before convening a board under section 251 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.

§256 · 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—

(1) the needs of the service;

(2) the estimated numbers of vacancies available in future years to provide comparable opportunity for promotion of officers in successive year groups; and

(3) 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 six-tenths.

(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.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 179; amended Pub. L. 89–444, §1(16), June 9, 1966, 80 Stat. 196; Pub. L. 97–417, §2(3), Jan. 4, 1983, 96 Stat. 2085; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, §514(c)(1), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 629; Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title XIII, §1343(c), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3995.

§256a · 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.

§257 · 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:

(1) two years in the grade of lieutenant (junior grade);

(2) three years in the grade of lieutenant;

(3) four years in the grade of lieutenant commander;

(4) four years in the grade of commander; and

(5) 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 275 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—

(1) continues on active duty; and

(2) is not promoted to that grade.

(e) An officer whose involuntary retirement or separation is deferred under section 295 of this title is not eligible for consideration for promotion to the next higher grade during the period of that deferment.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 179; amended Pub. L. 94–546, §1(19), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2520; Pub. L. 98–557, §17(b)(1), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2867.

§258 · Selection boards; information to be furnished boards

The Secretary shall furnish the appropriate selection board convened under section 251 of this title with:

(1) the number of officers that the board may recommend for promotion to the next higher grade; and

(2) 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.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 180; amended Pub. L. 89–444, §1(17), June 9, 1966, 80 Stat. 196; Pub. L. 104–324, title II, §212, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3915.

§259 · Officers to be recommended for promotion

(a) A selection board convened to recommend officers for promotion shall recommend those eligible officers whom the board 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 251 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—

(1) 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;

(2) 71/2 percent of the total number of officers that the board is authorized to recommend for promotion to the grade of commander; and

(3) 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.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 180; amended Pub. L. 97–417, §2(4), Jan. 4, 1983, 96 Stat. 2085; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, §514(c)(1), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 629.

§260 · Selection boards; reports

(a) Each board convened under section 251 of this title shall submit a report in writing, signed by all the members thereof, containing the names of the officers recommended for promotion.

(b) A board convened under section 251 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 of those officers whose names have been furnished to the board.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 180.

§261 · Selection boards; submission of reports

(a) A board convened under section 251 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 251 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 shall not be disclosed to any person not a member of the board.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 181.

§262 · Failure of selection for promotion

(a) 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 256 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.

(b) An officer shall not be considered to have failed of selection if he was not considered by a selection board because of administrative error. If he is selected by the next succeeding 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 had he been recommended by the first selection board.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 181.

c. promotions

§271 · 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.

(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 42 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 who is under investigation or against whom proceedings of a court-martial or a board of officers are pending may be delayed without prejudice by the Secretary until completion of the investigation or proceedings. However, 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.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 181; amended Pub. L. 91–278, §1(8), June 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 305; Pub. L. 97–417, §2(5), Jan. 4, 1983, 96 Stat. 2085; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, §514(c)(1), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 629; Pub. L. 101–225, title II, §203(2), Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1911; Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §1677(b)(2), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 3020.

§272 · 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 271 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 271 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.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 182.

§273 · Promotions; acceptance; oath of office

(a) An officer who receives an appointment under section 271 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.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 182; amended Pub. L. 94–546, §1(20), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2520.

§274 · Promotions; pay and allowances

An officer who is promoted under section 271 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.

§275 · 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. An appointment under this section to a grade above captain shall be made by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. An appointment under this section to grade above lieutenant commander of an officer in the Coast Guard Reserve shall be made by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. 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 271 of this title.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 182; amended Pub. L. 92–129, title VI, §605, Sept. 28, 1971, 85 Stat. 362; Pub. L. 97–417, §2(6), Jan. 4, 1983, 96 Stat. 2085.

§276 · 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, 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.

[§277 · Repealed. Pub. L. 104–324, title II, §210(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3915]

d. discharges; retirements; revocation of commissions

§281 · Revocation of commissions during first three 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 three 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.

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

Each officer of the Regular Coast Guard appointed under section 211 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:

(1) be honorably discharged on June 30 of the promotion year in which his second failure of selection occurs; or

(2) 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

(3) 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; amended Pub. L. 94–546, §1(21), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2520.

§283 · Regular lieutenants; separation for failure of selection for promotion; continuation

(a) Each officer of the Regular Coast Guard appointed under section 211 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:

(1) be honorably discharged on June 30 of the promotion year in which his second failure of selection occurs; or

(2) 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

(3) 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

(4) 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)(1) When the needs of the service require, the Secretary may direct a selection board, which has been convened under section 251 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.

(2) Upon the completion of a term under paragraph (1), an officer shall, unless selected for further continuation—

(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), be honorably discharged with severance pay computed under section 286 of this title;

(B) 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

(C) 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.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 184; amended Pub. L. 93–283, §1(6), May 14, 1974, 88 Stat. 140; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(22), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2520; Pub. L. 97–295, §2(9), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1302; Pub. L. 104–324, title II, §205, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3907.

§284 · Regular Coast Guard; officers serving under temporary appointments

(a) Each officer of the Regular Coast Guard appointed under section 214 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:

(1) be honorably discharged on June 30 of the promotion year in which his second failure of selection occurs; or

(2) 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

(3) 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.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 184; amended Pub. L. 94–546, §1(23), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2520.

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

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:

(1) 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

(2) 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.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 185; amended Pub. L. 93–283, §1(7), May 14, 1974, 88 Stat. 140; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(24), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2521.

§286 · Discharge in lieu of retirement; severance pay

(a) Each officer who is retained on active duty under section 283(a)(4), 283(b), or 285 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) Each officer discharged under this section or under section 282, 283, or 284 of this title is entitled to a lump-sum payment computed by multiplying his years of active commissioned service, but not more than twelve, by two months’ basic pay of the grade in which he is serving on the date of his discharge. In determining the total number of years of active service to be used as a multiplier in computing this payment, a part of a year that is six months or more is counted as a whole year and a part of a year that is less than six months is disregarded. The acceptance of a lump-sum payment under this section does not deprive a person 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 payment under this section until the total amount deducted equals the amount of the lump-sum payment.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 185.

§286a · Regular warrant officers: severance pay

(a) The severance pay of a regular warrant officer of the Coast Guard who is separated under section 580(a)(4)(A) of title 10 is computed by multiplying his years of active service that could be credited to him under section 511 of the Career Compensation Act of 1949, as amended, but not more than 12, by twice the monthly basic pay to which he is entitled at the time of separation.

(b) The severance pay of a regular warrant officer of the Coast Guard who is separated under section 1166 of title 10 is computed by multiplying his years of active service that could be credited to him under section 511 of the Career Compensation Act of 1949, as amended, but not more than 12, by the monthly basic pay to which he is entitled at the time of separation, unless the Secretary determines that the conditions under which the officer is discharged or separated do not warrant payment of that amount of severance pay.

(c) For the purposes of this section, a part of the year that is six months or more is counted as a whole year, and a part of a year that is less than six months is disregarded.

(d) The acceptance of severance pay under this section does not deprive a person 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 severance pay under this section, until the total deductions equal the amount of such severance pay.

Added Pub. L. 96–513, title V, §505(a)(1), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2918; amended Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title XI, §1125(b)(1), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1505; Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title V, §541(f)(2), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2766; Pub. L. 105–383, title II, §201(a), (b), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3414.

§287 · Separation for failure of selection for promotion or continuation; time of

If, under section 282, 283, 284, 285, 289, or 290 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; amended Pub. L. 92–451, §1(6), Oct. 2, 1972, 86 Stat. 755.

§288 · 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 is not subject to involuntary retirement under this section earlier than if he had not been selected from below the zone.

(b) Retired pay computed under section 423(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.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 185; amended Pub. L. 93–283, §1(8), May 14, 1974, 88 Stat. 140; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(25), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2521; Pub. L. 96–342, title VIII, §813(f)(1), Sept. 8, 1980, 94 Stat. 1109; Pub. L. 97–417, §2(7), Jan. 4, 1983, 96 Stat. 2085; Pub. L. 99–348, title II, §205(b)(4), July 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 700; Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title XIII, §1343(c), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3995.

§289 · 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 288 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 253, 254, 258, and 260 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 person 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.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 186; amended Pub. L. 94–546, §1(26), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2521; Pub. L. 97–417, §2(8), Jan. 4, 1983, 96 Stat. 2085; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, §514(c)(1), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 629; Pub. L. 101–225, title II, §203(3), Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1911; Pub. L. 104–324, title II, §203, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3907.

§290 · 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 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 in the grade of rear admiral. A board shall consist of at least five officers serving in the grade of 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 253, 254, 258, and 260 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)(1) 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.

(2) 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)(1) 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.

(2) 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.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 187; amended Pub. L. 92–451, §1(7), Oct. 2, 1972, 86 Stat. 756; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(27), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2521; Pub. L. 97–136, §6(b), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1706; Pub. L. 97–417, §2(9)(A), Jan. 4, 1983, 96 Stat. 2086; Pub. L. 98–557, §25(a)(2), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2872; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, §514(c)(1), (2)(A), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 629; Pub. L. 102–241, §5, Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2210; Pub. L. 103–206, title II, §205(d), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2422.

§291 · 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, or Marine Corps, 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; amended Pub. L. 99–348, title II, §205(b)(5), July 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 700.

§292 · 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.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 187; amended Pub. L. 99–348, title II, §205(b)(5), July 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 700.

§293 · Compulsory retirement at age of sixty-two

Any regular commissioned officer, except a commissioned warrant officer, who has reached the age of sixty-two shall be retired from active service.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 187; amended Pub. L. 99–348, title II, §205(b)(5), July 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 700.

§294 · 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.

§295 · 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)—

(1) may only be made with the consent of the officer involved; and

(2) 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.

Added Pub. L. 98–557, §17(b)(2)(A), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2867.

[§§301, 302 · Repealed. Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(A), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 177]

[§§303 to 305 · Repealed. May 29, 1954, ch. 249, §20(o), 68 Stat. 167]

[§306 · Repealed. Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §36, 64 Stat. 408]

[§§307, 308 · Repealed. May 29, 1954, ch. 249, §20(o), 68 Stat. 167]

[§309 · Repealed. Pub. L. 86–155, §10(a)(1), Aug. 11, 1959, 73 Stat. 338]

[§§310 to 312 · Repealed. Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(A), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 177]

[§313 · Repealed. May 29, 1954, ch. 249, §20(o), 68 Stat. 167]

[§313a · Repealed. Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(A), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 177]

[§§314, 315 · Repealed. Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §36, 64 Stat. 408]

e. separation for cause

§321 · Review of records of officers

The Secretary may at any time convene a board of officers 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—

(1) because his performance of duty has fallen below the standards prescribed by the Secretary, or

(2) 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.

§322 · 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 321 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 send the record of its proceedings to a board of review.

(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 321 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.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 188; amended Pub. L. 97–295, §2(10), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1302.

§323 · Boards of review

(a) Boards of review shall be convened at such times as the Secretary may prescribe, to review the records of cases of officers recommended by boards of inquiry for removal.

(b) If, after reviewing the record of the case, a board of review determines that the officer has failed to establish that he should be retained, it shall send its recommendation to the Secretary for his action.

(c) If, after reviewing the record of the case, a board of review determines that the officer has established that he should be retained on active duty, 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 321 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.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 188; amended Pub. L. 97–295, §2(10), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1302.

§324 · Composition of boards

(a) A board convened under section 321, 322, or 323 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 person may be a member of more than one board convened under section 321, 322, or 323 of this title to consider the same officer.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 188.

§325 · Rights and procedures

Each officer under consideration for removal under section 322 of this title shall be—

(1) 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;

(2) allowed reasonable time, as determined by the board of inquiry under regulations of the Secretary, to prepare his defense;

(3) allowed to appear in person and by counsel at proceedings before a board of inquiry; and

(4) 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.

§326 · 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 review under section 323 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.

§327 · Officers considered for removal; retirement or discharge; severance benefits

(a) At any time during proceedings under section 322 or 323 of this title, and before the removal of an officer, the Secretary may grant a request—

(1) for voluntary retirement, if the officer is otherwise qualified therefor; or

(2) for honorable discharge with severance benefits under subsection (b) in those cases arising under clause (1) of section 321 of this title; or

(3) for discharge with severance benefits under subsection (b) in those cases arising under clause (2) of section 321 of this title.

(b) Each officer removed from active duty under section 326 of this title shall—

(1) 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

(2) if on that date the officer is ineligible for voluntary retirement under any law, be honorably discharged in the grade then held with severance pay computed by multiplying his years of active commissioned service, but not more than twelve, by one month's basic pay of that grade, in those cases arising under clause (1) of section 321 of this title; or

(3) if on that date the officer is ineligible for voluntary retirement under any law, be discharged in the grade then held with severance pay computed by multiplying his years of active commissioned service, but not more than twelve, by one month's basic pay of that grade, in those cases arising under clause (2) of section 321 of this title, unless the Secretary determines that the conditions under which the officer is discharged or separated do not warrant payment of that amount of severance pay.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 189; amended Pub. L. 97–295, §2(10), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1302; Pub. L. 99–348, title II, §205(b)(6), July 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 700; Pub. L. 105–383, title II, §201(c), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3414.

f. miscellaneous provisions

§331 · 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.

§332 · 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.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 189; amended Pub. L. 89–444, §1(18), June 9, 1966, 80 Stat. 196; Pub. L. 91–278, §1(9), June 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 305; Pub. L. 102–241, §14, Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2213.

§333 · 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.

§334 · Grade on retirement

(a) Any commissioned officer, other than a commissioned warrant officer, who is retired under any provision of this title, shall be retired from active service with the highest grade held by him for not less than six months while on active duty in which, as determined by the Secretary, his performance of duty was satisfactory.

(b) Any warrant officer who is retired under any provision of section 580, 1263, 1293, or 1305 of title 10, shall be retired from active service with the highest commissioned grade above chief warrant officer, W–4, held by him for not less than six months on active duty in which, as determined by the Secretary, his performance of duty was satisfactory.

Added Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 190; amended Pub. L. 89–444, §1(19), June 9, 1966, 80 Stat. 196; Pub. L. 99–348, title II, §205(b)(7), July 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 700; Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title XI, §1125(b)(2), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1505; Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title V, §541(f)(3), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2766.

§335 · 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.

§336 · United States Coast Guard Band; composition; director

(a) The United States Coast Guard Band shall be composed of a director and other personnel in such numbers and grades as the Secretary determines to be necessary.

(b) The Secretary shall designate the director from among qualified members of the Coast Guard. Upon the recommendation of the Secretary, a member so designated may be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to a commissioned grade in the Regular Coast Guard.

(c) The initial appointment to a commissioned grade of a member designated as director of the Coast Guard Band shall be in the grade of lieutenant (junior grade) or lieutenant.

(d) A member who is designated and commissioned under this section shall not be included on the active duty promotion list. He shall be promoted under section 276 of this title. However, the grade of the director may not be higher than commander.

(e) The Secretary may revoke any designation as director of the Coast Guard Band. When a member's designation is revoked, his appointment to commissioned grade under this section terminates and he is entitled, at his option:

(1) to be discharged from the Coast Guard; or

(2) to revert to the grade and status he held at the time of his designation as director.

Added Pub. L. 89–189, §1(1), Sept. 17, 1965, 79 Stat. 820; amended Pub. L. 102–587, title V, §5201, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5071.

ENLISTED MEMBERS

§350 · Recruiting campaigns

The Secretary shall initiate and carry forward an intensified voluntary enlistment campaign to obtain the required personnel strengths.

Added Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, §7(a), 70A Stat. 620.

§351 · Enlistments; term, grade

(a) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, the Commandant may enlist persons for minority or terms of full years not exceeding six years.

(b) The Secretary shall prescribe the grades or ratings for persons enlisting in the Regular Coast Guard.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 520; Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §16, 64 Stat. 407; Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, §§8(a), 53, 70A Stat. 620, 679; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(F), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865.

§352 · Promotion

Enlisted members shall be advanced in rating by the Commandant under regulations prescribed by the Secretary.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 520; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(C), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865.

§353 · Compulsory retirement at age of sixty-two

Any enlisted member who has reached the age of sixty-two shall be retired from active service.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 520; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(A), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865; Pub. L. 99–348, title II, §205(b)(8), July 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 700.

§354 · Voluntary retirement after thirty years’ service

Any enlisted member who has completed thirty years’ service may, upon his own application, in the discretion of the Commandant, be retired from active service.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 521; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(A), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865; Pub. L. 99–348, title II, §205(b)(8), July 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 700.

§355 · Voluntary retirement after twenty years’ service

Any enlisted member who has completed twenty years’ service may, upon his own application, in the discretion of the Commandant, be retired from active service.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 521; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(A), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865; Pub. L. 99–348, title II, §205(b)(8), July 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 700.

[§356 · Repealed. Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §36, 64 Stat. 408]

§357 · Involuntary retirement of enlisted members

(a) Enlisted Personnel Boards shall be convened as the Commandant may prescribe to review the records of enlisted members who have twenty or more years of active military service.

(b) Enlisted members who have twenty or more years of active military service may be considered by the Commandant for involuntary retirement and may be retired on recommendation of a Board—

(1) because the member's performance is below the standards the Commandant prescribes; or

(2) because of professional dereliction.

(c) An enlisted member under review by the Board shall be—

(1) notified in writing of the reasons the member is being considered for involuntary retirement;

(2) allowed sixty days from the date on which counsel is provided under paragraph (3) to submit any matters in rebuttal;

(3) provided counsel, certified under section 827(b) of title 10, to help prepare the rebuttal submitted under paragraph (2) and to represent the member before the Board under paragraph (5);

(4) allowed full access to and be furnished with copies of records relevant to the consideration for involuntary retirement prior to submission of the rebuttal submitted under paragraph (2); and

(5) allowed to appear before the Board and present witnesses or other documentation related to the review.

(d) A Board convened under this section shall consist of at least three commissioned officers, at least one of whom shall be of the grade of commander or above.

(e) A Board convened under this section shall recommend to the Commandant enlisted members who—

(1) have twenty or more years of active service;

(2) have been considered for involuntary retirement; and

(3) it determines should be involuntarily retired.

(f) After the Board makes its determination, each enlisted member the Commandant considers for involuntary retirement shall be—

(1) notified by certified mail of the reasons the member is being considered for involuntary retirement;

(2) allowed sixty days from the date counsel is provided under paragraph (3) to submit any matters in rebuttal;

(3) provided counsel, certified under section 827(b) of title 10, to help prepare the rebuttal submitted under paragraph (2); and

(4) allowed full access to and be furnished with copies of records relevant to the consideration for involuntary retirement prior to submission of the rebuttal submitted under paragraph (2).

(g) If the Commandant approves the Board's recommendation, the enlisted member shall be notified of the Commandant's decision and shall be retired from the service within ninety days of the notification.

(h) An enlisted member, who has completed twenty years of service and who the Commandant has involuntarily retired under this section, shall receive retired pay.

(i) An enlisted member voluntarily or involuntarily retired after twenty years of service who was cited for extraordinary heroism in the line of duty shall be entitled to an increase in retired pay. The retired pay shall be increased by 10 percent of—

(1) the active-duty pay and permanent additions thereto of the grade or rating with which retired when the member's retired pay is computed under section 423(a) of this title; or

(2) the member's retired pay base under section 1407 of title 10, when a member's retired pay is computed under section 423(b) of this title.

(j) When the Secretary orders a reduction in force, enlisted personnel may be involuntarily separated from the service without the Board's action.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 521; Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §17, 64 Stat. 407; Pub. L. 88–114, §1(1), Sept. 6, 1963, 77 Stat. 144; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(A), (B), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865; Pub. L. 99–348, title II, §205(b)(9), July 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 700; Pub. L. 102–241, §6, Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2210.

[§358 · Repealed. Pub. L. 88–114, §1(2), Sept. 6, 1963, 77 Stat. 144]

§359 · Recall to active duty during war or national emergency

In times of war or national emergency, the Commandant may order any enlisted member on the retired list to active duty.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 522; Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §18, 64 Stat. 407; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(A), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865.

§360 · Recall to active duty with consent of member

Any enlisted member on the retired list may, with his consent, be assigned to such duties as he may be able to perform, except that no enlisted member on the retired list who has reached the age of sixty-two years shall be recalled in time of peace.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 522; Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §19, 64 Stat. 407; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(A), (4)(B)(i), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865.

§361 · Relief of retired enlisted member promoted while on active duty

Any enlisted member on the retired list recalled to active duty who during such active duty is advanced to a higher grade or rating under a permanent or temporary appointment or promotion shall, upon relief from active duty be advanced on the retired list to the highest grade or rating held while on active duty. In case the appointment or promotion was temporary the advancement on the retired list shall be made only to such grade or rating in which the member served satisfactorily on active duty.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 522; Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §20, 64 Stat. 407; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(A), (G), (4)(C)(i), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865.

§362 · Retirement in cases where higher grade or rating has been held

Any enlisted member who is retired under any provision of section 353, 354, 355, or 357 of this title shall be retired from active service with highest grade or rating held by him while on active duty in which, as determined by the Secretary, his performance of duty was satisfactory, but not lower than his permanent grade or rating.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 522; Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §21, 64 Stat. 407; Pub. L. 97–295, §2(9), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1302; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(A), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865; Pub. L. 99–348, title II, §205(b)(8), July 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 700.

[§§363, 364 · Repealed. Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §36, 64 Stat. 408]

§365 · Extension of enlistments

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, the term of enlistment of any enlisted member may, by voluntary written agreement, be extended and re-extended for a period not exceeding six full years from the date of expiration of the then-existing term of enlistment, and subsequent to such date an enlisted member who so extends his term of enlistment shall receive the same pay and allowances in all respects as though regularly discharged and reenlisted immediately upon expiration of his term of enlistment. However, the total of all such extensions of an enlistment may not exceed six years. No such extension shall operate to deprive the enlisted member concerned, upon discharge at the termination thereof, of any right, privilege, or benefit to which he would have been entitled if his term of enlistment had not been so extended.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 523; Pub. L. 86–474, §1(18), May 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 146; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(A), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865.

§366 · Retention beyond term of enlistment in case of disability

Any enlisted member of the Coast Guard in the active service whose term of enlistment expires while he is suffering disease or injury incident to service and not due to misconduct, and who is in need of medical care or hospitalization, may, with his consent, be retained in such service beyond the expiration of his term of enlistment. Any such enlisted member shall be entitled to receive at Government expense medical care or hospitalization and his pay and allowances, including credit for longevity, until he shall have recovered to such extent as would enable him to meet the physical requirements for reenlistment, or until it shall have been ascertained by competent authority of the Coast Guard that the disease or injury is of a character that recovery to such an extent would be impossible. Any enlisted member whose enlistment is so extended shall be subject to forfeitures in the same manner and to the same extent as if his term of enlistment had not expired. Nothing contained in this section shall prevent any enlisted member from being held in the service without his consent under section 367 of this title.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 523; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(A), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865.

§367 · Detention beyond term of enlistment

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, an enlisted member may be detained in the Coast Guard beyond the term of his enlistment:

(1) until the first arrival of the vessel on which he is serving at its permanent station, or at a port in a State of the United States or in the District of Columbia; or

(2) if attached to a shore station beyond the continental limits of the United States or in Alaska, until his first arrival at a port in any State of the United States or in the District of Columbia where his reenlistment or discharge may be effected, or until he can be discharged or reenlisted at his station beyond the continental limits of the United States or in Alaska, whichever is earlier, but in no event to exceed three months; or

(3) during a period of war or national emergency as proclaimed by the President, and, in the interest of national defense, for a period not to exceed six months after the end of the war or the termination of the emergency; or

(4) for a period of not exceeding thirty days in other cases whether or not specifically covered by this section, when essential to the public interests, and the determination that such detention is essential to the public interests, made in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary, shall be final and conclusive.

Any member detained in the Coast Guard as provided in this section shall be entitled to receive pay and allowances and benefits under the same conditions as though his enlistment period had not expired, and shall be subject in all respects to the laws and regulations for the government of the Coast Guard until his discharge therefrom. Enlisted members detained under the provisions of clause (1) shall be entitled to the pay and allowances provided for enlisted personnel of the Navy detained under similar circumstances.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 523; Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §22, 64 Stat. 407; July 24, 1956, ch. 692, §§2(4), 3, 70 Stat. 631; Pub. L. 98–557, §§15(a)(3)(A), (C), 17(b)(4), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865, 2868.

[§368 · Repealed. Pub. L. 97–322, title I, §115(b)(1), Oct. 15, 1982, 96 Stat. 1585]

§369 · Inclusion of certain conditions in enlistment contract

The enlistment contract shall contain the substance of sections 365 to 368, inclusive, of this title.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 524.

§370 · Discharge within three months before expiration of enlistment

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, any enlisted member may be discharged at any time within three months before the expiration of his term of enlistment or extended enlistment without prejudice to any right, privilege, or benefit that he would have received, except pay and allowances for the unexpired period not served, or to which he would thereafter become entitled, had he served his full term of enlistment or extended enlistment.

Added June 8, 1955, ch. 136, §2, 69 Stat. 88; amended Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(A), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865.

§371 · Aviation cadets; procurement; transfer

(a) The grade of aviation cadet is established as a special enlisted grade in the Coast Guard. Under such regulations as the Secretary prescribes, citizens in civil life may be enlisted as, and enlisted members of the Coast Guard with their consent may be designated as, aviation cadets.

(b) Except in time of war or national emergency declared by Congress, not less than 20 percent of the aviation cadets procured in each fiscal year shall be procured from qualified enlisted members of the Coast Guard.

(c) No persons may be enlisted or designated as an aviation cadet unless—

(1) the person agrees in writing that, upon successful completion of the course of training as an aviation cadet, the person will accept a commission as an ensign in the Coast Guard Reserve and will serve on active duty as such for at least three years, unless sooner released; and

(2) if under twenty-one years of age, the person has the consent of the person's parent or guardian to the agreement.

(d) Under such regulations as the Secretary prescribes, an aviation cadet may be transferred to another enlisted grade or rating in the Coast Guard, released from active duty, or discharged.

Added Pub. L. 89–444, §1(20), June 9, 1966, 80 Stat. 196; amended Pub. L. 97–295, §2(11), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1302; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(1), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2864.

§372 · Aviation cadets; benefits

Except as provided in section 402(c) of title 37, aviation cadets or their beneficiaries are entitled to the same allowances, pensions, gratuities, and other benefits as are provided for enlisted members in pay grade E–4. While on active duty, an aviation cadet is entitled to uniforms, clothing, and equipment at the expense of the United States.

Added Pub. L. 89–444, §1(20), June 9, 1966, 80 Stat. 197.

§373 · Aviation cadets; appointment as Reserve officers

(a) An aviation cadet 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.

Added Pub. L. 89–444, §1(20), June 9, 1966, 80 Stat. 197; amended Pub. L. 94–546, §1(28), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2521.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

§421 · Retirement

(a) Every commissioned officer, warrant officer, or enlisted member who is retired under any provisions of this title shall be retired with the permanent grade or rate held at the time of retirement, unless entitled to retire with a higher grade or rate under any provision of this title or any other law.

(b) Where an officer is entitled, under any provision of law, to retire with one grade higher than the grade in which serving at the time of retirement, the next higher grade in the case of captain shall be rear admiral (lower half), and the next higher grade in the case of commissioned warrant officer shall be lieutenant (junior grade).

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 524; Pub. L. 97–417, §2(10), Jan. 4, 1983, 96 Stat. 2086; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(A), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, §514(c)(1), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 629; Pub. L. 99–348, title II, §205(b)(10), July 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 700.

§422 · Status of recalled personnel

All retired personnel when recalled to active duty shall serve in the grade or rate in which they were serving at the time of retirement.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 524; Pub. L. 99–348, title II, §205(b)(10), July 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 700.

§423 · Computation of retired pay

(a)(1) The retired pay of a member who first became a member of a uniformed service (as defined in section 101 of title 10) before September 8, 1980, is determined by multiplying—

(A) the sum of—

(i) the basic pay of the member's retired grade or rate, and

(ii) all permanent additions thereto including longevity credit to which the member was entitled at the time of retirement; by

(B) the retired pay multiplier determined under section 1409 of title 10 for the number of years of service that may be credited to the member under section 1405 of such title.

(2) In the case of an officer who served as Commandant of the Coast Guard, retired pay under paragraph (1) shall be computed at the highest rate of basic pay applicable to the officer while so serving.

(3) In the case of an enlisted member who served as the master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard, retired pay under paragraph (1) shall be computed at the highest rate of basic pay to which the member was entitled while so serving, if that basic pay is greater than the basic pay of the grade or rate to which the member is otherwise entitled at the time of retirement.

(4) In the case of an officer whose retired pay is computed on the pay of a grade for which basic pay is not based upon years of service, retired pay under paragraph (1) shall be computed on the basis of the number of years of service for which the officer would be entitled to credit in the computation of pay on the active list had the officer been serving in the grade of captain at the time of retirement.

(b) The retired pay of a member who first became a member of a uniformed service (as defined in section 101 of title 10) on or after September 8, 1980, is determined by multiplying—

(1) the retired pay base determined under section 1407 of title 10; by

(2) the retired pay multiplier determined under section 1409 of title 10 for the number of years of service that may be credited to the member under section 1405 of such title.

(c)(1) In computing for the purpose of subsection (a) or (b) the number of years of service that may be credited to a member under section 1405 of title 10—

(A) each full month of service that is in addition to the number of full years of service creditable to the member shall be counted as 1/12 of a year; and

(B) any remaining fractional part of a month shall be disregarded.

(2) Retired pay computed under this section, if not a multiple of $1, shall be rounded to the next lower multiple of $1.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 525; Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §23, 64 Stat. 407; Pub. L. 85–422, §11(b), May 20, 1958, 72 Stat. 132; Pub. L. 88–132, §5(i), Oct. 2, 1963, 77 Stat. 214; Pub. L. 92–455, §2, Oct. 2, 1972, 86 Stat. 761; Pub. L. 96–342, title VIII, §813(f)(2), Sept. 8, 1980, 94 Stat. 1109; Pub. L. 97–295, §2(12), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1302; Pub. L. 98–94, title IX, §§922(b), 923(d), Sept. 24, 1983, 97 Stat. 642, 643; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(A), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865; Pub. L. 99–348, title II, §205(a), July 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 699.

§424 · Limitations on retirement and retired pay

(a) The provisions of any section of this title shall not be construed so as to prevent any member from being placed on the retired list with the highest grade or rate and the highest retired pay to which the member may be entitled under the provisions of any other section of this title or under any other law.

(b) In no case may the retired pay of a member exceed 75 percent of (1) the sum of the active-duty pay and all permanent additions thereto (including longevity credit to which the member is entitled) of the grade or rate on which the member's pay is computed, or (2) the retired pay base determined under section 1407 of title 10, as appropriate.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 525; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(A), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865; Pub. L. 99–348, title II, §205(b)(11), July 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 700.

§425 · Board for Correction of Military Records deadline

(a) Deadline for Completion of Action.—The Secretary shall complete processing of an application for correction of military records under section 1552 of title 10 by not later than 10 months after the date the Secretary receives the completed application.

(b) Remedies Deemed Exhausted.—Ten months after a complete application for correction of military records is received by the Board for Correction of Military Records of the Coast Guard, administrative remedies are deemed to have been exhausted, and—

(1) if the Board has rendered a recommended decision, its recommendation shall be final agency action and not subject to further review or approval within the department in which the Coast Guard is operating; or

(2) if the Board has not rendered a recommended decision, agency action is deemed to have been unreasonably delayed or withheld and the applicant is entitled to—

(A) an order under section 706(1) of title 5, directing final action be taken within 30 days from the date the order is entered; and

(B) from amounts appropriated to the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, the costs of obtaining the order, including a reasonable attorney's fee.

Added Pub. L. 104–324, title II, §209(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3914.

SPECIAL PROVISIONS

[§431 · Repealed. Pub. L. 99–640, §10(a)(6)(A), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3549]

§432 · Personnel of former Lighthouse Service

(a) Any person of the former Lighthouse Service commissioned as an officer in the Coast Guard shall be an extra number in his grade and in the grades to which he may be promoted. He shall take precedence (1) with other officers commissioned in his grade from the former Lighthouse Service as the Secretary of the Treasury may determine, and (2) with other line officers in his grade in accordance with the respective dates of their commissions in such grade. He shall be eligible for promotion, if otherwise qualified, at such time as the officer in a regular number in line of promotion next above him on the seniority list becomes eligible for promotion; or if there be no such officer in his grade, he shall be eligible for promotion, if otherwise qualified, when a vacancy occurs in the next higher grade. An officer so commissioned shall be assigned to duty for which he is specially qualified, and professional examinations for promotion given to such officer shall embrace only subjects which pertain to the duty to which he is assigned.

(b) Each vacancy (1) hereafter occurring in the extra numbers of such officers; (2) existing on August 5, 1939, in positions in the Lighthouse Service formerly held by personnel eligible for such commissions; and (3) created by the retirement, resignation, death, or separation from the service for any other cause, of such personnel who do not possess the qualifications prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury or who, being qualified, do not accept a commission thereunder, shall operate to increase by one the total authorized number of line officers of the Coast Guard.

(c) All persons of the former Lighthouse Service commissioned, appointed, or enlisted in the Coast Guard shall be subject to all laws and regulations for the government of the Coast Guard, and nothing contained in this title shall be construed to prevent the application to any of such persons of laws and regulations concerning the military discipline of commissioned and warrant officers and enlisted members of the Coast Guard.

(d) In computing length of service, for the purpose of retirement in the Coast Guard, of any person of the former Lighthouse Service commissioned, appointed, or enlisted in the Coast Guard, there shall be included all service computable for retirement under the provisions of section 763 of title 33; and after July 1, 1948, in computing longevity for the purpose of pay of such person there shall be included all service of such person in the Lighthouse Service.

(e) No person so commissioned, appointed, or enlisted in the Coast Guard shall suffer any reduction in the total of the annual compensation and allowances which he was receiving on the date of his commission, appointment, or enlistment. Upon his retirement from active duty in the Coast Guard, the retired pay of any person so commissioned, appointed, or enlisted, shall not be less than an annuity computed in accordance with the provisions of section 763 of title 33, substituting, however, for purposes of such computation, the annual compensation which he was receiving on the date of his commission, appointment, or enlistment in the Coast Guard for the average annual pay received by him for the last five years of service.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, chapter 51, subchapter III of chapter 53, and sections 5542–5546 of title 5 shall not apply to civilian keepers of lighthouses and to civilians employed on lightships and other vessels of the Coast Guard.

(g)(1) The head of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating under regulations prescribed by him, may regulate the hours of duty and the pay of civilian keepers of lighthouses and civilians employed on lightships and other vessels of the Coast Guard, but such personnel may be called upon for duty in emergency circumstances or otherwise at any time or all times. The existing system governing the pay of such employees may be continued or changed except that overtime compensation, night differential, and extra pay for duty on holidays shall not be paid to such employees. In lieu thereof additional annual compensation may be authorized, which may be prescribed either as a fixed differential or as a percentage of the basic compensation otherwise applicable to such employees. In no case shall basic compensation exceed $15,000 per annum, except that nothing contained in this subsection shall operate to decrease the basic compensation of any person employed by the Coast Guard on the date of enactment of this subsection, and in no case shall additions thereto exceed 25 percent of such basic compensation. Provision may be made for compensatory absence from duty when conditions of employment result in confinement because of isolation or in long periods of continuous duty; and provisions may likewise be made for extra allowance for service outside of the continental limits of the United States.

(2) The additional compensation authorized by this subsection shall be included in any computation of compensation under section 6 of the Act of June 20, 1918 (33 U.S.C. 763).

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 526; Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 650, §§1, 2, 69 Stat. 577; Pub. L. 86–309, Sept. 21, 1959, 73 Stat. 585; Pub. L. 91–278, §1(10), June 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 305; Pub. L. 96–23, §5(a), June 13, 1979, 93 Stat. 68; Pub. L. 97–295, §2(11), (13), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1302; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(B), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865; Pub. L. 99–640, §10(a)(7), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3549.

[§§433, 434 · Repealed. Pub. L. 99–640, §10(a)(6)(A), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3549]

[§§435 to 437 · Repealed. Pub. L. 88–130, §4(a), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 192]

[§438 · Repealed. Pub. L. 99–640, §10(a)(6)(A), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3549]

[§§439, 440 · Repealed. Pub. L. 88–130, §4(a), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 192]

Chapter 13. Pay, Allowances, Awards, and Other Rights and Benefits

§461 · Remission of indebtedness of enlisted members upon discharge

If he considers it in the best interest of the United States, the Secretary may have remitted or canceled any part of an enlisted member's indebtedness to the United States or any of its instrumentalities remaining unpaid before or at the time of, that member's honorable discharge.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 530; Sept. 3, 1954, ch. 1263, §33(b), 68 Stat. 1238; Pub. L. 87–526, §1(1), July 10, 1962, 76 Stat. 141; Pub. L. 87–649, §14d(7), Sept. 7, 1962, as added Pub. L. 89–718, §73(a)(3), Nov. 2, 1966, 80 Stat. 1124; Pub. L. 89–718, §73(c)(1), Nov. 2, 1966, 80 Stat. 1124; Pub. L. 90–83, §2, Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 220; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(29), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2521.

[§462 · Repealed. Pub. L. 87–649, §14d(1), Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 502]

[§462a · Repealed. Pub. L. 97–417, §2(11), Jan. 4, 1983, 96 Stat. 2086]

[§463 · Repealed. Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §36, 64 Stat. 408]

[§§464, 465 · Repealed. Pub. L. 87–649, §14d(2), (3), Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 502]

[§466 · Repealed. July 12, 1955, ch. 328, §5(3), 69 Stat. 296]

§467 · Computation of length of service

In computing length of service of officers and enlisted personnel for any purpose all creditable service in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, Revenue Cutter Service, and Life Saving Service shall be included in addition to any other creditable service authorized by any other law.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 531.

§468 · Procurement of personnel

The Coast Guard may expend operating expense funds for recruiting activities, including but not limited to advertising and entertainment, in order to—

(1) obtain recruits for the Service and cadet applicants; and

(2) gain support of recruiting objectives from those who may assist in the recruiting effort.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 531; Pub. L. 104–324, title II, §206(b), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3908.

§469 · Training

The Coast Guard may make expenditures for the training of personnel, including books, school supplies, correspondence courses, motion picture equipment, and other equipment for instructional purposes.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 531.

§470 · Special instruction at universities

Coast Guard personnel may be assigned for special instruction at private or state colleges or universities, and their expenses, including tuition, books, laboratory equipment and fees, and school supplies, may be defrayed by the Coast Guard.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 531.

§471 · Attendance at professional meetings

Coast Guard personnel may be directed to attend meetings of technical, professional, scientific, and other similar organizations and may be reimbursed for expenses thereby incurred at the rates authorized by law.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 532.

[§471a · Repealed. Pub. L. 87–651, title III, §307B, Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 526]

[§472 · Repealed. Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §36, 64 Stat. 408]

[§473 · Repealed. Pub. L. 97–295, §2(15)(A), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1302]

[§474 · Repealed. Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1211, §5, 68 Stat. 1130]

§475 · Leasing and hiring of quarters; rental of inadequate housing

(a) The Secretary is authorized to lease housing facilities at or near Coast Guard installations, wherever located, for assignment as public quarters to military personnel and their dependents, if any, without rental charge upon a determination by the Secretary, or his designee, that there is a lack of adequate housing facilities at or near such Coast Guard installations. The Secretary is also authorized to lease housing facilities for assignment as public quarters, without rental charge, to military personnel who are on sea duty or duty at remote offshore Coast Guard stations and who do not have dependents. Such authority shall be effective in any fiscal year only to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts. When any such lease involves housing facilities in a foreign country, the lease may be made on a multiyear basis for a period not to exceed five years, and, in accordance with local custom and practice, advance payment may be made for the lease. Such public housing facilities may be leased on an individual or multiple-unit basis. Expenditures for the rental of such housing facilities may not exceed the average authorized for the Department of Defense in any year except where the Secretary finds that the average is so low as to prevent rental of necessary housing facilities in some areas, in which event he is authorized to reallocate existing funds to high-cost areas so that rental expenditures in such areas exceed the average authorized for the Department of Defense.

(b) The Secretary is authorized, subject to regulations approved by the President—

(1) to designate as rental housing such housing as he may determine to be inadequate as public quarters; and

(2) to lease inadequate housing to members of the Coast Guard for occupancy by them and their dependents.

(c) Where sufficient quarters are not possessed by the United States, the Commandant may hire quarters for personnel, including personnel on sea duty at such times as they may be deprived of their quarters on board ship due to repairs or other conditions which may render them uninhabitable. Such accommodations shall not be available for occupancy by the dependents of such personnel.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 532; Pub. L. 91–278, §1(11), June 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 305; Pub. L. 92–343, §4, July 10, 1972, 86 Stat. 450; Pub. L. 93–65, §5, July 9, 1973, 87 Stat. 151; Pub. L. 94–406, §4, Sept. 10, 1976, 90 Stat. 1236; Pub. L. 94–478, Oct. 11, 1976, 90 Stat. 2077; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(30), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2521; Pub. L. 96–376, §4, Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1509; Pub. L. 96–470, title I, §112(d), Oct. 19, 1980, 94 Stat. 2240; Pub. L. 97–136, §7, Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1706; Pub. L. 97–295, §2(11), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1302; Pub. L. 97–322, title I, §106, Oct. 15, 1982, 96 Stat. 1582; Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title VI, §632(b)(2), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1105.

§476 · Contingent expenses

The Commandant may expend for contingencies of the Coast Guard a sum not to exceed $7,500 in any one fiscal year. The Commandant may authorize the Superintendent of the Academy to expend not to exceed $2,500 of this amount for contingencies of the Academy.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 532.

§477 · Equipment to prevent accidents

The Coast Guard may make such expenditures as are deemed appropriate for promotion and maintenance of the safety and occupational health of, and the prevention of accidents affecting, personnel of the Coast Guard, including the purchase of clothing, equipment, and other materials necessary thereto.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 532.

§478 · Rations or commutation therefor in money

(a) Enlisted members of the Coast Guard, civilian officers and civilian crews of vessels, and working parties in the field shall be allowed a ration or commutation thereof in money, in such amount and under limitations and regulations prescribed by the Secretary.

(b) Money for commuted rations shall be paid, under such regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe, on proper vouchers, or pay rolls, to persons entitled to receive it, or to the officers designated by the Commandant to administer the financial affairs of the messes in which such persons may be subsisted.

(c) Money paid for commuted rations to the designated officer may be deposited in general or limited depositories of public money or in any bank in which deposits are insured. Such funds shall be expended and accounted for under such regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe.

(d) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as modifying or changing in any manner the provisions of law pertaining to subsistence allowances for enlisted members, but no ration or commutation thereof shall be allowed a person receiving a subsistence allowance.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 532; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(B), (C), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865.

§479 · Sales of ration supplies to messes

Ration supplies may be purchased by the cabin, wardroom, warrant officers’, and other authorized messes and payment therefor made in cash to the commissary officer. The prices to be charged for such supplies shall not be less than the invoice prices, and the cash received from such sales shall be accounted for on the ration return and may be expended for the general mess.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 533.

§480 · Flight rations

There may be furnished to officers, enlisted members, and civilian employees, while actually engaged in flight operations, an aircraft flight ration in kind, chargeable to the proper Coast Guard appropriation, which flight ration shall be supplementary to any ration or subsistence allowance now granted to such personnel. No part of an aircraft flight ration shall be furnished without cost to any person in a travel status or to any person to whom a per diem allowance is granted in lieu of actual subsistence.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 533; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(B), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865.

§481 · Payments at time of discharge for good of service

Enlisted members discharged by dishonorable discharge, bad-conduct discharge, or any other discharge for the good of the service, may, upon discharge, be paid a sum not to exceed $25. The sum paid shall be fixed by and in the discretion of the Commandant, and shall be paid only in cases where the person so discharged would otherwise be without funds to meet his immediate needs.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 533; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(C), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865.

§482 · Clothing at time of discharge for good of service

Enlisted members discharged for bad conduct, undesirability, unsuitability, or inaptitude may be furnished civilian clothing, including an overcoat when necessary, the cost of such furnished clothing not to exceed $30, per person.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 533; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(C), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865.

§483 · Right to wear uniform

When authorized by and in accordance with applicable regulations:

(a) any member who has served honorably in the Coast Guard during war shall when not in active service, whether or not on the retired list, be entitled to bear the official title and upon occasions of ceremony to wear the uniform of the highest rank or rating held by him during his war service, and

(b) any member on the retired list shall be entitled to wear the uniform of his rank or rating.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 533; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(H), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865.

§484 · Protection of uniform

The provisions of law relating to the protection of the uniform of the United States Army, Navy, or Marine Corps shall apply to the protection of the uniform of the Coast Guard, in the same manner, to the same extent, and under the same conditions.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 533.

§485 · Clothing for officers and enlisted personnel

(a) The Coast Guard may purchase uniforms, accouterments, and related equipment for sale to officer personnel and cadets of the Coast Guard.

(b) The Coast Guard may purchase uniform clothing for sale to enlisted personnel of the Coast Guard. The actual cost of the clothing thus sold to enlisted personnel may be withheld from their pay.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 534; Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §33, 64 Stat. 408; Pub. L. 87–649, §14d(4), Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 502.

§486 · Clothing for destitute shipwrecked persons

The Coast Guard may furnish clothing and subsistence to destitute shipwrecked persons, and the Coast Guard may reimburse, in cash or in kind, Coast Guard personnel who furnish clothing and subsistence to destitute ship- wrecked persons.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 534.

§487 · Procurement and sale of stores to members and civilian employees

Such stores as the Secretary may designate may be procured and sold to members of the Coast Guard, and to the surviving spouses of such members. Such designated stores may also be procured and sold to civilian officers and employees of the United States, and to such other persons as may be specifically authorized by the Secretary, at Coast Guard stations and other units beyond the continental limits of the United States or in Alaska.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 534; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(2), (3)(D), (4)(D)(i), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865, 2866.

§488 · Advancement of public funds to personnel

The Commandant, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, may advance public funds to personnel when required to meet expenses of members detailed on emergency shore duty. Funds so advanced shall not exceed a reasonable estimate of the actual expenditures to be made and for which reimbursement is authorized by law.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 534; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(I), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865.

[§489 · Repealed. Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 837, title V, §502(8)(A), 70 Stat. 886]

[§490 · Repealed. Pub. L. 88–558, §7(2), Aug. 31, 1964, 78 Stat. 768]

§491 · Medal of honor

The President may award, and present in the name of Congress, a medal of honor of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who, while a member of the Coast Guard, distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty—

(1) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;

(2) while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force;

(3) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 535; Pub. L. 88–77, §4, July 25, 1963, 77 Stat. 95.

§492 · Distinguished service medal

The President may present, but not in the name of Congress, a distinguished service medal of appropriate design, with accompanying ribbon, together with a rosette or other device, to be worn in lieu thereof, to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Coast Guard, distinguishes himself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 535.

§492a · Distinguished flying cross

The President may present, but not in the name of Congress, a distinguished flying cross of appropriate design, with accompanying ribbon, to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Coast Guard, distinguishes himself by heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight.

Added Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, §12(a), 70A Stat. 624.

§493 · Coast Guard medal

The President may present, but not in the name of Congress, a medal to be known as the Coast Guard medal, of appropriate design, with accompanying ribbon, together with a rosette or other device to be worn in lieu thereof, to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Coast Guard, distinguishes himself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 535.

§494 · Insignia for additional awards

No more than one medal of honor, distinguished service medal, distinguished flying cross, or one Coast Guard medal shall be issued to any one person; but for each succeeding deed or service sufficient to justify the awarding of a medal of honor, distinguished service medal, distinguished flying cross, or Coast Guard medal, the President may award a suitable emblem or insignia to be worn with the decoration and a corresponding rosette or other device.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 535; Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, §13, 70A Stat. 624.

[§495 · Repealed. Pub. L. 87–526, §1(3), July 10, 1962, 76 Stat. 141]

§496 · Time limit on award; report concerning deed

(a) No medal of honor, distinguished service medal, distinguished flying cross, Coast Guard medal, or bar, emblem, or insignia in lieu thereof may be awarded to a person unless—

(1) the award is made within five years after the date of the deed or service justifying the award;

(2) a statement setting forth the deed or distinguished service and recommending official recognition of it was made by his superior through official channels within three years from the date of that deed or termination of the service.

(b) If the Secretary determines that—

(1) a statement setting forth the deed or distinguished service and recommending official recognition of it was made by the person's superior through official channels within three years from the date of that deed or termination of the service and was supported by sufficient evidence within that time; and

(2) no award was made, because the statement was lost or through inadvertence the recommendation was not acted upon; a medal of honor, distinguished service medal, distinguished flying cross, Coast Guard medal, or bar, emblem, or insignia in lieu thereof, as the case may be, may be awarded to the person within two years after the date of that determination.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 536; Pub. L. 87–526, §1(5), July 10, 1962, 76 Stat. 141.

§497 · Honorable subsequent service as condition to award

No medal of honor, distinguished service medal, distinguished flying cross, Coast Guard medal, or emblem, or insignia in lieu thereof shall be awarded or presented to any individual, or to the representative of any individual, whose entire service subsequent to the time he distinguished himself shall not in the opinion of the Commandant have been honorable.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 536; Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, §13, 70A Stat. 624.

§498 · Posthumous awards

In case an individual who distinguishes himself dies before the making of any award to which he may be entitled, as authorized in this chapter, the award may be made and presented within five years from the date of the act or service justifying the award to such next of kin as may have been designated by the individual, or in the absence of such designation, or if the designated person is not alive at the time of the award, or the relationship between such person and the serviceman shall have been terminated before his death, then to such representative as the President designates. In the event of a posthumous award when the award will be made to the parents of the deceased and the parents have been divorced or separated, a duplicate award may be made to each parent.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 536.

§499 · Delegation of powers to make awards; rules and regulations

The President may delegate to the Secretary, under such conditions, regulations, and limitations as he prescribes, the powers conferred upon him to make the awards designated in this chapter, and the President may make any and all rules, regulations, and orders which he deems necessary in the conferring of such awards.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 536.

§500 · Life-saving medals

(a) The Secretary may, under regulations prescribed by him, award a Life-saving medal of gold or silver to any person, including personnel of the Coast Guard, who rescues or endeavors to rescue any other person from drowning, shipwreck, or other peril of the water in accordance with the following provisions:

(1) if such rescue or attempted rescue is made at the risk of one's own life and evidences extreme and heroic daring, the medal shall be of gold;

(2) if such rescue or attempted rescue is not sufficiently distinguished to deserve the medal of gold, but evidences the exercise of such signal exertion as to merit recognition, the medal shall be of silver.

(b) In order for a person to be eligible for the Life-saving Medals the rescue or attempted rescue must take place in waters within the United States or subject to the jurisdiction thereof, or if the rescue or attempted rescue takes place outside such waters, one or the other of the parties must be a citizen of the United States or from a vessel or aircraft owned or operated by citizens of the United States.

(c) No person shall receive more than one gold medal and one silver medal; but any person who has received or may hereafter receive a gold or silver medal and who again performs an act which would entitle him to receive another medal of the same class may be awarded, in lieu of a second medal of the same class, a gold or silver bar, as the case may be, to be worn with the medal already bestowed, and for every such additional act, an additional bar may be awarded. Medals and bars in lieu thereof, authorized by this subsection, may be awarded posthumously.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 536; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(31), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2521.

§501 · Replacement of medals

In those cases where a medal, or a bar, emblem, or insignia in lieu thereof, awarded pursuant to this chapter has been lost, destroyed, or rendered unfit for use without fault or neglect on the part of the person to whom it was awarded, such medal, or bar, emblem, or insignia in lieu thereof, shall be replaced without charge, or, in the discretion of the Secretary, upon condition that the Government is reimbursed for the cost thereof.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 537.

§502 · Award of other medals

Coast Guard personnel, notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, may be awarded medals, bars, emblems, or insignia to which such personnel may be entitled under other provisions of law.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 537.

§503 · Awards and insignia for excellence in service or conduct

The Coast Guard may award trophies, badges, and cash prizes to Coast Guard personnel or groups thereof, including personnel of the reserve components thereof whether or not on active duty, for excellence in accomplishments related to Coast Guard service, to incur such expenses as may be necessary to enter such personnel in competitions, and to provide badges or buttons in recognition of special service, good conduct, and discharge under conditions other than dishonorable.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 537.

[§§504 to 506 · Repealed. July 15, 1954, ch. 507, §14(c)(5), 68 Stat. 481]

§507 · Disposition of effects of decedents

All moneys, articles of value, papers, keepsakes, and other similar effects belonging to the deceased persons in the Coast Guard, not claimed by their legal heirs or next of kin, shall be deposited in safe custody, and if any such moneys, articles of value, papers, keepsakes, or other similar effects so deposited have been, or shall hereafter be, unclaimed for a period of two years from the date of the death of such person, such articles and effects shall be sold and the proceeds thereof, together with the moneys above mentioned, shall be deposited in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. The Secretary shall make diligent inquiry in every instance after the death of such person to ascertain the whereabouts of his heirs or next of kin, and prescribe necessary regulations to carry out the foregoing provisions. Claims may be presented hereunder at any time within five years after such moneys or proceeds have been so deposited in the Treasury, and, when supported by competent proof in any case after such deposit in the Treasury, shall be certified to Congress for consideration.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 538.

§508 · Deserters; payment of expenses incident to apprehension and delivery; penalties

(a) The Coast Guard may, pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary, make such expenditures as are deemed necessary for the apprehension and delivery of deserters, stragglers, and prisoners.

(b) No person who is convicted by court martial for desertion from the Coast Guard in time of war, and as the result of such conviction is dismissed or dishonorably discharged from the Coast Guard shall afterwards be enlisted, appointed, or commissioned in any military or naval service under the United States, unless the disability resulting from desertion, as established by this section is removed by a board of commissioned officers of the Coast Guard convened for consideration of the case, and the action of the Board is approved by the Secretary; or unless he is restored to duty in time of war.

Added May 5, 1950, ch. 169, §16(a), 64 Stat. 148; amended July 10, 1952, ch. 631, §2, 66 Stat. 540.

§509 · Persons discharged as result of court-martial; allowances to

The Secretary may furnish persons discharged pursuant to the sentence of a Coast Guard court-martial suitable civilian clothing and a monetary allowance not to exceed $25 if the person discharged would not otherwise have suitable clothing or funds to meet immediate needs.

Added May 5, 1950, ch. 169, §16(a), 64 Stat. 148; amended Pub. L. 90–377, §8, July 5, 1968, 82 Stat. 288.

§510 · Shore patrol duty; payment of expenses

An officer or cadet of the Coast Guard who is assigned shore patrol duty away from his vessel or other duty station may be paid his actual expenses.

Added Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, §14(a), 70A Stat. 624.

§511 · Compensatory absence of military personnel at isolated aids to navigation

The Secretary, under regulations prescribed by him, may grant compensatory absence from duty to military personnel of the Coast Guard serving in lightships and at lighthouses and other isolated aids to navigation of the Coast Guard when conditions of duty result in confinement because of isolations or in long periods of continuous duty.

Added Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 650, §4, 69 Stat. 577; amended Pub. L. 94–546, §1(32), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2521.

§512 · Monetary allowance for transportation of household effects

The transportation and reimbursement authorized by subsection (b) of section 406 of title 37 shall be available hereafter to pay a monetary allowance in place of such transportation to a member who, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, participates in a program designated by the Secretary in which his baggage and household effects are moved by a privately owned or rental vehicle. This allowance shall not be limited to reimbursement for actual expenses and may be paid in advance of the transportation of the baggage and household effects. The allowance shall, however, be in an amount that will result in savings to the Government when the total cost of the movement of baggage and household effects is compared with the cost that otherwise would have been incurred under subsection (b) of section 406 of title 37.

Added Pub. L. 96–376, §7(a), Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1510; amended Pub. L. 97–295, §2(16), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1302.

§513 · Retroactive payment of pay and allowances delayed by administrative error or oversight

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, the Coast Guard may authorize retroactive payment of pay and allowances, including selective reenlistment bonuses, to enlisted members if entitlement to the pay and allowances was delayed in vesting solely because of an administrative error or oversight.

Added Pub. L. 100–448, §13(a), Sept. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 1844.

§514 · Reimbursement for adoption expenses

(a) Authorization To Reimburse.—The Secretary shall carry out a program under which a member of the Coast Guard may be reimbursed, as provided in this section, for qualifying adoption expenses incurred by the member in the adoption of a child under 18 years of age.

(b) Adoptions Covered.—An adoption for which expenses may be reimbursed under this section includes an adoption by a single person, an infant adoption, an intercountry adoption, and an adoption of a child with special needs (as defined in section 473(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 673(c))).

(c) Benefits Paid After Adoption Is Final.—Benefits paid under this section in the case of an adoption may be paid only after the adoption is final.

(d) Treatment of Other Benefits.—A benefit may not be paid under this section for any expense paid to or for a member of the Coast Guard under any other adoption benefits program administered by the Federal Government or under any such program administered by a State or local government.

(e) Limitations.—(1) Not more than $2,000 may be paid under this section to a member of the Coast Guard, or to two such members who are spouses of each other, for expenses incurred in the adoption of a child.

(2) Not more than $5,000 may be paid under this section to a member of the Coast Guard, or to two such members who are spouses of each other, for adoptions by such member (or members) in any calendar year.

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

(g) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) The term “qualifying adoption expenses” means reasonable and necessary expenses that are directly related to the legal adoption of a child under 18 years of age, but only if such adoption is arranged by a qualified adoption agency. Such term does not include any expense incurred—

(A) by an adopting parent for travel; or

(B) in connection with an adoption arranged in violation of Federal, State, or local law.

(2) The term “reasonable and necessary expenses” includes—

(A) public and private agency fees, including adoption fees charged by an agency in a foreign country;

(B) placement fees, including fees charged adoptive parents for counseling;

(C) legal fees (including court costs) in connection with services that are unavailable to a member of the Coast Guard under section 1044 or 1044a of title 10; and

(D) medical expenses, including hospital expenses of the biological mother of the child to be adopted and of a newborn infant to be adopted.

(3) The term “qualified adoption agency” means any of the following:

(A) A State or local government agency which has responsibility under State or local law for child placement through adoption.

(B) A nonprofit, voluntary adoption agency which is authorized by State or local law to place children for adoption.

(C) Any other source authorized by a State to provide adoption placement if the adoption is supervised by a court under State or local law.

Added Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title VI, §651(b)(1), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1386; amended Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title X, §1054(g), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2503; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title VI, §652(b), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2582.

§515 · Child development services

(a) The Commandant may make child development services available for members and civilian employees of the Coast Guard, and thereafter as space is available for members of the Armed Forces and Federal civilian employees. Child development service benefits provided under the authority of this section shall be in addition to benefits provided under other laws.

(b)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Commandant may require that amounts received as fees for the provision of services under this section at Coast Guard child development centers be used only for compensation of employees at those centers who are directly involved in providing child care.

(2) If the Commandant determines that compliance with the limitation in paragraph (1) would result in an uneconomical and inefficient use of such fee receipts, the Commandant may (to the extent that such compliance would be uneconomical and inefficient) use such receipts—

(A) for the purchase of consumable or disposable items for Coast Guard child development centers; and

(B) if the requirements of such centers for consumable or disposable items for a given fiscal year have been met, for other expenses of those centers.

(c) The Commandant shall provide for regular and unannounced inspections of each child development center under this section and may use Department of Defense or other training programs to ensure that all child development center employees under this section meet minimum standards of training with respect to early childhood development, activities and disciplinary techniques appropriate to children of different ages, child abuse prevention and detection, and appropriate emergency medical procedures.

(d) Of the amounts available to the Coast Guard each fiscal year for operating expenses (and in addition to amounts received as fees), the Secretary may use for child development services under this section an amount not to exceed the total amount the Commandant estimates will be received by the Coast Guard in the fiscal year as fees for the provision of those services.

(e) The Commandant may use appropriated funds available to the Coast Guard to provide assistance to family home day care providers so that family home day care services can be provided to uniformed service members and civilian employees of the Coast Guard at a cost comparable to the cost of services provided by Coast Guard child development centers.

(f) The Secretary shall promulgate regulations to implement this section. The regulations shall establish fees to be charged for child development services provided under this section which take into consideration total family income.

(g) For purposes of this section, the term “child development center” does not include a child care services facility for which space is allotted under section 616 of the Act of December 22, 1987 (40 U.S.C. 490b).

Added Pub. L. 104–324, title II, §201(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3906.

§516 · Presentation of United States flag upon retirement

(a) Presentation of Flag.—Upon the release of a member of the Coast Guard from active duty for retirement, the Secretary of Transportation shall present a United States flag to the member.

(b) Multiple Presentations Not Authorized.—A member is not eligible for a presentation of a flag under subsection (a) if the member has previously been presented a flag under this section or any other provision of law providing for the presentation of a United States flag incident to release from active service for retirement.

(c) No Cost to Recipient.—The presentation of a flag under his 

Added Pub. L. 105–261, div. A, title VI, §644(d)(1), Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2049; amended Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title VI, §652(e), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 666.

[Chapter 15. Repealed]

[§§561 to 576 · Repealed. May 5, 1950, ch. 169, §14(v), 64 Stat. 148]

Chapter 17. Administration

§631 · Delegation of powers by the Secretary

The Secretary is authorized to confer or impose upon the Commandant any of the rights, privileges, powers, or duties, in respect to the administration of the Coast Guard, vested in or imposed upon the Secretary by this title or other provisions of law.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 544; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(33), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2521.

§632 · Functions and powers vested in the Commandant

All powers and functions conferred upon the Coast Guard, or the Commandant, by or pursuant to this title or any other law shall, unless otherwise specifically stated, be executed by the Commandant subject to the general supervision of the Secretary. In order to execute the powers and functions vested in him, the Commandant may assign personnel of the Coast Guard to duty in the District of Columbia, elsewhere in the United States, in any territory of the United States, and in any foreign country, but such personnel shall not be assigned to duties in any foreign country without the consent of the government of that country; assign to such personnel such duties and authority as he deems necessary; and issue rules, orders, and instructions, not inconsistent with law, relating to the organization, internal administration, and personnel of the Coast Guard.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 545.

§633 · Regulations

In addition to the authority conferred by other provisions of this title the Secretary may promulgate such regulations and orders as he deems appropriate to carry out the provisions of this title or any other law applicable to the Coast Guard.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 545.

§634 · Officers holding certain offices

(a) Any officer, including any petty officer, may be designated by the Commandant as captain of the port or ports or adjacent high seas or waters over which the United States has jurisdiction, as the Commandant deems necessary to facilitate execution of Coast Guard duties.

(b) Commissioned officers may be appointed as United States Deputy Marshals in Alaska.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 545; Pub. L. 86–70, §11, June 25, 1959, 73 Stat. 143; Pub. L. 97–295, §2(18), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1302.

§635 · Oaths required for boards

The members of a retiring board, selection board, examining board, and any other board authorized to be assembled pursuant to this title shall be sworn to discharge their duties honestly and impartially, the oath to be administered to the members by the President or other presiding officer of the board, and to him by the junior member or recorder.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 545.

§636 · Administration of oaths

(a) Such commissioned and warrant officers of the Coast Guard as may be designated by the Commandant may, pursuant to rules prescribed by the Commandant, exercise the general powers of a notary public in the administration of oaths for the following purposes:

(1) execution, acknowledgment, and attestation of instruments and papers, oaths of allegiance in connection with recruiting, oaths in connection with courts and boards, and all other notarial acts in connection with the proper execution of Coast Guard functions;

(2) execution, acknowledgment, and attestation of instruments and papers, and all other notarial acts in time of war or national emergency; and

(3) execution, acknowledgment, and attestation of instruments and papers, and all other notarial acts in Alaska and places beyond the continental limits of the United States where the Coast Guard is serving.

(b) No fee of any character shall be charged by any commissioned or warrant officer for performing notarial acts. The signature and indication of grade of any commissioned or warrant officer performing any notarial act shall be prima facie evidence of his authority.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 545.

§637 · Stopping vessels; immunity for firing at or into vessel

(a) Whenever any vessel liable to seizure or examination does not stop on being ordered to do so or on being pursued by an authorized vessel or authorized aircraft which has displayed the ensign, pennant, or other identifying insignia prescribed for an authorized vessel or authorized aircraft, the person in command or in charge of the authorized vessel or authorized aircraft may, after a gun has been fired by the authorized vessel or authorized aircraft as a warning signal, fire at or into the vessel which does not stop.

(b) The person in command of an authorized vessel or authorized aircraft and all persons acting under that person's direction shall be indemnified from any penalties or actions for damages for firing at or into a vessel pursuant to subsection (a). If any person is killed or wounded by the firing, and the person in command of the authorized vessel or authorized aircraft or any person acting pursuant to their orders is prosecuted or arrested therefor, they shall be forthwith admitted to bail.

(c) A vessel or aircraft is an authorized vessel or authorized aircraft for purposes of this section if—

(1) it is a Coast Guard vessel or aircraft;

(2) it is a surface naval vessel on which one or more members of the Coast Guard are assigned pursuant to section 379 of title 10; or

(3) subject to subsection (d), it is a naval aircraft that has one or more members of the Coast Guard on board and is operating from a surface naval vessel described in paragraph (2).

(d)(1) The inclusion of naval aircraft as an authorized aircraft for purposes of this section shall be effective only after the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date the report required by paragraph (2) is submitted through September 30, 2001.

(2) Not later than August 1, 2000, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate a report containing—

(A) an analysis of the benefits and risks associated with using naval aircraft to perform the law enforcement activities authorized by subsection (a);

(B) an estimate of the extent to which the Secretary expects to implement the authority provided by this section; and

(C) an analysis of the effectiveness and applicability to the Department of Defense of the Coast Guard program known as the “New Frontiers” program.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 546; Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, §7401(a), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4483; Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title X, §1022, Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 746.

§638 · Coast Guard ensigns and pennants

(a) Coast Guard vessels and aircraft shall be distinguished from other vessels and aircraft by an ensign, pennant, or other identifying insignia of such design as prescribed by the Secretary. Such ensign, pennant, or other identifying insignia shall be displayed in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary.

(b) No vessel or aircraft without authority shall carry, hoist, or display any ensign, pennant, or other identifying insignia prescribed for, or intended to resemble, any ensign, pennant, or other identifying insignia prescribed for Coast Guard vessels or aircraft. Every person violating this subsection shall be fined not more than $5,000, or imprisoned for not more than two years, or both.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 546.

§639 · Penalty for unauthorized use of words “Coast Guard”

No individual, association, partnership, or corporation shall, without authority of the Commandant, use the combination of letters “USCG” or “USCGR”, the words “Coast Guard,” “United States Coast Guard,” “Coast Guard Reserve,” “United States Coast Guard Reserve,” “Coast Guard Auxiliary,” “United States Coast Guard Auxiliary,” “Lighthouse Service,” “Life Saving Service,” or any combination or variation of such letters or words alone or with other letters or words, as the name under which he or it shall do business, for the purpose of trade, or by way of advertisement to induce the effect of leading the public to believe that any such individual, association, partnership, or corporation has any connection with the Coast Guard. No individual, association, partnership, or corporation shall falsely advertise, or otherwise represent falsely by any device whatsoever, that any project or business in which he or it is engaged, or product which he or it manufactures, deals in, or sells, has been in any way endorsed, authorized, or approved by the Coast Guard. Every person violating this section shall be fined not more than $1,000, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 546; Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §30, 64 Stat. 408.

§640 · Coast Guard band recordings for commercial sale

(a) The Coast Guard band may produce recordings for commercial sale.

(b) Amounts received as proceeds from the sale of any such recordings may be credited to applicable appropriations of the Coast Guard for expenses of the Coast Guard band.

(c) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations governing the accounting of such proceeds.

Added Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title III, §327(d)(1), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1532.

§641 · Disposal of certain material

(a) The Commandant subject to applicable regulations under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 471 et seq.) may dispose of, with or without charge, to the Coast Guard Auxiliary, including any incorporated unit thereof, to the sea-scout service of the Boy Scouts of America, and to any public body or private organization not organized for profit having an interest therein for historical or other special reasons, such obsolete or other material as may not be needed for the Coast Guard.

(b) The Commandant may, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, sell apparatus or equipment manufactured by or in use in the Coast Guard, which is not readily procurable in the open market. The money received from such sale shall be deposited in the Treasury to the credit of the current appropriation from which purchase of similar apparatus or equipment is authorized.

(c)(1) The Commandant may—

(A) provide for the sale of recyclable materials that the Coast Guard holds;

(B) provide for the operation of recycling programs at Coast Guard installations; and

(C) designate Coast Guard installations that have qualified recycling programs for the purposes of subsection (d)(2).

(2) Recyclable materials shall be sold in accordance with section 203 of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 484), except that the Commandant may conduct sales of materials for which the proceeds of sale will not exceed $5,000 under regulations prescribed by the Commandant.

(d)(1) Proceeds from the sale of recyclable materials at a Coast Guard installation shall be credited to funds available for operations and maintenance at that installation in amounts sufficient to cover operations, maintenance, recycling equipment, and overhead costs for processing recyclable materials at the installation.

(2) If, after funds are credited, a balance remains available to a Coast Guard installation and the installation has a qualified recycling program, not more than 50 percent of that balance may be used at the installation for projects for pollution abatement, energy conservation, and occupational safety and health activities. The cost of the project may not be greater than 50 percent of the amount permissible for a minor construction project.

(3) The remaining balance available to a Coast Guard,

(e) If the balance available to the Coast Guard installation under this section at the end of a fiscal year is in excess of $200,000, the amount of that excess shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury as offsetting receipts of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating and ascribed to Coast Guard activities.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 547; Oct. 31, 1951, ch. 654, §2(11), 65 Stat. 707; Pub. L. 97–295, §2(4), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1301; Pub. L. 102–587, title V, §5202, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5071; Pub. L. 104–324, title IV, §408, title XI, §1119, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3925, 3973.

§642 · Deposit of damage payments

Whenever an aid to navigation or other property belonging to the Coast Guard is damaged or destroyed by a private person, and such private person or his agent shall pay to the satisfaction of the proper official of the Coast Guard for the cost of repair or replacement of such property, the Commandant may accept and deposit such payments, through proper officers of the Fiscal Service, Treasury Department, in special deposit accounts in the Treasury, for payment therefrom to the person or persons repairing or replacing the damaged property and refundment of amounts collected in excess of the cost of the repairs or replacements concerned. In the event that repair or replacement of the damaged property is effected by the Coast Guard, the appropriations bearing the cost thereof and current at the time collection is made shall be reimbursed from the special deposit account.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 547.

§643 · Rewards for apprehension of persons interfering with aids to navigation

The Coast Guard may offer and pay rewards for the apprehension and conviction, or for information helpful therein, of persons found interfering in violation of law with aids to navigation maintained by the Coast Guard; or for information leading to the discovery of missing Coast Guard property or to recovery thereof.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 547.

§644 · Payment for the apprehension of stragglers

The Coast Guard may offer and pay rewards for the apprehension and delivery of deserters, stragglers, and prisoners.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 547.

§645 · Confidentiality of medical quality assurance records; qualified immunity for participants

(a) In this section—

(1) “medical quality assurance program” means any activity carried out by or for the Coast Guard to assess the quality of medical care, including activities conducted by individuals, military medical or dental treatment facility committees, or other review bodies responsible for quality assurance, credentials, infection control, patient care assessment (including treatment procedures, blood, drugs, and therapeutics) medical records, health resources management review and identification and prevention of medical or dental incidents and risks.

(2) “medical quality assurance record” means the proceedings, records, minutes, and reports that emanate from quality assurance program activities described in paragraph (1) and are produced or compiled by the Coast Guard as part of a medical quality assurance program.

(3) “health care provider” means any military or civilian health care professional who, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, is granted clinical practice privileges to provide health care services in a military medical or dental treatment facility or who is licensed or certified to perform health care services by a governmental board or agency or professional health care society or organization.

(b) Medical quality assurance records created by or for the Coast Guard as part of a medical quality assurance program are confidential and privileged. The records may not be disclosed to any person or entity except as provided in subsection (d).

(c)(1) Medical quality assurance records are not subject to discovery and may not be admitted into evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding, except as provided in subsection (d).

(2) Except as provided in this section, an individual who reviews or creates medical quality assurance records for the Coast Guard or who participates in any proceeding that reviews or creates the records may not testify in any judicial or administrative proceeding with respect to the records or with respect to any finding, recommendation, evaluation, opinion, or action taken by that person in connection with the records.

(d)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a medical quality assurance record may be disclosed, and an individual referred to in subsection (c) may testify in connection with a record only as follows:

(A) To a Federal executive agency or private organization, if necessary to license, accredit, or monitor Coast Guard health care facilities.

(B) To an administrative or judicial proceeding commenced by a present or former Coast Guard or Coast Guard assigned Public Health Service health care provider concerning the termination, suspension, or limitation of clinical privileges of the health care provider.

(C) To a governmental board or agency or to a professional health care society or organization, if necessary to perform licensing, or privileging, or to monitor professional standards for a health care provider who is or was a member or an employee of the Coast Guard or the Public Health Service assigned to the Coast Guard.

(D) To a hospital, medical center, or other institution that provides health care services, if necessary to assess the professional qualifications of any health care provider who is or was a member or employee of the Coast Guard or the Public Health Service assigned to the Coast Guard and who has applied for or been granted authority or employment to provide health care services in or on behalf of the institution.

(E) To an officer, member, employee, or contractor of the Coast Guard or the Public Health Service assigned to the Coast Guard if for official purposes.

(F) To a criminal or civil law enforcement agency or instrumentality charged under applicable law with the protection of the public health or safety, if a qualified representative of the agency or instrumentality makes a written request that the record or testimony be provided for a purpose authorized by law.

(G) In an administrative or judicial proceeding commenced by a criminal or civil law enforcement agency or instrumentality referred to in subparagraph (F), but only with respect to the subject of the proceeding.

(2) Except in a quality assurance action, the identity of any individual receiving health care services from the Coast Guard or the identity of any other individual associated with the agency for the purposes of a medical quality assurance program that is disclosed in a medical quality assurance record shall be deleted from that record or document before any disclosure of the record is made outside the Coast Guard. This requirement does not apply to the release of information under section 552a of title 5.

(e) Except as provided in this section, a person having possession of or access to a record or testimony described by this section may not disclose the contents of the record or testimony.

(f) Medical quality assurance records may not be made available to any person under section 552 of title 5.

(g) An individual who participates in or provides information to an individual that reviews or creates medical quality assurance records is not civilly liable for participating or providing the information if the participation or provision of information was in good faith based on prevailing professional standards at the time the medical quality assurance program activity took place.

(h) Nothing in this section shall be construed as—

(1) authority to withhold from any person aggregate statistical information regarding the results of Coast Guard medical quality assurance programs;

(2) authority to withhold any medical quality assurance record from a committee of either House of Congress, any joint committee of Congress, or the General Accounting Office if the record pertains to any matter within their respective jurisdictions;

(3) limiting access to the information in a record created and maintained outside a medical quality assurance program, including a patient's medical records, on the grounds that the information was presented during meetings of a review body that are part of a medical quality assurance program.

(i) Except as otherwise provided in this section, an individual who willfully discloses a medical quality assurance record knowing that the record is a medical quality assurance record, is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $3,000 in the case of a first offense and not more than $20,000 in the case of a subsequent offense.

Added Pub. L. 102–587, title V, §5203(a), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5072; amended Pub. L. 104–324, title VII, §746(b), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3943.

§646 · Admiralty claims against the United States

(a) The Secretary may consider, ascertain, adjust, determine, compromise, or settle, and pay in an amount not more than $100,000, an admiralty claim against the United States for—

(1) damage caused by a vessel in the Coast Guard service or by other property under the jurisdiction of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating;

(2) compensation for towage and salvage services, including contract salvage, rendered to a vessel in the Coast Guard service or to other property under the jurisdiction of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating; or

(3) damage caused by a maritime tort committed by an agent or employee of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating or by property under the jurisdiction of that Department.

(b) Upon acceptance of payment by the claimant, the settlement or compromise of a claim under this section is final and conclusive notwithstanding any other law.

(c) If a claim under this section is settled or compromised for more than $100,000, the Secretary shall certify it to Congress.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 548; Pub. L. 86–533, §1(3)(A), June 29, 1960, 74 Stat. 245; Pub. L. 92–417, §2(a), Aug. 29, 1972, 86 Stat. 655.

§647 · Claims for damage to property of the United States

The Secretary may consider, ascertain, adjust, determine, compromise, or settle claims for damage cognizable in admiralty in a district court of the United States and all claims for damage caused by a vessel or floating object, to property of the United States under the jurisdiction of the Coast Guard or property for which the Coast Guard may have assumed, by contract or otherwise, any obligation to respond for damage thereto. The Secretary is further authorized to receive in payment of any such claim the amount due the United States pursuant to determination, compromise, or settlement as herein authorized and, upon acceptance of such payment but not until then, such determination, settlement, or compromise of such claim shall be final and conclusive for all purposes, any law to the contrary notwithstanding. All such payments shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts. The Secretary is further authorized to execute on behalf of the United States and to deliver in exchange for such payment a full release of such claim. This section, as respects the determination, compromise, settlement, and payment of claims, shall be supplementary to, and not in lieu of, all other provisions of law authorizing the determination, compromise, or settlement of claims for damage to property hereinabove described. No settlement or compromise where there is involved a payment in the net amount of over $100,000 is authorized by this section.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 549; Pub. L. 86–533, §1(3)(B), June 29, 1960, 74 Stat. 245; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(34), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2521; Pub. L. 98–557, §17(b)(3)(A), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2868.

§648 · Accounting for industrial work

The Secretary may prescribe regulations governing accounting for industrial work, including charges for overhead for civilian labor and for maintenance of industrial plant and equipment, performed at the Coast Guard Yard or such similar Coast Guard industrial establishments as he may designate. Any orders placed for such industrial work shall be covered by a transfer or advance of funds to cover the estimated cost thereof, and shall be credited to such accounts as may be necessary and established by the Secretary to carry out the provisions of this section. Accounts so established shall be available for materials, supplies, or equipment, and civilian labor, including overhead and maintenance, required in performing the work ordered. Upon completion of an order an adjustment will be made to make the amount transferred or advanced equal to the actual cost as computed in accordance with the accounting regulations prescribed by the Secretary.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 549.

§649 · Supplies and equipment from stock

Supplies and equipment for special work of the Coast Guard may be furnished from general stock and the applicable appropriation reimbursed therefor from the respective appropriations for such special work.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 550.

§650 · Coast Guard Supply Fund

(a) A Coast Guard Supply Fund is authorized. The Secretary may prescribe regulations for designating the classification of materials to be stocked. In these regulations, whenever the fund is extended to include items not previously stocked, or spare parts obtained as part of a procurement under a different account of major items such as vessels or aircraft, whether or not such parts were previously stocked, the Secretary may authorize an increase in the existing capital of the fund by the value of such usable materials transferred thereto from Coast Guard inventories carried in other accounts. Except for the materials so transferred, the fund shall be charged with the cost of materials purchased or otherwise acquired. The fund shall be credited with the value of materials consumed, issued for use, sold, or otherwise disposed of, such values to be determined on a basis that will approximately cover the cost thereof.

(b) Obligations may, without regard to fiscal year limitations, be incurred against anticipated reimbursement to the Coast Guard Supply Fund in such amount and for such period, as the Secretary, with approval of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, may determine to be necessary to maintain stock levels consistently with planned operations for the next year.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 550; Aug. 7, 1956, ch. 1023, §1(a), 70 Stat. 1077; Pub. L. 91–278, §1(13), June 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 306; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(35), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2521; Pub. L. 96–376, §5, Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1509.

§651 · Annual report

In April of each year, the Commandant, through the Secretary, shall report to Congress the operations and expenditures of the Coast Guard during the preceding fiscal year, including amounts collected as provided under section 664 of this title.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 550; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(36), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2522; Pub. L. 99–509, title V, §5102(a)(2), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1926.

§652 · Removing restrictions

Any law removing for the duration of a war or national emergency proclaimed by the President any restriction contained in any then-existing law as applied to the Navy, including, but not limited to, restrictions relating to the manner in which purchases may be made and contracts awarded, fiscal operations, and personnel, shall, in the same manner and to the same extent, remove such restrictions as applied to the Coast Guard.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 550.

§653 · Employment of draftsmen and engineers

The Coast Guard may employ temporarily, at the seat of government, draftsmen and engineers for the preparation of plans and specifications for vessels, lighthouses, aids to navigation, and other projects for the Coast Guard that may be authorized or appropriated for by Congress, to be paid from the appropriations applicable to such projects.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 550.

§654 · Public and commercial vessels and other watercraft; sale of fuel, supplies, and services

The Secretary under such regulations as he may prescribe, may sell to public and commercial vessels and other watercraft, such fuel, supplies and furnish such services as may be required to meet the necessities of the vessel or watercraft if such vessel or watercraft is unable—

(1) to procure the fuel, supplies, or services from other sources at its present location; and

(2) to proceed to the nearest port where they may be obtained without endangering the safety of the ship, the health and comfort of its personnel, or the safe condition of the property carried aboard.

Sales under this section shall be at such prices as the Secretary considers reasonable. Payment will be made on a cash basis or on such other basis as will reasonably assure prompt payment. Amounts received from such a sale shall, unless otherwise directed by another provision of law, be credited to the current appropriation concerned and are available for the same purposes as that appropriation.

Added Pub. L. 86–159, §1, Aug. 14, 1959, 73 Stat. 357; amended Pub. L. 89–444, §1(22), June 9, 1966, 80 Stat. 197.

§655 · Arms and ammunition; immunity from taxation

No tax on the sale or transfer of firearms, pistols, revolvers, shells, or cartridges may be imposed on such articles when bought with funds appropriated for the Coast Guard.

Added Pub. L. 87–526, §1(6), July 10, 1962, 76 Stat. 142; amended Pub. L. 94–546, §1(37), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2522.

§656 · Use of moneys appropriated for acquisition, construction, and improvement; for research, development, test, and evaluation; and for the alteration of bridges over the navigable waters

(a) Funds appropriated to or for the use of the Coast Guard for acquisition, construction, and improvement of facilities, for research, development, test, and evaluation; and for the alteration of bridges over the navigable waters shall remain available until expended.

(b) The Secretary may use any funds appropriated to or for the use of the Coast Guard for other construction purposes to restore, repair, or replace facilities that have been damaged or destroyed, including acquisition of sites.

(c) The Secretary may use any funds appropriated to or for the use of the Coast Guard for other construction purposes to acquire, construct, convert, extend, and install at Coast Guard installations and facilities, needed permanent or temporary public works, including the preparation of sites and the furnishing of appurtenances, utilities, and equipment, but excluding the construction of family quarters, costing  not  more  than  $200,000  for  any  one project.

Added Pub. L. 88–45, §2, June 21, 1963, 77 Stat. 68; amended Pub. L. 93–283, §1(9), May 14, 1974, 88 Stat. 140.

§657 · Dependent school children

(a) Except as otherwise authorized by the Act of September 30, 1950 

(b) Whenever the Secretary, under such regulations as he may prescribe, determines that schools located in the same area in which a Coast Guard facility is located are not accessible by public means of transportation on a regular basis, he may provide, out of funds appropriated to or for the use of the Coast Guard, for the transportation of dependents of Coast Guard personnel between the schools serving the area and the Coast Guard facility.

Added Pub. L. 91–278, §1(14), June 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 306; amended Pub. L. 93–430, §5, Oct. 1, 1974, 88 Stat. 1182.

§658 · Confidential investigative expenses

Not more than $15,000 per annum appropriated for necessary expenses for the operation of the Coast Guard shall be available for investigative expenses of a confidential character, to be expended on the approval or authority of the Commandant and payment to be made on his certificate of necessity for confidential purposes, and his determination shall be final and conclusive upon the accounting officers of the Government.

Added Pub. L. 93–283, §1(10), May 14, 1974, 88 Stat. 140.

§659 · Assistance to film producers

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when the Secretary determines that it is appropriate, and that it will not interfere with Coast Guard missions, the Secretary may conduct operations with Coast Guard vessels, aircraft, facilities, or personnel, in such a way as to give assistance to film producers. As used in this section, “film producers” includes commercial or noncommercial producers of material for cinema, television, or videotape.

(b) The Secretary shall keep account of costs incurred as a result of providing assistance to film producers, not including costs which would otherwise be incurred in Coast Guard operations or training, or shall estimate such costs in advance, and such costs shall be paid to the Secretary by the film producers who request such assistance, on terms determined by the Secretary. The Secretary may waive costs not exceeding $200 for one production, and may waive other costs related to noncommercial productions which the Secretary determines to be in the public interest. The Secretary shall reimburse the amounts collected under this section to the Coast Guard appropriation account under which the costs were incurred.

Added Pub. L. 100–448, §29(a), Sept. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 1849.

§660 · Transportation to and from certain places of employment

(a) Whenever the Secretary determines that it is necessary for the effective conduct of the affairs of the Coast Guard, he may, at reasonable rates of fare fixed under regulations to be prescribed by him, provide assured and adequate transportation by motor vehicle or water carrier to and from their places of employment for persons attached to, or employed by, the Coast Guard; and during a war or during a national emergency declared by Congress or the President, for persons attached to, or employed in, a private plant that is manufacturing material for the Coast Guard.

(b) Transportation may not be provided under subsection (a) unless the Secretary or an officer designated by the Secretary, determines that—

(1) other transportation facilities are inadequate and cannot be made adequate;

(2) a reasonable effort has been made to induce operators of private facilities to provide the necessary transportation; and

(3) the service to be furnished will make proper use of transportation facilities and will supply the most efficient transportation to the persons concerned.

(c) To provide transportation under subsection (a), the Secretary may—

(1) buy, lease, or charter motor vehicles or water carriers having a seating capacity of 12 or more passengers;

(2) maintain and operate that equipment by enlisted members or employees of the Coast Guard, or by private persons under contract; and

(3) lease or charter the equipment to private or public carriers for operation under terms that are considered necessary by the Secretary or by an officer designated by the Secretary, and that may provide for the pooling of government-owned and privately owned equipment and facilities and for the reciprocal use of that equipment.

(d) Fares received under subsection (a), and proceeds of the leasing or chartering of equipment under subsection (c)(3), shall be covered into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.

Added Pub. L. 96–376, §10(a), Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1510; amended Pub. L. 99–145, title XVI, §1623, Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 778; Pub. L. 99–550, §2(e), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3070.

§661 · Authorization of personnel end strengths

(a) For each fiscal year, Congress shall authorize the strength for active duty personnel of the Coast Guard as of the end of that fiscal year. Amounts may be appropriated for a fiscal year to or for the use of active duty personnel of the Coast Guard only if the end strength for active duty personnel for that fiscal year has been authorized by law.

(b)(1) Congress shall authorize the average military training student loads for the Coast Guard for each fiscal year. That authorization is required for student loads for the following individual training categories:

(A) Recruit and specialized training.

(B) Flight training.

(C) Professional training in military and civilian institutions.

(D) Officer acquisition training.

(2) Amounts may be appropriated for a fiscal year for use in training military personnel of the Coast Guard in the categories referred to in paragraph (1) only if the average student loads for the Coast Guard for that fiscal year have been authorized by law.

Added Pub. L. 97–295, §2(20)(A), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1302.

§662 · Requirement for prior authorization of appropriations

Amounts may be appropriated to or for the use of the Coast Guard for the following matters only if the amounts have been authorized by law after December 31, 1976:

(1) For the operation and maintenance of the Coast Guard.

(2) For the acquisition, construction, rebuilding, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore or offshore establishments, vessels, or aircraft, including equipment related to the aids, establishments, vessels, or aircraft.

(3) For altering obstructive bridges.

(4) For research, development, test, or evaluation related to a matter referred to in clauses (1)–(3).

(5) For environmental compliance and restoration at Coast Guard facilities.

Added Pub. L. 97–295, §2(20)(A), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1303; amended Pub. L. 101–225, title II, §222(c), Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1919.

§663 · Submission of plans to Congress

The President shall submit to Congress with each budget request for the Coast Guard the current copy of the Coast Guard's Capital Investment Plan, Cutter Plan, Aviation Plan, Shore Facilities Plan, and Information Resources Management Plan. Not later than 30 days after the date on which the President submits to the Congress a budget under section 1105 of title 31 which includes a proposed 2-year budget for the Coast Guard, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, detailed Coast Guard budget estimates for the fiscal years covered by such proposed 2-year budget.

Added Pub. L. 97–295, §2(20)(A), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1303; amended Pub. L. 100–448, §25, Sept. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 1847; Pub. L. 101–595, title III, §311(c), Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2987.

§664 · User fees

(a) A fee or charge for a service or thing of value provided by the Coast Guard shall be prescribed as provided in section 9701 of title 31.

(b) Amounts collected by the Secretary for a service or thing of value provided by the Coast Guard shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury as proprietary receipts of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating and ascribed to Coast Guard activities.

(c) Before January 1 of each year, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate that includes—

(1) a verification of each activity for which a fee or charge is collected under any law stating—

(A) the amount collected in the prior fiscal year; and

(B) that the amount spent on that activity in that fiscal year is not less than the amount collected; and

(2) the amount expected to be collected under any law in the current fiscal year for each activity for which a fee or charge is expected to be collected.

Added Pub. L. 99–509, title V, §5102(a)(3), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1926; amended Pub. L. 101–225, title II, §211, Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1914.

§665 · Restriction on construction of vessels in foreign shipyards

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), no Coast Guard vessel, and no major component of the hull or superstructure of a Coast Guard vessel, may be constructed in a foreign shipyard.

(b) The President may authorize exceptions to the prohibition in subsection (a) when the President determines that it is in the national security interest of the United States to do so. The President shall transmit notice to Congress of any such determination, and no contract may be made pursuant to the exception authorized until the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date the notice of such determination is received by Congress.

Added Pub. L. 100–448, §26(a), Sept. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 1847.

§666 · Local hire

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, each contract awarded by the Coast Guard for construction or services to be performed in whole or in part in a State that has an unemployment rate in excess of the national average rate of unemployment (as determined by the Secretary of Labor) shall include a provision requiring the contractor to employ, for the purpose of performing that portion of the contract in that State, individuals who are local residents and who, in the case of any craft or trade, possess or would be able to acquire promptly the necessary skills. The Secretary of Transportation may waive the requirements of this subsection in the interest of national security or economic efficiency.

(b) Local Resident Defined.—As used in this section, “local resident” means a resident of, or an individual who commutes daily to, a State described in subsection (a).

Added Pub. L. 101–225, title II, §206(a), Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1912.

§667 · Vessel construction bonding requirements

The Secretary or the Commandant may require bid, payment, performance, payment and performance, or completion bonds or other financial instruments from contractors for construction, alteration, repair, or maintenance of Coast Guard vessels if—

(1) the bond is required by law; or

(2) the Secretary or Commandant determines after investigation that the amount of the bond in excess of 20 percent of the value of the base contract quantity excluding options, would not prevent a responsible bidder or offeror from competing for award of the contract.

Added Pub. L. 101–595, title III, §306(a), Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2985.

§668 · Contracts for medical care for retirees, dependents, and survivors: alternative delivery of health care

(a) The Secretary may contract for the delivery of health care to which covered beneficiaries are entitled under chapter 55 of title 10. The Secretary may enter into a contract under this section with any of the following:

(1) Health maintenance organizations.

(2) Preferred provider organizations.

(3) Individual providers, individual medical facilities, or insurers.

(4) Consortiums of these providers, facilities, or insurers.

(b) A contract entered into under this section may provide for the delivery of—

(1) selected health care services;

(2) total health care services for selected covered beneficiaries; or

(3) total health care services for all covered beneficiaries who reside in a geographic area designated by the Secretary.

(c) The Secretary may prescribe a premium, deductible, copayment, or other change for health care provided under this section.

Added Pub. L. 101–595, title III, §319(a), Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2989.

§669 · Telephone installation and charges

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, amounts appropriated to the Department of Transportation are available to install, repair, and maintain telephone wiring in residences owned or leased by the United States Government and, if necessary for national defense purposes in other private residences.

Added Pub. L. 102–587, title V, §5204(a), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5074.

§670 · Procurement authority for family housing

(a) The Secretary is authorized—

(1) to acquire, subject to the availability of appropriations sufficient to cover its full obligations, real property or interests therein by purchase, lease for a term not to exceed 5 years, or otherwise, for use as Coast Guard family housing units, including the acquisition of condominium units, which may include the obligation to pay maintenance, repair, and other condominium-related fees; and

(2) to dispose of by sale, lease, or otherwise, any real property or interest therein used for Coast Guard family housing units for adequate consideration.

(b)(1) For the purposes of this section, a multiyear contract is a contract to lease Coast Guard family housing units for at least one, but not more than 5, fiscal years.

(2) The Secretary may enter into multiyear contracts under subsection (a) of this section whenever the Coast Guard finds that—

(A) the use of a contract will promote the efficiency of the Coast Guard family housing program and will result in reduced total costs under the contract; and

(B) there are realistic estimates of both the cost of the contract and the anticipated cost avoidance through the use of a multiyear contract.

(3) A multiyear contract authorized under subsection (a) of this section shall contain cancellation and termination provisions to the extent necessary to protect the best interests of the United States, and may include consideration of both recurring and nonrecurring costs. The contract may provide for a cancellation payment to be made. Amounts that were originally obligated for the cost of the contract may be used for cancellation or termination costs.

Added Pub. L. 103–206, title III, §302(a), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2423.

§671 · Air Station Cape Cod Improvements

The Secretary may expend funds for the repair, improvement, restoration, or replacement of those federally or nonfederally owned support buildings, including appurtenances, which are on leased or permitted real property constituting Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, located on Massachusetts Military Reservation, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Added Pub. L. 103–206, title III, §303(a), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2423.

§672 · Long-term lease authority for navigation and communications systems sites

(a) The Secretary is authorized, subject to the availability of appropriations, to enter into lease agreements to acquire real property or interests therein for a term not to exceed 20 years, inclusive of any automatic renewal clauses, for aids to navigation (hereafter in this section referred to as “ATON”) sites, vessel traffic service (hereafter in this section referred to as “VTS”) sensor sites, or National Distress System (hereafter in this section referred to as “NDS”) high level antenna sites. These lease agreements shall include cancellation and termination provisions to the extent necessary to protect the best interests of the United States. Cancellation payment provisions may include consideration of both recurring and nonrecurring costs associated with the real property interests under the contract. These lease agreements may provide for a cancellation payment to be made. Amounts that were originally obligated for the cost of the contract may be used for cancellation or termination costs.

(b) The Secretary may enter into multiyear lease agreements under subsection (a) of this section whenever the Secretary finds that—

(1) the use of such a lease agreement will promote the efficiency of the ATON, VTS, or NDS programs and will result in reduced total costs under the agreement;

(2) the minimum need for the real property or interest therein to be leased is expected to remain substantially unchanged during the contemplated lease period; and

(3) the estimates of both the cost of the lease and the anticipated cost avoidance through the use of a multiyear lease are realistic.

Added Pub. L. 103–206, title III, §304(a), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2424; amended Pub. L. 104–324, title VII, §746(d), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3943.

§673 ·

(a)(1) Subject to paragraph (3), a disbursing official of the Coast Guard may designate a deputy disbursing official—

(A) to make payments as the agent of the disbursing official;

(B) to sign checks drawn on disbursing accounts of the Secretary of the Treasury; and

(C) to carry out other duties required under law.

(2) The penalties for misconduct that apply to a disbursing official apply to a deputy disbursing official designated under this subsection.

(3) A disbursing official may make a designation under paragraph (1) only with the approval of the Secretary of Transportation (when the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Navy).

(b)(1) If a disbursing official of the Coast Guard dies, becomes disabled, or is separated from office, a deputy disbursing official may continue the accounts and payments in the name of the former disbursing official until the last day of the second month after the month in which the death, disability, or separation occurs. The accounts and payments shall be allowed, audited, and settled as provided by law. The Secretary of the Treasury shall honor checks signed in the name of the former disbursing official in the same way as if the former disbursing official had continued in office.

(2) The deputy disbursing official, and not the former disbursing official or the estate of the former disbursing official, is liable for the actions of the deputy disbursing official under this subsection.

(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), this section does not apply to the Coast Guard when section 2773 of title 10 applies to the Coast Guard by reason of the operation of the Coast Guard as a service in the Navy.

(2) A designation of a deputy disbursing official under subsection (a) that is made while the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Navy continues in effect for purposes of section 2773 of title 10 while the Coast Guard operates as a service in the Navy unless and until the designation is terminated by the disbursing official who made the designation or an official authorized to approve such a designation under subsection (a)(3) of such section.

Added Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title X, §1009(a)(2)(A), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2634.

§673 ·

The Secretary of Transportation shall ensure that each Coast Guard small boat station (including a seasonally operated station) maintains, within the area of responsibility for the station, at least 1 vessel that is fully capable of performing offshore rescue operations, taking into consideration prevailing weather, marine conditions, and depositional geologic features such as sand bars.

Added Pub. L. 104–324, title III, §309(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3919.

§674 · Small boat station closures

(a) Closures.—The Secretary of Transportation may not close a Coast Guard multimission small boat station or subunit unless the Secretary—

(1) determines that—

(A) remaining search and rescue capabilities maintain the safety of the maritime public in the area of the station or subunit;

(B) regional or local prevailing weather and marine conditions, including water temperature or unusual tide and current conditions, do not require continued operation of the station or subunit; and

(C) Coast Guard search and rescue standards related to search and rescue response times are met; and

(2) provides an opportunity for public comment and for public meetings in the area of the station or subunit with regard to the decision to close the station or subunit.

(b) Operational Flexibility.—The Secretary may implement any management efficiencies within the small boat station system, such as modifying the operational posture of units or reallocating resources as necessary to ensure the safety of the maritime public nationwide. No stations or subunits may be closed under this subsection except in accordance with subsection (a).

Added Pub. L. 104–324, title III, §309(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3919.

Chapter 18. Coast Guard Housing Authorities

§680 · Definitions

In this chapter:

(1) The term “construction” means the construction of military housing units and ancillary supporting facilities or the improvement or rehabilitation of existing units or ancillary supporting facilities.

(2) The term “contract” includes any contract, lease, or other agreement entered into under the authority of this chapter.

(3) The term “military unaccompanied housing” means military housing intended to be occupied by members of the armed forces serving a tour of duty unaccompanied by dependents.

(4) The term “United States” includes the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.

Added Pub. L. 104–324, title II, §208(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3909.

§681 · General authority

(a) Authority.—In addition to any other authority providing for the acquisition or construction of military family housing or military unaccompanied housing, the Secretary may exercise any authority or any combination of authorities provided under this chapter in order to provide for the acquisition or construction by private persons of the following:

(1) Family housing units on or near Coast Guard installations within the United States and its territories and possessions.

(2) Unaccompanied housing units on or near such Coast Guard installations.

(b) Limitation on Appropriations.—No appropriation shall be made to acquire or construct military family housing or military unaccompanied housing under this chapter if that acquisition or construction has not been approved by resolutions adopted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

Added Pub. L. 104–324, title II, §208(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3909.

§682 · Loan guarantees

(a) Loan Guarantees.—

(1) Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary may guarantee a loan made to any person in the private sector if the proceeds of the loan are to be used by the person to acquire, or construct housing units that the Secretary determines are suitable for use as military family housing or as military unaccompanied housing.

(2) The amount of a guarantee on a loan that may be provided under paragraph (1) may not exceed the amount equal to the lesser of—

(A) 80 percent of the value of the project; or

(B) the outstanding principal of the loan.

(3) The Secretary shall establish such terms and conditions with respect to guarantees of loans under this subsection as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States, including the rights and obligations of the United States with respect to such guarantees.

(4) The funds for the loan guarantees entered into under this section shall be held in the Coast Guard Housing Fund under section 687 of this title. The Secretary is authorized to purchase mortgage insurance to guarantee loans in lieu of guaranteeing loans directly against funds held in the Coast Guard Housing Fund.

(b) Limitation on Guarantee Authority.—Loan guarantees may be made under this section only to the extent that appropriations of budget authority to cover their cost (as defined in section 502(5) of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661a(5))) are made in advance, or authority is otherwise provided in appropriations Acts. If such appropriation or other authority is provided, there may be established a financing account (as defined in section 502(7) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 661a(7))) which shall be available for the disbursement of payment of claims for payment on loan guarantees under this section and for all other cash flows to and from the Government as a result of guarantees made under this section.

Added Pub. L. 104–324, title II, §208(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3910.

§683 · Leasing of housing to be constructed

(a) Build and Lease Authorized.—The Secretary may enter into contracts for the lease of military family housing units or military unaccompanied housing units to be constructed under this chapter.

(b) Lease Terms.—A contract under this section may be for any period that the Secretary determines appropriate and may provide for the owner of the leased property to operate and maintain the property.

Added Pub. L. 104–324, title II, §208(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3910.

§684 · Limited partnerships with nongovernmental entities

(a) Limited Partnerships Authorized.—The Secretary may enter into limited partnerships with nongovernmental entities carrying out projects for the acquisition or construction of housing units suitable for use as military family housing or as military unaccompanied housing.

(b) Limitation on Value of Investment in Limited Partnership.—(1) The cash amount of an investment under this section in a nongovernmental entity may not exceed an amount equal to 331/3 percent of the capital cost (as determined by the Secretary) of the project or projects that the entity proposes to carry out under this section with the investment.

(2) If the Secretary conveys land or facilities to a nongovernmental entity as all or part of an investment in the entity under this section, the total value of the investment by the Secretary under this section may not exceed an amount equal to 45 percent of the capital cost (as determined by the Secretary) of the project or projects that the entity proposes to carry out under this section with the investment.

(3) In this subsection, the term “capital cost”, with respect to a project for the acquisition or construction of housing, means the total amount of the costs included in the basis of the housing for Federal income tax purposes.

(c) Collateral Incentive Agreements.—The Secretary shall enter into collateral incentive agreements with nongovernmental entities in which the Secretary makes an investment under this section to ensure that a suitable preference will be afforded members of the armed forces and their dependents in the lease or purchase, as the case may be, of a reasonable number of the housing units covered by the investment.

Added Pub. L. 104–324, title II, §208(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3911.

§685 · Conveyance or lease of existing property and facilities

(a) Conveyance or Lease Authorized.—The Secretary may convey or lease property or facilities (including ancillary support facilities) to private persons for purposes of using the proceeds of such conveyance or lease to carry out activities under this chapter.

(b) Terms and Conditions.—(1) The conveyance or lease of property or facilities under this section shall be for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate for the purposes of this chapter and to protect the interests of the United States.

(2) As part or all of the consideration for a conveyance or lease under this section, the purchaser or lessor (as the case may be) may enter into an agreement with the Secretary to ensure that a suitable preference will be afforded members of the armed forces and their dependents in the lease or sublease of a reasonable number of the housing units covered by the conveyance or lease, as the case may be, or in the lease of other suitable housing units made available by the purchaser or lessee.

(c) Inapplicability of Certain Property Management Laws.—The conveyance or lease of property or facilities under this section shall not be subject to the following provisions of law:

(1) The Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 471 et seq.).

(2) Section 321 of the Act of June 30, 1932 (commonly known as the Economy Act) (47 Stat. 412, chapter 314; 40 U.S.C. 303b).

(3) The McKinney-Vento Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11301 et seq.).

Added Pub. L. 104–324, title II, §208(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3911; amended Pub. L. 106–400, §2, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1675. 3911.

§686 · Assignment of members of the armed forces to housing units

(a) In General.—The Secretary may assign members of the armed forces to housing units acquired or constructed under this chapter.

(b) Effect of Certain Assignments on Entitlement to Housing Allowances.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), housing referred to in subsection (a) shall be considered as quarters of the United States or a housing facility under the jurisdiction of a uniformed service for purposes of section 403(e) of title 37. 403(b) 

(2) A member of the armed forces who is assigned in accordance with subsection (a) to a housing unit not owned or leased by the United States shall be entitled to a basic allowance for housing quarters under section 403 of title 37.

(c) Lease Payments Through Pay Allotments.—The Secretary may require members of the armed forces who lease housing in housing units acquired or constructed under this chapter to make lease payments for such housing pursuant to allotments of the pay of such members under section 701 of title 37.

Added Pub. L. 104–324, title II, §208(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3912; amended Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [[div. A], title X, §1087(g)(3)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–293. 3912.

§687 · Coast Guard Housing Fund

(a) Establishment.—There is hereby established on the books of the Treasury an account to be known as the Coast Guard Housing Fund (in this section referred to as the “Fund”).

(b) Credits to Fund.—There shall be credited to the Fund the following:

(1) Amounts authorized for and appropriated to that Fund.

(2) Subject to subsection (e), any amounts that the Secretary transfers, in such amounts as provided in appropriation Acts, to that Fund from amounts authorized and appropriated to the Department of Transportation or Coast Guard for the acquisition or construction of military family housing or unaccompanied housing.

(3) Proceeds from the conveyance or lease of property or facilities under section 685 of this title for the purpose of carrying out activities under this chapter with respect to military family and military unaccompanied housing.

(4) Income from any activities under this chapter, including interest on loan guarantees made under section 682 of this title, income and gains realized from investments under section 684 of this title, and any return of capital invested as part of such investments.

(c) Use of Amounts in Fund.—(1) In such amounts as provided in appropriation Acts and except as provided in subsection (d), the Secretary may use amounts in the Coast Guard Housing Fund to carry out activities under this chapter with respect to military family and military unaccompanied housing units, including activities required in connection with the planning, execution, and administration of contracts entered into under the authority of this chapter.

(2) Amounts made available under this subsection shall remain available until expended.

(d) Limitation on Obligations.—The Secretary may not incur an obligation under a contract or other agreements entered into under this chapter in excess of the unobligated balance, at the time the contract is entered into, of the Fund required to be used to satisfy the obligation.

(e) Notification Required for Transfers.—A transfer of appropriated amounts to the Fund under subsection (b)(2) or (b)(3) of this section may be made only after the end of a 30-day period beginning on the date the Secretary submits written notice of, and justification for, the transfer to the appropriate committees of Congress.

(f) Limitation on Amount of Budget Authority.—The total value in budget authority of all contracts and investments undertaken using the authorities provided in this chapter shall not exceed $20,000,000.

Added Pub. L. 104–324, title II, §208(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3912.

§688 · Reports

The Secretary shall include each year in the materials the Secretary submits to the Congress in support of the budget submitted by the President pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, the following:

(1) A report on each contract or agreement for a project for the acquisition or construction of military family or military unaccompanied housing units that the Secretary proposes to solicit under this chapter, describing the project and the method of participation of the United States in the project and providing justification of such method of participation.

(2) A report describing each conveyance or lease proposed under section 685 of this title.

(3) A methodology for evaluating the extent and effectiveness of the use of the authorities under this chapter during such preceding fiscal year.

(4) A description of the objectives of the Department of Transportation for providing military family housing and military unaccompanied housing for members of the Coast Guard.

Added Pub. L. 104–324, title II, §208(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3913.

§689 · Expiration of authority

The authority to enter into a transaction under this chapter shall expire October 1, 2001.

Added Pub. L. 104–324, title II, §208(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3913.

Chapter 19. Environmental Compliance and Restoration Program

§690 · Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter—

(1) “environment”, “facility”, “person”, “release”, “removal”, “remedial”, and “response” have the same meaning they have in section 101 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601);

(2) “hazardous substance” has the same meaning it has in section 101 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601), except that it also includes the meaning given “oil” in section 311 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321); and

(3) “pollutant” has the same meaning it has in section 502 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1362).

Added Pub. L. 101–225, title II, §222(a), Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1917.

§691 · Environmental Compliance and Restoration Program

(a) The Secretary shall carry out a program of environmental compliance and restoration at current and former Coast Guard facilities.

(b) Program goals include:

(1) Identifying, investigating, and cleaning up contamination from hazardous substances and pollutants.

(2) Correcting other environmental damage that poses an imminent and substantial danger to the public health or welfare or to the environment.

(3) Demolishing and removing unsafe buildings and structures, including buildings and structures at former Coast Guard facilities.

(4) Preventing contamination from hazardous substances and pollutants at current Coast Guard facilities.

(c)(1) The Secretary shall respond to releases of hazardous substances and pollutants—

(A) at each Coast Guard facility the United States owns, leases, or otherwise possesses;

(B) at each Coast Guard facility the United States owned, leased, or otherwise possessed when the actions leading to contamination from hazardous substances or pollutants occurred; and

(C) on each vessel the Coast Guard owns or operates.

(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply to a removal or remedial action when a potentially responsible person responds under section 122 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9622).

(3) The Secretary shall pay a fee or charge imposed by a state 

(d) The Secretary may agree with another Federal agency for that agency to assist in carrying out the Secretary's responsibilities under this chapter. The Secretary may enter into contracts, cooperative agreements, and grant agreements with State and local governments to assist in carrying out the Secretary's responsibilities under this chapter. Services that may be obtained under this subsection include identifying, investigating, and cleaning up off-site contamination that may have resulted from the release of a hazardous substance or pollutant at a Coast Guard facility.

(e) Section 119 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9619) applies to response action contractors that carry out response actions under this chapter. The Coast Guard shall indemnify response action contractors to the extent that adequate insurance is not generally available at a fair price at the time the contractor enters into the contract to cover the contractor's reasonable, potential, long-term liability.

Added Pub. L. 101–225, title II, §222(a), Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1917.

§692 · Environmental Compliance and Restoration Account

(a) There is established for the Coast Guard an account known as the Coast Guard Environmental Compliance and Restoration Account. All sums appropriated to carry out the Coast Guard's environmental compliance and restoration functions under this chapter or another law shall be credited or transferred to the account and remain available until expended.

(b) Funds may be obligated or expended from the account to carry out the Coast Guard's environmental compliance and restoration functions under this chapter or another law.

(c) In proposing the budget for any fiscal year under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the President shall set forth separately the amount requested for the Coast Guard's environmental compliance and restoration activities under this chapter or another law.

(d) Amounts recovered under section 107 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9607) for the Secretary's response actions at current and former Coast Guard facilities shall be credited to the account.

Added Pub. L. 101–225, title II, §222(a), Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1918.

§693 · Annual Report to Congress

(a) The Secretary shall submit to Congress a report each fiscal year describing the progress the Secretary has made during the preceding fiscal year in implementing this chapter.

(b) Each report shall include:

(1) A statement for each facility or vessel for which the Secretary is responsible under section 691(c) of this title where a release of a hazardous substance or pollutant has been identified.

(2) The status of response actions contemplated or undertaken at each facility.

(3) The specific cost estimates and budgetary proposals for response actions contemplated or undertaken at each facility.

(4) The total amount required to clean up contamination at all identified facilities.

Added Pub. L. 101–225, title II, §222(a), Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1918.

PART II—COAST GUARD RESERVE AND AUXILIARY

Chapter 21. Coast Guard Reserve

Subchapter A

general

§701 · Organization

The Coast Guard Reserve is a component of the Coast Guard. It shall be organized, administered, trained, and supplied under the direction of the Commandant.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1003.

§702 · Authorized strength

(a) The President shall prescribe the authorized strength of the Coast Guard Reserve if not otherwise prescribed by law.

(b) Subject to the authorized strength of the Coast Guard Reserve, the Secretary shall determine, at least annually, the authorized strength in numbers in each grade necessary to provide for mobilization requirements. Without the consent of the member concerned, a member of the reserve may not be reduced in grade because of the Secretary's determination.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1003.

§703 · Coast Guard Reserve Boards

(a) The Secretary shall convene a Coast Guard Reserve Policy Board at least annually to consider, recommend, and report to the Secretary on reserve policy matters. At least one-half of the members of the Board shall be Reserve officers.

(b) The Secretary may convene any other Reserve Board the Secretary considers necessary.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1003.

§704 · Grades and ratings; military authority

The grades and ratings in the Reserve, including cadets but not grades above rear admiral, are those prescribed by law or regulation for the Coast Guard. A member of the Reserve on active duty or inactive-duty training has the same authority, rights, and privileges in the performance of that duty as a member of the Regular Coast Guard of corresponding grade or rating.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1003.

§705 · Benefits

(a) A member of the Reserve on active duty, on inactive-duty training, or engaged in authorized travel to or from that duty, is entitled to the same benefits as a member of the Naval Reserve of corresponding grade, rating, and length of service. In determining length of service for the purpose of this section, there shall be included all service for which credit is given by law to members of the Regular Coast Guard.

(b) Chapter 13 of this title applies to a member of the Reserve under the same conditions and limitations as it applies to a member of the Regular Coast Guard.

(c) A member of the Reserve who suffers sickness, disease, disability, or death is entitled to the same benefits as prescribed by law for a member of the Naval Reserve who suffers sickness, disease, disability, or death under similar conditions.

(d) A member of the Reserve on active duty or when retired for disability is entitled to the benefits of section 253(a) of title 42. A member of the Reserve when on active duty (other than for training) or when retired for disability is entitled to the benefits of chapter 55 of title 10.

(e) A member of the Reserve, except an enlisted member retiring on the basis of years of active service, is entitled to the same retirement rights, benefits, and privileges as prescribed by law for a member of the Naval Reserve, and wherever a law confers authority upon the Secretary of the Navy, similar authority is given to the Secretary to be exercised with respect to the Coast Guard when the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Navy. An enlisted member of the Reserve who retires on the basis of years of active service is entitled to the same retirement rights, benefits, and privileges as prescribed by law for an enlisted member of the Regular Coast Guard.

(f) A member of the Coast Guard Reserve not on active duty who is enrolled in an officer candidate program authorized by section 12209 of title 10 leading to a commission in the Coast Guard Reserve, and is a full-time student in an accredited college curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree may be paid a subsistence allowance for each month of the member's academic year at the same rate as that prescribed by section 209(a) of title 37.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1003; amended Pub. L. 97–417, §1, Jan. 4, 1983, 96 Stat. 2085; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title XV, §1501(e)(1)(A), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 501.

§706 · Temporary members of the Reserve; eligibility and compensation

A citizen of the United States, its territories, or possessions who is a member of the Auxiliary, an officer or member of the crew of a motorboat or yacht placed at the disposal of the Coast Guard, or a person (including a Government employee without pay other than the compensation of that person's civilian position) who by reason of special training and experience is considered by the Commandant to be qualified for duty, may be enrolled by the Commandant as a temporary member of the Reserve, for duty under conditions the Commandant may prescribe, including part-time and intermittent active duty with or without pay, without regard to age. The Commandant is authorized to define the powers and duties of temporary members of the Reserve, and to confer upon them, appropriate to their qualifications and experience, the same grades and ratings as provided for members of the Reserve. When performing active duty with pay as authorized by this section, temporary members of the reserve are entitled to receive the pay and allowances of their rank, grade, or rating.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1004.

§707 · Temporary members of the Reserve; disability or death benefits

(a) If a temporary member of the Reserve is physically injured, or dies as a result of physical injury, and the injury is incurred incident to service while performing active duty, or engaged in authorized travel to or from that duty, the law authorizing compensation for employees of the United States suffering injuries while in the performance of their duties, applies, subject to this section. That law shall be administered by the Secretary of Labor to the same extent as if the member was a civil employee of the United States and was injured in the performance of that duty. For benefit computation, regardless of pay or pay status, the member is considered to have had monthly pay of the monthly equivalent of the minimum rate of basic pay in effect for grade GS–9 of the General Schedule on the date the injury is incurred.

(b) This section does not apply if the workmen's compensation law of a State, a territory, or another jurisdiction provides coverage because of a concurrent employment status of the temporary member. When the temporary member or a dependent is entitled to a benefit under this section and also to a concurrent benefit from the United States on account of the same disability or death, the temporary member or dependent, as appropriate, shall elect which benefit to receive.

(c) If a claim is filed under this section with the Secretary of Labor for benefits because of an alleged injury or death, the Secretary of Labor shall notify the Commandant who shall direct an investigation into the facts surrounding the alleged injury or death. The Commandant shall then certify to the Secretary of Labor whether or not the injured or deceased person was a temporary member of the Reserve, the person's military status, and whether or not the injury or death was incurred incident to military service.

(d) A temporary member of the Reserve, who incurs a physical disability or contracts sickness or disease while performing a duty to which the member has been assigned by competent authority, is entitled to the same hospital treatment afforded a member of the Regular Coast Guard.

(e) In administering section 8133 of title 5, for a person covered by this section—

(1) the percentages applicable to payments under that section are—

(A) 45 percent under subsection (a)(2) of that section, where the member died fully or currently insured under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), with no additional payments for a child or children so long as the widow or widower remains eligible for payments under that subsection;

(B) 20 percent under subsection (a)(3) of that section, for one child, and 10 percent additional for each additional child, not to exceed a total of 75 percent, where the member died fully or currently insured under title II of the Social Security Act; and

(C) 25 percent under subsection (a)(4) of that section, if one parent was wholly dependent for support upon the deceased member at the time of the member's death and the other was not dependent to any extent; 16 percent to each if both were wholly dependent; and if one was, or both were, partly dependent, a proportionate amount in the discretion of the Secretary of Labor;

(2) payments may not be made under subsection (a)(5) of that section; and

(3) the Secretary of Labor shall inform the Commissioner of Social Security whenever a claim is filed and eligibility for compensation is established under subsection (a)(2) or (a)(3) of section 8133 of title 5. The Commissioner of Social Security shall then certify to the Secretary of Labor whether or not the member concerned was fully or currently insured under title II of the Social Security Act at the time of the member's death.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1004; amended Pub. L. 97–136, §8(a), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1706; Pub. L. 97–295, §2(21), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1303; Pub. L. 103–296, title I, §108(g), Aug. 15, 1994, 108 Stat. 1487.

§708 · Temporary members of the Reserve; certificate of honorable service

In recognition of the service of temporary members of the Reserve, the Secretary may upon request issue an appropriate certificate of honorable service in lieu of a certificate of disenrollment issued to any person following disenrollment under honorable conditions from service as a temporary member. Issuance of a certificate of honorable service to any person under this section does not entitle that person to any rights, privileges, or benefits under any law of the United States.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1005.

§709 · Reserve student aviation pilots; Reserve aviation pilots; appointments in commissioned grade

(a) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary an enlisted member of the Reserve may be designated as a student aviation pilot.

(b) A member who is not a qualified aviator may not be designated as a student aviation pilot unless the member agrees in writing to serve on active duty for a period of two years after successful completion of flight training, unless sooner released. A student aviation pilot may be released from active duty or discharged at any time as provided for in the regulations prescribed by the Secretary.

(c) A student aviation pilot who is a qualified civilian aviator may be given a brief refresher course in flight training.

(d) A student aviation pilot undergoing flight training is entitled to have uniforms and equipment provided at Government expense.

(e) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, a student aviation pilot may be designated an aviation pilot upon the successful completion of flight training.

(f) In time of peace, an aviation pilot obligated under subsection (b) to serve on active duty for two years may serve for an additional period of not more than two years.

(g) An aviation pilot may be released from active duty or discharged at any time as provided for in the regulations prescribed by the Secretary.

(h) If qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, an aviation pilot may be appointed as an ensign in the Reserve.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1005.

§710 · Appointment or wartime promotion; retention of grade upon release from active duty

(a) A member of the Reserve on active duty, who is appointed or promoted under section 214 or 275 of this title, is entitled upon release from that duty to the highest grade satisfactorily held by reason of that appointment or promotion. The Secretary shall determine the highest grade satisfactorily held.

(b) Unless otherwise entitled to a higher grade, a member recalled to active duty shall be recalled in the grade in which released under subsection (a).

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1006.

§711 · Exclusiveness of service

No member of the Reserve, other than a temporary member, may be a member of another military organization. A temporary member of the Reserve who is a member of another military component shall, if ordered to active duty therein, be disenrolled as a temporary member of the Reserve.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1006; amended Pub. L. 97–136, §6(c)(1), (2), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1706.

§712 · Active duty for emergency augmentation of regular forces

(a) Notwithstanding another law, and for the emergency augmentation of the Regular Coast Guard forces during a serious natural or manmade disaster, accident, or catastrophe, the Secretary may, without the consent of the member affected, order to active duty of not more than thirty days in any four-month period and not more than sixty days in any two-year period an organized training unit of the Coast Guard Ready Reserve, a member thereof, or a member not assigned to a unit organized to serve as a unit.

(b) Under the circumstances of the domestic emergency involved, a reasonable time shall be allowed between the date when a Reserve member ordered to active duty under this section is alerted for that duty and the date when the member is required to enter upon that duty. Unless the Secretary determines that the nature of the domestic emergency does not allow it, this period shall be at least two days.

(c) Active duty served under this section—

(1) satisfies on a day-for-day basis all or a part of the annual active duty for training requirement of section 10147 of title 10;

(2) does not satisfy any part of the active duty obligation of a member whose statutory Reserve obligation is not already terminated; and

(3) entitles a member while engaged therein, or while engaged in authorized travel to or from that duty, to all rights and benefits, including pay and allowances and time creditable for pay and retirement purposes, to which the member would be entitled while performing other active duty.

(d) Reserve members ordered to active duty under this section shall not be counted in computing authorized strength of members on active duty or members in grade under this title or under any other law.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1006; amended Pub. L. 102–241, §13, Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2213; Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §1677(b)(3), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 3020; Pub. L. 104–324, title II, §204, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3907.

§713 · Enlistment of members engaged in schooling

The initial period of active duty for training required by section 12103(d) of title 10, may be divided into two successive annual periods of not less than six weeks each, to permit the enlistment of a Reserve member without interrupting any full-time schooling in which the member is engaged.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1007; amended Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §1677(b)(4), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 3020.

Subchapter B

commissioned officers

§720 · Definitions

As used in this subchapter—

(1) “Reserve officer” means a commissioned officer in the Reserve, except an officer excluded by section 721 of this title or a commissioned warrant officer; and

(2) “discharged” means released from an appointment as a Reserve officer.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1007.

§721 · Applicability of this subchapter

This subchapter applies only to the Reserve; except that it does not apply to a temporary member of the Reserve.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1007.

§722 · Suspension of this subchapter in time of war or national emergency

In time of war or national emergency declared by Congress, the President may suspend the operation of this subchapter or any part hereof. If this subchapter or any part hereof is suspended by the President, prior to placing the suspended provision in operation, the President shall by regulation, in so far as practicable, adjust the grades of Reserve officers in the same manner as adjustments in grade are made for Regular officers.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1007.

§723 · Effect of this subchapter on retirement and retired pay

Except as provided in subsection 746(b) of this title, nothing in this subchapter authorizes the retirement of a Reserve officer or the payment of retired, retainer, or severance pay to a Reserve officer; or affects in any manner the law relating to the retirement of, or the granting of retired or retainer pay or other benefits to a Reserve officer.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1007.

§724 · Authorized number of officers

(a) The authorized number of officers in the Reserve in an active status is 5,000. The actual number of Reserve officers in an active status at any time shall not exceed the authorized number unless the Secretary determines that a greater number is necessary for planned mobilization requirements, or unless the excess results directly from the operation of law.

(b)(1) The authorized number of Reserve officers in an active status below the grade of rear admiral (lower half) shall be distributed in grade in the following percentages, respectively: captain, 1.5; commander, 7.0; lieutenant commander, 22.0; lieutenant, 37.0; and the combined grades of lieutenant (junior grade) and ensign, 32.5. When the actual number of Reserve officers in an active status in a grade is less than the number authorized, the difference may be applied to increase the authorized number in a lower grade. A Reserve officer may not be reduced in rank or grade solely because of a reduction in an authorized number as provided for in this subsection, or because an excess results directly from the operation of law.

(2) The authorized number of Reserve Officers in an active status not on active duty in the grades of rear admiral (lower half) and rear admiral is a total of two. However, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may authorize an additional number of Reserve officers not on active duty in the grades of rear admiral (lower half) and rear admiral as necessary in order to meet planned mobilization requirements.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1007; amended Pub. L. 97–417, §2(12), Jan. 4, 1983, 96 Stat. 2086; Pub. L. 98–557, §25(a)(4), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2872; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, §514(c)(1), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 629.

§725 · Precedence

(a) Reserve officers rank and take precedence in their respective grades among themselves and with officers of the same grade on the active duty promotion list and the permanent commissioned teaching staff in accordance with their dates of rank. When Reserve officers and officers on the active duty promotion list or the permanent commissioned teaching staff have the same date of rank in a grade, they take precedence as determined by the Secretary.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, a Reserve officer shall not lose precedence when transferred to or from the active duty promotion list, nor shall that officer's date of rank be changed due to the transfer.

(c) A Reserve officer shall, when on the active duty promotion list, be promoted in the same manner as any other officer on the active duty promotion list regardless of the length of active duty service of the Reserve officer.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1008.

§726 · Running mates

(a) The Secretary shall assign a running mate to each Reserve officer in an active status not on the active duty promotion list. The officer initially assigned as a running mate under this section shall be that officer on the active duty promotion list of the same grade who is next senior in precedence to the Reserve officer concerned. An officer who has twice failed of selection or who has been considered but has not been recommended for continuation under section 289 of this title shall not be assigned as a running mate under this section.

(b) A Reserve officer in an active status not on the active duty promotion list shall be assigned a new running mate as follows:

(1) If a previously assigned running mate is promoted from below the promotion zone, is removed from the active duty promotion list, suffers a loss of numbers, fails of selection, fails to qualify for promotion, or declines an appointment after being selected for promotion, the new running mate shall be that officer on the active duty promotion list, of the same grade, who is next senior to the previous running mate and who is, or may become, eligible for consideration for promotion. If the previous running mate was on a list of selectees for promotion, the new running mate shall be that officer on the active duty promotion list, of the same grade, who is on a list of selectees for promotion and who is next senior to the previous running mate.

(2) If a Reserve officer suffers a loss of numbers, the new running mate shall be that officer on the active duty promotion list who, after the loss of numbers has been effected, is the running mate of the Reserve officer next senior to the Reserve officer concerned.

(3) If a Reserve officer is considered for promotion and fails of selection, fails to qualify for promotion, declines an appointment after being selected for promotion, or has his or her name removed from a list of selectees for promotion, and that officer's running mate is promoted, the new running mate shall be that officer on the active duty promotion list, of the same grade, who, at the time the previous running mate was considered for promotion, was next senior to the previous running mate, was eligible for consideration for promotion, and whose name was not included on a list of selectees for promotion.

(4) In a situation not expressly covered by this subsection, the Secretary may assign a new running mate as necessary to effect the intent of this section that inequitable changes of precedence do not occur.

(c) A Reserve officer on the active duty promotion list shall, to the extent practicable and consistent with the limitations imposed by this section, be assigned as the running mate of all Reserve officers junior to the officer, who are in an active status not on the active duty promotion list, and who had a running mate in common with the officer just prior to the time the officer was placed on the active duty promotion list.

(d) The Secretary may adjust, as necessary, the date of rank of a Reserve officer not on active duty so that the date will correspond with that of the running mate assigned to the officer in accordance with this section. If an overpayment of pay or allowances results from adjusting the date of rank, the overpayment is not subject to recoupment.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1008.

§727 · Constructive credit upon initial appointment

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, a person, appointed as a Reserve officer, may be assigned a date of rank and precedence which reflects that person's experience, education, or other qualifications. For the purpose of this subchapter only, a person appointed for the purpose of assignment or designation as a law specialist in the reserve shall be credited with a minimum of three years service in an active status. A person holding a doctor of philosophy, or a comparable degree, in medicine or in a science allied to medicine as determined by the Secretary, may be credited with a minimum of three years service in an active status if appointed for an assignment comparable to that of an officer in the Navy Medical Department.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1009.

§728 · Promotion of Reserve officers on active duty

(a) A Reserve officer on active duty, other than for training, duty on a board, or duty of a limited or temporary nature if assigned to active duty from an inactive duty status, shall not be eligible for consideration for promotion under this subchapter; but shall be considered for promotion under chapter 11 of this title. If promoted while serving on active duty the officer shall be considered as having been promoted under this subchapter and shall be an extra number in the grade to which promoted for the purpose of grade distribution as prescribed in this subchapter. Upon release from active duty the officer shall be included in the grade distribution authorized by this subchapter.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a Reserve officer who has been selected for promotion to the next higher grade under this subchapter at the time the officer reports for active duty, shall be promoted to that grade under chapter 11 of this title.

(c) A Reserve officer who, at the time the officer is released from active duty, has been selected for promotion to the next higher grade under chapter 11 of this title, shall be promoted to that grade as though selected under this subchapter.

(d) A failure of selection for promotion to the next higher grade occurring under this subchapter or under chapter 11 of this title shall count for all purposes.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1009.

§729 · Promotion; recommendations of selection boards

(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, a Reserve officer shall only be promoted pursuant to the recommendation of a selection board.

(b) The Secretary shall convene selection boards from time to time to recommend Reserve officers for promotion to the next higher grade. A board may be convened to consider officers in one or more grades.

(c) A selection board shall, from among the names of those eligible Reserve officers submitted to it, recommend for promotion to the next higher grade:

(1) those officers serving in the grade of lieutenant (junior grade) or above whom it considers to be best qualified; and

(2) those officers serving in the grade of ensign whom it considers to be fully qualified.

(d)(1) (d) Before convening a selection board to recommend Reserve officers for

promotion, the Secretary shall establish a promotion zone for officers serving in each grade to be considered by the board. The Secretary shall determine the number of officers in the promotion zone for officers serving in any grade from among officers who are eligible for promotion in that grade.

(2)(A) Before convening a selection board to recommend Reserve officers for promotion to a grade (other than the grade of lieutenant (junior grade)), the Secretary shall determine the maximum number of officers in that grade that the board may recommend for promotion.

(B) The Secretary shall make the determination under subparagraph (A) of the maximum number that may be recommended with a view to having in an active status a sufficient number of Reserve officers in each grade to meet the needs of the Coast Guard for Reserve officers in an active status.

(C) In order to make the determination under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall determine the following:

(i) The number of positions needed to accomplish mission objectives that require officers in the grade to which the board will recommend officers for promotion.

(ii) The estimated number of officers needed to fill vacancies in such positions during the period in which it is anticipated that officers selected for promotion will be promoted.

(iii) The number of officers authorized by the Secretary to serve in an active status in the grade under consideration.

(iv) Any statutory limitation on the number of officers in any grade authorized to be in an active status.

(3)(A) The Secretary may, when the needs of the Coast Guard require, authorize the consideration of officers in

promotion to a grade above lieutenant (junior

grade) for promotion to the next higher grade from below the promotion zone.(B) When selection from below the promotion zone is authorized,

grade), the Secretary shall establish the number of officers that may be recommended for promotion from below the promotion zone. That number may not exceed the number equal to 10 percent of the maximum number of officers that the board is authorized to recommend for promotion, except that the Secretary may authorize a greater number, not to exceed 15 percent of determine the total number of officers that the board is authorized to recommend for promotion, if the Secretary determines that the needs of the Coast Guard so require. If the maximum number determined under this subparagraph is less than one, the board may recommend one officer for promotion from below the promotion zone.

(C) The number of officers recommended for promotion from below the promotion zone does not increase the maximum number of officers that the board is authorized to recommend for promotion under paragraph (2).

Reserve officers to be selected for promotion to that grade. The number to be selected shall normally be equal to the number of vacancies existing in that grade, plus the number of vacancies anticipated over the next twelve months, minus the number of officers on the list of selectees for that grade. The Secretary may, however, prescribe regulations that provide for the establishment of promotion opportunity percentages for each grade to ensure that equitable promotion opportunities exist among successive groups of Reserve officers being considered for promotion. The number so determined may not cause the number of Reserve officers in an active status in a grade to exceed that authorized for the grade concerned.

(e) The law and regulations relating to the selection for promotion of a commissioned officer of the Regular Coast Guard to the grades of rear admiral (lower half) and rear admiral apply to a Reserve officer, except that to be eligible for consideration for promotion to the grade of rear admiral (lower half) an officer shall have completed at least ten years commissioned service, of which the last five years shall have been served in the Coast Guard Reserve.

(f) The provisions of section 260 of this title apply to boards convened under this section. The Secretary shall determine the procedure to be used by a selection board.

(g) The report of a selection board shall be submitted to the Secretary for review and transmission to the President for approval. When an officer recommended by a board for promotion is not acceptable to the President, the President may remove the name of that officer from the report of the board.

(h) The recommendations of a selection board, as approved by the President, constitute a list of selectees from which the promotions of Reserve officers shall be made. An officer on a list of selectees remains thereon until promoted unless removed by the President under section 738 of this title. If an existing list of selectees has not been exhausted by the time a later list has been approved, all officers remaining on the older list shall be tendered appointments prior to those on the later list.

(i) A Reserve officer whose name is on a list of selectees for promotion shall, unless that officer's promotion is lawfully withheld, be tendered an appointment in the next higher grade at the same time, or as soon thereafter as practicable, as that officer's running mate is tendered a similar appointment.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1010; amended Pub. L. 97–417, §2(13), Jan. 4, 1983, 96 Stat. 2086; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, §514(c)(1), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 629; Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [[div. A], title V, §502(a)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–99. 629.

§730 · Selection boards; appointment

(a) A selection board shall (1) be appointed and convened by the Secretary; (2) consist of at least 50 per centum Reserve officer membership, except in the case of a flag officer selection board where, to the extent practicable, it shall consist of at least 50 per centum Reserve officer membership; (3) consist only of members, Reserve or Regular, senior in grade to any officer being considered by that board; and (4) be composed of not less than five members, which number constitutes a quorum.

(b) A selection board serves for the length of time prescribed by the Secretary, but no board may serve longer than one year. No officer may serve on two consecutive selection boards for the same grade when the second of those boards considers an officer who was considered, but not recommended for promotion, by the first selection board.

(c) Each member of a selection board shall swear that he will, without prejudice or partiality, and having in view both the special fitness required of officers and the efficiency of the Coast Guard, perform the duties imposed upon him. Not less than a majority of the total membership of a selection board shall concur in each recommendation made by the board.

(d) An officer eligible for consideration for promotion by a selection board may forward, through official channels, a written communication inviting the attention of the board to any matter in the officer's record in the armed forces that, in the opinion of the officer concerned, is important to the board's consideration. A communication forwarded under this subsection shall arrive in time to allow delivery to the board prior to its convening, and may not criticize or reflect upon the character, conduct, or motive of any officer.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1011.

§731 ·

Establishment of promotion zones under running mate system

(a) Authority To Use Running Mate System.—The Secretary may by regulation implement section 729(d)(1) of this title by requiring that the promotion zone for consideration of Reserve officers in an active status for promotion to the next higher grade be determined in accordance with a running mate system as provided in subsection (b).

(b) Consideration for Promotion.—If promotion zones are determined as authorized under subsection (a), a Reserve officer shall, subject Placement in promotion zone; consideration for promotionSubject to the eligibility requirements of this subchapter, a Reserve officer shall be placed in a promotion zone when that officer's running mate is placed in a promotion zone and shall, in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter, be considered for promotion at approximately the same time as that officer's running mate or as soon thereafter as practicable.

(c) Consideration of Officers Below the Zone.—If the Secretary authorizes the selection of officers for promotion from below the promotion zone in accordance with section 729(d)(3) of this title, the number of officers to be considered from below the zone may be established through the application of the running mate system under this subchapter or otherwise as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to meet the needs of the Coast Guard.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1011; amended Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [[div. A], title V, §502(b)(1), (2)(A)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–100. 1011.

§732 · Eligibility for promotion

A Reserve officer is eligible for consideration for promotion and for promotion under this subchapter, if that officer is in an active status. A Reserve officer who has been considered but not recommended for retention in an active status by a board convened under subsection 741(a) of this title, is not eligible for consideration for promotion.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1011.

§733 · Recommendation for promotion of an officer previously removed from an active status

A Reserve officer recommended for promotion by a selection board but not promoted because of removal from an active status shall be reconsidered by a selection board after returning to an active status and if selected shall be placed on a recommended list of selectees for promotion. A Reserve officer to whom this section applies is not considered to have failed of selection when eliminated from a list of selectees for promotion solely as a result of being removed from an active status.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1012.

§734 · Qualifications for promotion

(a) A Reserve officer shall not be promoted to a higher grade unless the officer has been found to be physically qualified and the character of the officer's service subsequent to the convening of the selection board which recommended the officer for promotion has been verified as satisfactory.

(b) Subsection (a) of this section does not exclude from promotion a Reserve officer physically disqualified by a medical board for duty at sea or in the field, if the disqualification results from wounds received in the line of duty, and those wounds do not incapacitate the officer for other duties in the grade to which the officer is to be promoted.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1012.

§735 · Promotion; acceptance; oath of office

(a) A Reserve officer who has been appointed under this subchapter is considered to have accepted the appointment unless delivery thereof cannot be effected.

(b) A Reserve officer who has served continuously since taking the oath of office prescribed in section 3331 of title 5, is not required to take a new oath of office upon appointment in a higher grade.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1012.

§736 · Date of rank upon promotion; entitlement to pay

(a) When a Reserve officer is promoted to the next higher grade under this subchapter, the same date of rank shall be assigned as that assigned to the officer's running mate. A Reserve officer so promoted shall be allowed the pay and allowances of the higher grade for duty performed from the date of the officer's appointment thereto.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, when the running mate of a reserve officer serving in the grade of rear admiral (lower half) is promoted to the grade of rear admiral, the reserve officer shall also be promoted to that grade.

(c) For the purposes of subsection (a) of this section, the date of appointment shall be that date when promotion authority is exercised by the Secretary. However, the Secretary may adjust the date of appointment—

(1) if a delay in the finding required under section 734(a) of this title is beyond the control of the officer and the officer is otherwise qualified for promotion; or

(2) for any other reason that equity requires.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1012; amended Pub. L. 97–417, §2(14), Jan. 4, 1983, 96 Stat. 2086; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, §514(c)(1), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 629; Pub. L. 101–225, title II, §203(4), Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1911.

§737 · Type of promotion; temporary

Notwithstanding any other law, if a Reserve officer is promoted when the officer's running mate is promoted and the promotion of the running mate is on a temporary basis, the promotion of the Reserve officer is also on a temporary basis. If subsequently the running mate is reverted to a lower grade, other than for reasons of discipline, incompetence, or at the running mate's request, the Reserve officer shall likewise revert to the same lower grade with corresponding precedence.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1012.

§738 · Effect of removal by the President or failure of consent of the Senate

(a) The President may, for cause, remove the name of any officer from a list of selectees established under section 729 of this title.

(b) If the Senate, where required, does not consent to the appointment of an officer whose name is on a list of selectees established under section 729 of this title, that officer's name shall be removed from the list.

(c) An officer whose name is removed from a list of selectees under subsection (a) or (b) continues to be eligible for consideration for promotion. If selected for promotion by the next selection board and promoted, that officer shall be assigned the date of rank and precedence that would have been assigned if the officer's name had not been previously removed. However, if the officer is not selected by the next selection board, or if the officer's name is again removed from the list of selectees, the officer shall be considered for all purposes as having twice failed of selection for promotion.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1013.

§739 · Failure of selection for promotion

(a) A Reserve officer, other than one serving in the grade of captain, who is, or is senior to, the junior officer in the promotion zone established for the officer's grade, fails of selection if not selected for promotion by the selection board that considered the officer, or if having been selected for promotion by the board, the officer's name is thereafter removed from the report of the board by the President.

(b) A Reserve officer is not considered to have failed of selection if the officer was not considered by a selection board because of administrative error. If that officer is selected by the next appropriate selection board after the error is discovered, and is promoted, the same date of rank and precedence shall be assigned that would have been assigned if the officer had been recommended for promotion by the selection board that originally would have considered the officer but for the error.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1013.

§740 · Failure of selection and removal from an active status

(a) The Secretary—

(1) may remove from an active status a Reserve officer who has twice failed of selection to the next higher grade; and

(2) shall remove from an active status a Reserve officer serving in the grade of captain who has completed thirty years of total commissioned service and whose name is not carried on an approved list of selectees for promotion to the grade of rear admiral (lower half).

(b) A Reserve officer who has twice failed of selection to the next higher grade and who is not removed from an active status under subsection (a)(1) of this section shall be retained for the period prescribed by the Secretary.

(c) Subject to section 12646 of title 10, a Reserve officer who is removed from an active status under subsection (a) of this section shall be given an opportunity to transfer to the Retired Reserve, if qualified, but unless so transferred shall, in the discretion of the Secretary, be transferred to the inactive status list or discharged as follows:

(1) if removed from an active status under subsection (a)(1) of this section, on June 30 next following the approval date of the board report by virtue of which the officer's second failure of selection occurs; or

(2) if removed from an active status under subsection (a)(2) of this section, on June 30 next following the date on which the officer completes thirty years of total commissioned service as computed under this section.

(d) For the purpose of this section, the total commissioned service of an officer who has served continuously in the Reserve following appointment in the grade of ensign shall be computed from the date on which that appointment was accepted. A Reserve officer initially appointed in a grade above ensign is considered to have the actual total commissioned service performed in a grade above commissioned warrant officer or the same total commissioned service as an officer of the Regular Coast Guard who has served continuously from an original appointment as ensign, who has not lost numbers or precedence, and who is, or was, junior to the Reserve officer, whichever is greater.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1013; amended Pub. L. 97–417, §2(15), Jan. 4, 1983, 96 Stat. 2086; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, §514(c)(1), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 629; Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §1677(b)(5), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 3020.

§741 · Retention boards; removal from an active status to provide a flow of promotion

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, whenever the Secretary determines that it is necessary to reduce the number of Reserve officers in an active status in any grade to provide a steady flow of promotion, or that there is an excessive number of Reserve officers in an active status in any grade, the Secretary may appoint and convene a retention board to consider all of the Reserve officers in that grade in an active status who have 18 years or more of service for retirement, except those officers who—

(1) are on extended active duty;

(2) are on a list of selectees for promotion;

(3) will complete 30 years total commissioned service by June 30th following the date that the retention board is convened; or

(4) have reached age 59 by the date on which the retention board is convened.

The retention board shall select and recommend a specified number of the officers under consideration for retention in an active status.

(b) This board shall—

(1) to the extent practicable, consist of at least 50 per centum Reserve officers;

(2) consist only of officers who are senior in rank to any officers being considered by that board; and

(3) to the extent practicable, consist of officers who have not served on the last previous retention board which considered officers of the same grade.

(c) Subject to section 12646 of title 10, a Reserve officer who is not recommended for retention in an active status under this section shall be given an opportunity to transfer to the Retired Reserve, if qualified, but unless so transferred shall, in the discretion of the Secretary, be transferred to the inactive status list or discharged on June 30 next following the date on which the report of the retention board is approved.

(d) The provisions of section 260 of this title shall, to the extent that they are not inconsistent with this subchapter, apply to boards convened under this section.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1014; amended Pub. L. 101–225, title II, §203(5), Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1911; Pub. L. 103–206, title II, §203, Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2420; Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §1677(b)(5), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 3020; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title XV, §1501(e)(1)(B), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 501.

§742 · Maximum ages for retention in an active status

(a) A Reserve officer, if qualified, shall be transferred to the Retired Reserve on the day the officer becomes sixty-two years of age.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary may authorize the retention of a Reserve rear admiral or rear admiral (lower half) in an active status not longer than the day on which the officer concerned becomes sixty-four years of age.

(c) Except as provided for in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, a Reserve officer shall be discharged effective upon the day the officer becomes sixty-two years of age.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1014; amended Pub. L. 97–417, §2(16), Jan. 4, 1983, 96 Stat. 2086; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, §514(c)(1), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 629.

§743 · Rear admiral and rear admiral (lower half); maximum service in grade

Unless retained in or removed from an active status under any other law, a Reserve rear admiral or rear admiral (lower half) shall be removed from an active status on the day that officer completes four years combined service in the grades of rear admiral and rear admiral (lower half).

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1015; amended Pub. L. 97–417, §2(17)(A), Jan. 4, 1983, 96 Stat. 2086; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, §514(c)(1), (3)(A), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 629.

§744 · Appointment of a former Navy or Coast Guard officer

A former officer of the Regular Navy or Coast Guard who applies for a Reserve commission within one year of resigning the officer's Regular commission, and who is appointed in the same grade previously held in the Regular Navy or Coast Guard, shall be given the same date or rank in that grade as that previously assigned to the officer while a member of the Regular Navy or Coast Guard.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1015.

§745 · Grade on entry upon active duty

A Reserve officer ordered to active duty or active duty for training shall be ordered in the grade held; except that the Secretary may authorize a higher grade.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1015.

§746 · Recall of a retired officer; grade upon release

(a) When an officer in the Retired Reserve or an officer on a Reserve retired list is recalled to active duty, that officer shall be recalled in a manner similar to the recall of a Regular retired officer.

(b) An officer in the Retired Reserve or an officer on a Reserve retired list recalled to active duty shall upon release therefrom be advanced in the Retired Reserve or on the Reserve retired list to the highest grade held on active duty, if: (1) appointed to a higher grade while on that duty, and (2) the officer's performance has been satisfactory in the higher grade.

Added Pub. L. 96–322, §1, Aug. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 1015.

[§751 · Repealed. July 9, 1952, ch. 608, part VIII, §803, 66 Stat. 505]

[§751a · Omitted]

[§752 · Repealed. July 9, 1952, ch. 608, part VIII, §803, 66 Stat. 505]

[§752a · Omitted]

[§753 · Repealed. July 9, 1952, ch. 608, part VIII, §803, 66 Stat. 505]

[§§753a to 757 · Omitted]

[§758 · Repealed. May 5, 1950, ch. 169, §14(u), 64 Stat. 148]

[§758a · Omitted]

[§759 · Repealed. July 9, 1952, ch. 608, part VIII, §803, 66 Stat. 505]

[§§759a to 761 · Omitted]

[§762 · Repealed. Pub. L. 93–174, §2(2), Dec. 5, 1973, 87 Stat. 692]

[§§763 to 765 · Omitted]

[§§770 to 798 · Omitted]

Chapter 23. Coast Guard Auxiliary

§821 · Administration of the Coast Guard Auxiliary

(a) The Coast Guard Auxiliary is a nonmilitary organization administered by the Commandant under the direction of the Secretary. For command, control, and administrative purposes, the Auxiliary shall include such organizational elements and units as are approved by the Commandant, including but not limited to, a national board and staff (to be known as the “Auxiliary headquarters unit”), districts, regions, divisions, flotillas, and other organizational elements and units. The Auxiliary organization and its officers shall have such rights, privileges, powers, and duties as may be granted to them by the Commandant, consistent with this title and other applicable provisions of law. The Commandant may delegate to officers of the Auxiliary the authority vested in the Commandant by this section, in the manner and to the extent the Commandant considers necessary or appropriate for the functioning, organization, and internal administration of the Auxiliary.

(b) Each organizational element or unit of the Coast Guard Auxiliary organization (but excluding any corporation formed by an organizational element or unit of the Auxiliary under subsection (c) of this section), shall, except when acting outside the scope of section 822, at all times be deemed to be an instrumentality of the United States, for purposes of the following:

(1) Chapter 26 of title 28 

(2) Section 2733 of title 10 (popularly known as the Military Claims Act).

(3) The Act of March 3, 1925 (46 App. U.S.C. 781–790; popularly known as the Public Vessels Act).

(4) The Act of March 9, 1920 (46 App. U.S.C. 741–752; popularly known as the Suits in Admiralty Act).

(5) The Act of June 19, 1948 (46 App. U.S.C. 740; popularly known as the Admiralty Extension Act).

(6) Other matters related to noncontractual civil liability.

(c) The national board of the Auxiliary, and any Auxiliary district or region, may form a corporation under State law in accordance with policies established by the Commandant.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 555; Pub. L. 104–324, title IV, §401(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3922.

§822 · Purpose of the Coast Guard Auxiliary

The purpose of the Auxiliary is to assist the Coast Guard as authorized by the Commandant, in performing any Coast Guard function, power, duty, role, mission, or operation authorized by law.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 555; Pub. L. 104–324, title IV, §402(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3923.

§823 · Eligibility, enrollments

The Auxiliary shall be composed of citizens of the United States and its territories and possessions, who are owners, sole or part, of motorboats, yachts, aircraft, or radio stations or who by reason of their special training or experience are deemed by the Commandant to be qualified for duty in the Auxiliary, and who may be enrolled therein pursuant to applicable regulations.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 555.

§823a · Members of the Auxiliary; status

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary shall not be considered to be a Federal employee and shall not be subject to the provisions of law relating to Federal employment, including those relating to hours of work, rates of compensation, leave, unemployment compensation, Federal employee benefits, ethics, conflicts of interest, and other similar criminal or civil statutes and regulations governing the conduct of Federal employees. However, nothing in this subsection shall constrain the Commandant from prescribing standards for the conduct and behavior of members of the Auxiliary.

(b) A member of the Auxiliary while assigned to duty shall be deemed to be a Federal employee only for the purposes of the following:

(1) Chapter 26 of title 28 

(2) Section 2733 of title 10 (popularly known as the Military Claims Act).

(3) The Act of March 3, 1925 (46 App. U.S.C. 781–790; popularly known as the Public Vessels Act).

(4) The Act of March 9, 1920 (46 App. U.S.C. 741–752; popularly known as the Suits in Admiralty Act).

(5) The Act of June 19, 1948 (46 App. U.S.C. 740; popularly known as the Admiralty Extension Act).

(6) Other matters related to noncontractual civil liability.

(7) Compensation for work injuries under chapter 81 of title 5.

(8) The resolution of claims relating to damage to or loss of personal property of the member incident to service under the Military Personnel and Civilian Employees’ Claims Act of 1964 (31 U.S.C. 3721).

(c) A member of the Auxiliary, while assigned to duty, shall be deemed to be a person acting under an officer of the United States or an agency thereof for purposes of section 1442(a)(1) of title 28.

Added Pub. L. 104–324, title IV, §403(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3923.

§824 · Disenrollment

Members of the Auxiliary may be disenrolled pursuant to applicable regulations.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 555.

§825 · Membership in other organizations

Members of the Auxiliary may be appointed or enlisted in the Reserve, pursuant to applicable regulations, and membership in the Auxiliary shall not be a bar to membership in any other naval or military organization.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 555.

§826 · Use of member's facilities

The Coast Guard may utilize for any purpose incident to carrying out its functions and duties as authorized by the Secretary any motorboat, yacht, aircraft, or radio station placed at its disposition for any of such purposes by any member of the Auxiliary, by any corporation, partnership, or association, or by any State or political subdivision thereof.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 555; Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §35, 64 Stat. 408.

§827 · Vessel deemed public vessel

While assigned to authorized Coast Guard duty, any motorboat or yacht shall be deemed to be a public vessel of the United States and a vessel of the Coast Guard within the meaning of sections 646 and 647 of this title and other applicable provisions of law.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 555; Pub. L. 104–324, title IV, §406, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3924.

§828 · Aircraft deemed public aircraft

While assigned to authorized Coast Guard duty, any aircraft shall be deemed to be a Coast Guard aircraft, a public vessel of the United States, and a vessel of the Coast Guard within the meaning of sections 646 and 647 of this title and other applicable provisions of law. Subject to the provisions of sections 823a and 831 of this title, while assigned to duty, qualified Auxiliary pilots shall be deemed to be Coast Guard pilots.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 556; Pub. L. 104–324, title IV, §407, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3925.

§829 · Radio station deemed government station

Any radio station, while assigned to authorized Coast Guard duty shall be deemed to be a radio station of the Coast Guard and a “government station” within the meaning of section 305 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 305).

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 556; Pub. L. 94–546, §1(38), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2522; Pub. L. 99–640, §10(a)(8), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3549.

§830 · Availability of appropriations

(a) Appropriations of the Coast Guard shall be available for the payment of actual necessary traveling expense and subsistence, or commutation of ration allowance in lieu of subsistence, of members of the Auxiliary assigned to authorized duties and for actual necessary expenses of operation of any motorboat, yacht, aircraft, or radio station when assigned to Coast Guard duty, but shall not be available for the payment of compensation for personal services, incident to such operation, other than to personnel of the Coast Guard or the Reserve. The term “actual necessary expenses of operation,” as used in this section, shall include payment for fuel, oil, power, water, supplies, provisions, replacement or repair of equipment, repair of any damaged motorboat, yacht, aircraft, or radio station and for the constructive or actual loss of any motorboat, yacht, aircraft, or radio station where it is determined, under applicable regulations, that responsibility for the loss or damage necessitating such replacement or repair of equipment, or for the damage or loss, constructive or actual, of such motorboat, yacht, aircraft, or radio station rests with the Coast Guard.

(b) The Secretary may pay interest on a claim under this section in any case in which a payment authorized under this section is not made within 60 days after the submission of the claim in a manner prescribed by the Secretary. The rate of interest for purposes of this section shall be the annual rate established under section 6621 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 556; Pub. L. 99–640, §8, Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3548; Pub. L. 104–324, title IV, §404(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3924.

§831 · Assignment and performance of duties

No member of the Auxiliary, solely by reason of such membership, shall be vested with, or exercise, any right, privilege, power, or duty vested in or imposed upon the personnel of the Coast Guard or the Reserve, except that any such member may, under applicable regulations, be assigned duties, which, after appropriate training and examination, he has been found competent to perform, to effectuate the purposes of the Auxiliary. No member of the Auxiliary shall be placed in charge of a motorboat, yacht, aircraft, or radio station assigned to Coast Guard duty unless he has been specifically designated by authority of the Commandant to perform such duty. Members of the Auxiliary, when assigned to duties as herein authorized shall, unless otherwise limited by the Commandant, be vested with the same power and authority, in the execution of such duties, as members of the regular Coast Guard assigned to similar duty. When any member of the Auxiliary is assigned to such duty he may, pursuant to regulations issued by the Secretary, be paid actual necessary traveling expenses, including a per diem allowance in conformity with standardized Government travel regulations in lieu of subsistence, while traveling and while on duty away from his home. No per diem shall be paid for any period during which quarters and subsistence in kind are furnished by the Government, and no per diem shall be paid for any period while such member is performing duty on a vessel.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 556; Pub. L. 104–324, title IV, §404(b), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3924.

§832 · Injury or death in line of duty

When any member of the Auxiliary is physically injured or dies as a result of physical injury incurred while performing any duty to which he has been assigned by competent Coast Guard authority, such member or his beneficiary shall be entitled to the same benefits provided for temporary members of the Reserve who suffer physical injury or death resulting from physical injury incurred incident to service. Members of the Auxiliary who incur physical injury or contract sickness or disease while performing any duty to which they have been assigned by competent Coast Guard authority shall be entitled to the same hospital treatment afforded members of the Coast Guard. The performance of a duty as the term is used in this section includes time engaged in traveling back and forth between the place of assigned duty and the permanent residence of a member of the Auxiliary.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 556; Pub. L. 93–283, §1(15), May 14, 1974, 88 Stat. 141; Pub. L. 98–557, §15(a)(3)(D), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2865; Pub. L. 104–324, title IV, §404(c), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3924.

Chapter 25. General Provisions for Coast Guard Reserve and Auxiliary

§891 · Flags; pennants; uniforms and insignia

The Secretary may prescribe one or more suitable distinguishing flags, pennants, or other identifying insignia to be displayed by the motorboats, yachts, aircraft, and radio stations owned by members of the Auxiliary and one or more suitable insignia which may be worn by members of the Reserve or the Auxiliary, and may prescribe one or more suitable uniforms which may be worn by members of the Auxiliary. Such flags, pennants, uniforms, and insignia may be furnished by the Coast Guard at actual cost, and the proceeds received therefor shall be credited to current appropriations from which purchase of these articles is authorized.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 557.

§892 · Penalty

Whoever, without proper authority, flies from any building, aircraft, motorboat, yacht, or other vessel, any flag or pennant or displays any identifying insignia or wears any uniform or insignia of the Reserve or the Auxiliary shall be fined not more than $500.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 557.

§893 · Limitation on rights of members of the Auxiliary and temporary members of the Reserve

Members of the Auxiliary and temporary members of the Reserve shall be entitled only to such rights, privileges, and benefits as are specifically set forth for them in this title or as may be specifically provided for them in any other Act of Congress. Any Act of Congress which grants rights, privileges, or benefits generally to military personnel, or among others, to personnel of the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Reserve, without specifically granting such rights, privileges, or benefits to members of the Auxiliary or temporary members of the Reserve, shall not be deemed applicable to members of the Auxiliary or to temporary members of the Reserve.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 557.

§894 · Availability of facilities and appropriations

The services and facilities of and appropriations for the Coast Guard shall be available to effectuate the purposes of the Reserve and the Auxiliary.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 557.