FEDERAL · 14 U.S.C. · Chapter SUBCHAPTER I—ORGANIZATION
Grades and ratings
14 U.S.C. § 301
Title14 — Coast Guard
ChapterSUBCHAPTER I—ORGANIZATION
This text of 14 U.S.C. § 301 (Grades and ratings) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Bluebook
14 U.S.C. § 301.
Text
(a)In General.—In the Coast Guard, there shall be—
(1)admirals (two);
(2)vice admirals;
(3)rear admirals;
(4)rear admirals (lower half);
(5)captains;
(6)commanders;
(7)lieutenant commanders;
(8)lieutenants;
(9)lieutenants (junior grade);
(10)ensigns;
(11)chief warrant officers;
(12)cadets;
(13)warrant officers; and
(14)enlisted members.
(b)Enlisted Members.—Enlisted members shall be distributed in ratings established by the Secretary.
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Source Credit
History
(Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 497, §41; 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; Pub. L. 114–120, title II, §201(a), Feb. 8, 2016, 130 Stat. 33; renumbered §301, Pub. L. 115–282, title I, §104(b), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4196; Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXII, §7201(b), (e)(1), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1675, 1678.)
Editorial Notes
Historical and Revision Notes
1949 Act
Based on title 14, U.S.C., 1946 ed., §§5, 9, 21 (Apr. 12, 1902, ch. 501, §1, 32 Stat. 100; Jan. 28, 1915, ch. 20, §2, 38 Stat. 801; May 18, 1920, ch. 190, §8, 41 Stat. 603; June 5, 1920, ch. 235, §1, 41 Stat. 879; Jan. 12, 1923, ch. 25, §§1, 2, 42 Stat. 1130; July 3, 1926, ch. 742, §§3, 9, 10, 44 Stat. 815, 817).
The grades of vice admiral and rear admiral are added to make provision for the commissioned officer personnel structure of the service as provided for in this revision. The entire rating structure for enlisted men is left to the administrative discretion of the Secretary, as in the past, for reasons of flexibility.
The last two paragraphs of said section 5 are obsolete and have been omitted.
Changes were made in phraseology. 81st Congress, House Report No. 557.
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 301, act Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 518, related to permanent appointment of warrant officers, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(A), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 177. See section 571 et seq. of Title 10, Armed Forces.
Amendments
2025—Pub. L. 119–60, §7201(e)(1), amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "In the Coast Guard there shall be admirals (two); 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."
Pub. L. 119–60, §7201(b), renumbered section 301 of this title as this section, resulting in no change.
2018—Pub. L. 115–282 renumbered section 41 of this title as this section.
2016—Pub. L. 114–120 substituted "admirals (two);" for "an admiral,".
1994—Pub. L. 103–337 substituted "chief warrant officers; cadets; warrant officers;" for "chief warrant officers, W–4; chief warrant officers, W–3; chief warrant officers, W–2; cadets; warrant officers, W–1;".
1985—Pub. L. 99–145 substituted "rear admirals (lower half)" for "commodores".
1984—Pub. L. 98–557 substituted "members" for "men" in two places.
1983—Pub. L. 97–417 inserted "commodores;" after "rear admirals;".
1972—Pub. L. 92–451 substituted "vice admirals" for "a vice admiral".
1960—Pub. L. 86–474 inserted the grade of admiral.
1956—Act Aug. 10, 1956, repealed and reenacted section by general amendment thereby substituting "chief warrant officers, W–4; chief warrant officers, W–3; chief warrant officers, W–2" for "commissioned warrant officers", and "warrant officers, W–1" for "warrant officers".
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1994 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 103–337 effective on the first day of the fourth month beginning after Oct. 5, 1994, see section 541(h) of Pub. L. 103–337, set out as a note under section 571 of Title 10, Armed Forces.
Effective Date of 1972 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 92–451 effective Oct. 2, 1972, except that continuation boards may not be held until one year thereafter, see section 3 of Pub. L. 92–451, set out as a note under section 2151 of this title.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2025—Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXII, §7201(c)(2), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1677, inserted subchapter II designation and heading. Heading was editorially conformed to the style used in this title.
1949 Act
Based on title 14, U.S.C., 1946 ed., §§5, 9, 21 (Apr. 12, 1902, ch. 501, §1, 32 Stat. 100; Jan. 28, 1915, ch. 20, §2, 38 Stat. 801; May 18, 1920, ch. 190, §8, 41 Stat. 603; June 5, 1920, ch. 235, §1, 41 Stat. 879; Jan. 12, 1923, ch. 25, §§1, 2, 42 Stat. 1130; July 3, 1926, ch. 742, §§3, 9, 10, 44 Stat. 815, 817).
The grades of vice admiral and rear admiral are added to make provision for the commissioned officer personnel structure of the service as provided for in this revision. The entire rating structure for enlisted men is left to the administrative discretion of the Secretary, as in the past, for reasons of flexibility.
The last two paragraphs of said section 5 are obsolete and have been omitted.
Changes were made in phraseology. 81st Congress, House Report No. 557.
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 301, act Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 518, related to permanent appointment of warrant officers, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 88–130, §1(10)(A), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 177. See section 571 et seq. of Title 10, Armed Forces.
Amendments
2025—Pub. L. 119–60, §7201(e)(1), amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "In the Coast Guard there shall be admirals (two); 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."
Pub. L. 119–60, §7201(b), renumbered section 301 of this title as this section, resulting in no change.
2018—Pub. L. 115–282 renumbered section 41 of this title as this section.
2016—Pub. L. 114–120 substituted "admirals (two);" for "an admiral,".
1994—Pub. L. 103–337 substituted "chief warrant officers; cadets; warrant officers;" for "chief warrant officers, W–4; chief warrant officers, W–3; chief warrant officers, W–2; cadets; warrant officers, W–1;".
1985—Pub. L. 99–145 substituted "rear admirals (lower half)" for "commodores".
1984—Pub. L. 98–557 substituted "members" for "men" in two places.
1983—Pub. L. 97–417 inserted "commodores;" after "rear admirals;".
1972—Pub. L. 92–451 substituted "vice admirals" for "a vice admiral".
1960—Pub. L. 86–474 inserted the grade of admiral.
1956—Act Aug. 10, 1956, repealed and reenacted section by general amendment thereby substituting "chief warrant officers, W–4; chief warrant officers, W–3; chief warrant officers, W–2" for "commissioned warrant officers", and "warrant officers, W–1" for "warrant officers".
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1994 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 103–337 effective on the first day of the fourth month beginning after Oct. 5, 1994, see section 541(h) of Pub. L. 103–337, set out as a note under section 571 of Title 10, Armed Forces.
Effective Date of 1972 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 92–451 effective Oct. 2, 1972, except that continuation boards may not be held until one year thereafter, see section 3 of Pub. L. 92–451, set out as a note under section 2151 of this title.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2025—Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXII, §7201(c)(2), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1677, inserted subchapter II designation and heading. Heading was editorially conformed to the style used in this title.
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Bluebook (online)
14 U.S.C. § 301, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/usc/14/301.