Title 14 — Coast GuardRelease 119-83

§1909 Policy on Hazing

Title 14 › Subtitle SUBTITLE II— PERSONNEL › Chapter 19— COAST GUARD ACADEMY › Subchapter I— ADMINISTRATION › § 1909

Last updated Apr 18, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Superintendent must write and share public anti-hazing policies that the Commandant approves. The policies must say what hazing is, try to stop hazing, and set punishments like suspension or dismissal. If a cadet charged with an offense that could lead to dismissal asks in writing for a trial by general court-martial, the Academy cannot dismiss them for that offense unless that court-martial orders the dismissal. A cadet dismissed for hazing or bullying cannot rejoin the Corps and cannot become a commissioned officer in a regular Coast Guard unit until 2 years after their class graduates. Hazing — when a cadet wrongly takes power and causes another cadet cruelty, humiliation, hardship, or denies their rights.

Full Legal Text

Title 14, §1909

Coast Guard — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Subject to the approval of the Commandant, the Superintendent of the Academy shall issue and make available to the public written policies—

(1)subject to subsection (d), defining hazing;

(2)designed to prevent hazing; and

(3)prescribing dismissal, suspension, or other adequate punishment for violations.

(b)If a cadet who is charged with violating a policy issued under subsection (a), the penalty for which is or may be dismissal from the Academy, requests in writing a trial by a general court-martial, the cadet may not be dismissed for that offense except under sentence of such a court.

(c)A cadet dismissed from the Academy for hazing or bullying may not be reappointed to the Corps of Cadets, and is ineligible for appointment as commissioned 11 So in original. Probably should be preceded by “a”. officer in a regular component of the Coast Guard, until the date that is 2 years after the date of the graduation of the class of the cadet.

(d)In developing the policies under subsection (a)(1), the Superintendent shall, to the maximum extent practicable, define the term “hazing” as the unauthorized assumption of authority by a cadet whereby another cadet suffers or is exposed to any cruelty, indignity, humiliation, hardship, or oppression, or the deprivation or abridgement of any right.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

14 U.S.C. § 1909

Title 14 — Coast Guard

Last Updated

Apr 18, 2026

Release point: 119-83