Title 14, Coast GuardRelease 119-110
§2166 Continuation on Active Duty; Coast Guard Officers with Certain Critical Skills
Title 14 › SUBTITLE II — PERSONNEL › CHAPTER 21 — PERSONNEL; OFFICERS › SUBCHAPTER II — DISCHARGES; RETIREMENTS; REVOCATION OF COMMISSIONS; SEPARATION FOR CAUSE › § 2166
Summary
The Commandant can keep Coast Guard officers above grade O-2 on active duty past their normal retirement date if they have a critical skill, a specialty, or work in a career field the Commandant names. The Commandant must name which skills or fields qualify and set the rules. Officers kept this way must retire on the first day of the month after they complete 40 years of active service.
Full Legal Text
Title 14, §2166
Coast Guard, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In General.—
The Commandant may authorize an officer in a grade above grade O–2 to remain on active duty after the date otherwise provided for the retirement of such officer in section 2154 of this title, if the officer possesses a critical skill, or specialty, or is in a career field designated pursuant to subsection (b).
(b)Critical Skills, Specialty, or Career Field.—
The Commandant shall designate any critical skill, specialty, or career field eligible for continuation on active duty as provided in subsection (a).
(c)Duration of Continuation.—
An officer continued on active duty pursuant to this section shall, if not earlier retired, be retired on the first day of the month after the month in which the officer completes 40 years of active service.
(d)Policy.—
The Commandant shall carry out this section by prescribing policy which shall specify the criteria to be used in designating any critical skill, specialty, or career field for purposes of subsection (b).
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
14 U.S.C. § 2166
Title 14, Coast Guard
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110