Title 14, Coast GuardRelease 119-102

§2317 Aviation Cadets; Procurement; Transfer

Title 14 › SUBTITLE II — PERSONNEL › CHAPTER 23 — PERSONNEL; ENLISTED › § 2317

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates a special enlisted rank called aviation cadet in the Coast Guard and lets civilians be enlisted as cadets and current enlisted members be made cadets if they agree. Except during a war or a national emergency declared by Congress, at least 20 percent of the cadets each fiscal year must come from qualified enlisted Coast Guard members. A person can only become a cadet if they sign a written promise to accept a commission as an ensign in the Coast Guard Reserve after finishing training and to serve on active duty for at least three years unless released earlier. Anyone under 21 must have a parent or guardian agree in writing. Under rules the Secretary sets, a cadet can be moved to another enlisted rank, released from active duty, or discharged.

Full Legal Text

Title 14, §2317

Coast Guard, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(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 individuals may be enlisted or designated as an aviation cadet unless—
(1)the individual agrees in writing that, upon successful completion of the course of training as an aviation cadet, the individual 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 individual has the consent of the individual’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.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–283, § 8505(a)(20)(A), substituted “individuals” for “persons” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 116–283, § 8505(a)(20)(B), substituted “individual” for “person” in two places. Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 116–283, § 8505(a)(20)(B), (C), substituted “individual” for “person” and “individual’s” for “person’s”. 2018—Pub. L. 115–282 renumbered section 371 of this title as this section. 1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–557, § 15(a)(1)(A), struck out “male” before “citizens” and “enlisted members”. Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 98–557, § 15(a)(1)(B), substituted “the person” for “he” in two places and struck out “his” after “upon”. Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 98–557, § 15(a)(1)(C), substituted “the person” for “he”, “the person’s” for “his”, and “the agreement” for “his agreement”. 1982—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–295 substituted “percent” for “per centum”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

14 U.S.C. § 2317

Title 14, Coast Guard

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102