§2538 Inclusion and Command Review of Information on Covered Misconduct in Personnel Service Records

Summary

If a Coast Guard member is convicted at court-martial, given nonjudicial punishment, or given punitive administrative action for covered misconduct, a note about it must be put in the member’s service record, no matter the member’s rank. The note’s purpose is to warn supervisors so repeat problems are less likely and to help with decisions about promotion or commissioning. The note cannot go in the restricted part of the record. A member may still dispute or appeal the note or where it is placed under the usual appeal rules. Under rules the Secretary will create, a unit or facility commander must check a covered member’s history of covered misconduct in the service record when the member is assigned or transferred. A “covered member” means someone who, at that time, has a history of 1 or more covered misconduct offenses in their record or other files the Commandant names in the policy. Also under the Secretary’s policy, the Commandant must set up procedures, following Department of Defense laws, policies, and practices in effect on the date the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 became law, to review former service members’ records to decide if they are suitable for civilian jobs with the Coast Guard.