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§3738 Constructive Credit Upon Initial Appointment

Title 14 › Subtitle SUBTITLE III— COAST GUARD RESERVE AND AUXILIARY › Chapter 37— COAST GUARD RESERVE › Subchapter II— PERSONNEL › § 3738

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

Gives Reserve officers rank dates under Secretary rules that reflect their experience, education, or qualifications. For this subchapter, Reserve judge advocates get at least 1 year of credited active service, and Ph.D. holders in medicine or allied medical science (as determined by the Secretary) may get at least 3 years for Navy‑medical assignments.

Full Legal Text

Title 14, §3738

Coast Guard — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, an individual, appointed as a Reserve officer, may be assigned a date of rank and precedence which reflects that individual’s experience, education, or other qualifications. For the purpose of this subchapter only, an individual appointed for the purpose of assignment or designation as a judge advocate in the Reserve shall be credited with a minimum of one year service in an active status. An individual holding a doctor of philosophy, or a comparable degree, in medicine or in a science allied to medicine as determined by the Secretary, may be credited with a minimum of three years service in an active status if appointed for an assignment comparable to that of an officer in the Navy Medical Department.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 773 of this title prior to the complete revision of former chapter 21 of this title by Pub. L. 96–322.

Amendments

2021—Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “an individual” for “a person” in two places, and substituted “individual’s” for “person’s” and “An individual” for “A person”. 2018—Pub. L. 115–282 renumbered section 727 of this title as this section. 2006—Pub. L. 109–241 substituted “judge advocate” for “law specialist”. 2004—Pub. L. 108–293 substituted “one year” for “three years” in second sentence.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

14 U.S.C. § 3738

Title 14Coast Guard

Last Updated

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60