14 U.S.C. § 211 : US Code - Section 211: Original appointment of permanent commissioned officers

Search 14 U.S.C. § 211 : US Code - Section 211: Original appointment of permanent commissioned officers

(a)(1) The President may appoint permanent commissioned officers
in the Regular Coast Guard in grades appropriate to their
qualification, experience, and length of service, as the needs of
the Coast Guard may require, from among the following categories:
(A) Graduates of the Coast Guard Academy.
(B) Commissioned warrant officers, warrant officers, and
enlisted members of the Regular Coast Guard.
(C) Members of the Coast Guard Reserve who have served at least
2 years as such.
(D) Licensed officers of the United States merchant marine who
have served 2 or more years aboard a vessel of the United States
in the capacity of a licensed officer.
(2) Original appointments under this section in the grades of
lieutenant commander and above shall be made by the President by
and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(3) Original appointments under this section in the grades of
ensign through lieutenant shall be made by the President alone.
(b) No person shall be appointed a commissioned officer under
this section until his mental, moral, physical, and professional
fitness to perform the duties of a commissioned officer has been
established under such regulations as the Secretary shall
prescribe.
(c) Appointees under this section shall take precedence in the
grade to which appointed in accordance with the dates of their
commissions as commissioned officers in such grade. Appointees
whose dates of commission are the same shall take precedence with
each other as the Secretary shall determine.