14 U.S.C. § 185 : US Code - Section 185: Cadets; appointment as ensign

Search 14 U.S.C. § 185 : US Code - Section 185: Cadets; appointment as ensign

The President may, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate, appoint as ensigns in the Coast Guard all cadets who shall
graduate from the Academy. Ensigns so commissioned on the same date
shall take rank according to their proficiency as shown by the
order of their merit at date of graduation.