§ 301. Grades and ratings

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

1. 1949

   Title 14, United States Code, section —

   Pub. L. 81–393 · 63 Stat. 495

   Enacted · 14 U.S.C. § 301

   Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 497, § 41

   Source evidence

   Code source credit
   Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 497, § 41

2. 1960

   Pub. L. 86–474 § 1(1) · 74 Stat. 144

   Inserted · 14 U.S.C. § 301

   Pub. L. 86–474 inserted the grade of admiral

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Pub. L. 86–474 inserted the grade of admiral.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (1) Section 41 is amended by inserting the words “an admiral,” before the words “a vice admiral” in the first sentence thereof.

3. 1972

   Pub. L. 92–451 § 1(1) · 86 Stat. 755

   Substituted · 14 U.S.C. § 301

   Pub. L. 92–451 substituted “vice admirals” for “a vice admiral”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Pub. L. 92–451 substituted “vice admirals” for “a vice admiral”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (1) The first sentence of section 41 is amended by striking out “a 70A Stat. 620. vice admiral” and inserting in lieu thereof “vice admirals”.

4. 1983

   Pub. L. 97–417 § 2(1) · 96 Stat. 2085

   Inserted · 14 U.S.C. § 301

   Pub. L. 97–417 inserted “commodores;” after “rear admirals;”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Pub. L. 97–417 inserted “commodores;” after “rear admirals;”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (1) Section 41 is amended by inserting “commodores;” after 14 USC 41. “rear admirals;”.

5. 1984

   Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1984

   Pub. L. 98–557 § 15(a)(3)(B) · 98 Stat. 2860

   Substituted · 14 U.S.C. § 301

   Pub. L. 98–557 substituted “members” for “men” in two places

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Pub. L. 98–557 substituted “members” for “men” in two places.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (B) The following sections of such title are amended by striking “enlisted men” each place it appears and inserting in lieu thereof “enlisted members”: 41, 211(a)(2), 212(a)(2), 213(a)(1), 214, 357, 432(c), 478(d), and 480.

6. 1985

   Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1986

   Pub. L. 99–145 title V § 514(a)(2) · 99 Stat. 583

   Substituted · 14 U.S.C. § 301

   Pub. L. 99–145 substituted “rear admirals (lower half)” for “commodores”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Pub. L. 99–145 substituted “rear admirals (lower half)” for “commodores”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (2) Section 41 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking out “commodores” and inserting in lieu thereof “rear admirals (lower half)”.

7. 1994

   National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995

   Pub. L. 103–337 div. A title V § 541(f)(4) · 108 Stat. 2663

   Substituted · 14 U.S.C. § 301

   Pub. L. 103–337 substituted “chief warrant officers; cadets; warrant officers;” for “chief warrant officers, W–4; chief warrant officers, W–3; chief warrant officers, W–2; cadets; warrant officers, W–1;”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Pub. L. 103–337 substituted “chief warrant officers; cadets; warrant officers;” for “chief warrant officers, W–4; chief warrant officers, W–3; chief warrant officers, W–2; cadets; warrant officers, W–1;”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (4) Section 41 of such title is amended by striking out “chief warrant officers, W—4; chief warrant officers, W–3; chief warrant officers, W–2; cadets; warrant officers, W–1;” and inserting in lieu thereof “chief warrant officers; cadets; warrant officers;”.

   Effective date note
   Amendment by Pub. L. 103–337 effective on the first day of the fourth month beginning after Oct. 5, 1994, see section 541(h) of Pub. L. 103–337, set out as a note under section 571 of Title 10, Armed Forces.

8. 2016

   Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015

   Pub. L. 114–120 title II § 201(a) · 130 Stat. 27

   Substituted · 14 U.S.C. § 301

   Pub. L. 114–120 substituted “admirals (two);” for “an admiral,”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Pub. L. 114–120 substituted “admirals (two);” for “an admiral,”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (a) Grades and Ratings.— Section 41 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking “an admiral,” and inserting “admirals (two);”.

9. 2018

   Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018

   Pub. L. 115–282 title I § 104(b) · 132 Stat. 4192

   Changed · 14 U.S.C. § 301

   Pub. L. 115–282 renumbered section 41 of this title as this section

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Pub. L. 115–282 renumbered section 41 of this title as this section.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (b) Redesignations and Transfers.— (1) Requirement.— The sections of title 14, United States Code, identified in the table provided in paragraph (2) are amended— (A) by redesignating the sections as described in the table; and (B) by transferring the sections, as necessary, so that the sections appear after the table of sections for chapter 3 of such title (as added by subsection (a)), in the order in which the sections are presented in the table. (2) Table.— The table referred to in paragraph (1) is the following: Title 14 section number before redesignationSection heading (provided for identification purposes only-not amended)Title 14 section number after redesignation 41Grades and ratings301 44Commandant; appointment302 46Retirement of Commandant or Vice Commandant303 47Vice Commandant; appointment304 50Vice admirals305 51Retirement306 52Vice admirals and admiral, continuity of grade307 56Chief Acquisition Officer308 53Office of the Coast Guard Reserve; Director309 54Chief of Staff to President: appointment310 57Prevention and response workforces312 58Centers of expertise for Coast Guard prevention and response313 59Marine industry training program314 60Training course on workings of Congress315 98National Coast Guard Museum316 336United States Coast Guard Band; composition; director317

10. 2025

    Pub. L. 119–60 § 7201(e)(1) · 139 Stat. 1675

    Amended · 14 U.S.C. § 301

    Pub. L. 119–60, § 7201(e)(1), amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “In the Coast Guard there shall be admirals (two); vice admirals; rear admirals; rear admirals (lower half); captains; commanders; lieutenant commanders; lieutenants; lieutenants (junior grade); ensigns; chief warrant officers; cadets; warrant officers; and enlisted members. Enlisted members shall be distributed in ratings established by the Secretary.”

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–60 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pub. L. 119–60, § 7201(e)(1), amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “In the Coast Guard there shall be admirals (two); vice admirals; rear admirals; rear admirals (lower half); captains; commanders; lieutenant commanders; lieutenants; lieutenants (junior grade); ensigns; chief warrant officers; cadets; warrant officers; and enlisted members. Enlisted members shall be distributed in ratings established by the Secretary.”

11. 2025

    Pub. L. 119–60 § 7201(b) · 139 Stat. 1675

    Changed · 14 U.S.C. § 301

    Pub. L. 119–60, § 7201(b), renumbered section 301 of this title as this section, resulting in no change

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–60 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Target inherited from the preceding amendment note.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pub. L. 119–60, § 7201(b), renumbered section 301 of this title as this section, resulting in no change.

8 of 11 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial · 2 unresolved