---
kind: "section"
citation: "14 U.S.C. § 3738a"
title: "14"
title_heading: "Coast Guard"
number: "3738a"
heading: "Direct commissioning authority for individuals with critical skills"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/14/3738a"
units:
  - "Subtitle III — Coast Guard Reserve and Auxiliary"
  - "Chapter 37 — Coast Guard Reserve"
  - "Subchapter II — Personnel"
---

# §3738a. Direct commissioning authority for individuals with critical skills


An individual with critical skills that the Commandant considers necessary for the Coast Guard to complete its missions who is not currently serving as an officer in the Coast Guard may be commissioned into the Coast Guard at a grade up to and including commander.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXII [LXXXII], § 8205(a), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4648.)