‘‘(g)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Com-
mandant may provide that an officer may, upon the offi-
cer’s request and with the approval of the Commandant, 
be excluded from consideration by a selection board con-
vened under section 2106(a). 
‘‘(2) The Commandant shall approve a request under 
paragraph (1) only if— 
‘‘(A) the basis for the request is to allow the of-
ficer to complete a broadening assignment, advanced 
education, another assignment of significant value to 
the Coast Guard, a career progression requirement 
delayed by the assignment or education, or a quali-
fying personal or professional circumstance, as de-
termined by the Commandant; 
‘‘(B) the Commandant determines the exclusion 
from consideration is in the best interest of the 
Coast Guard; and 
‘‘(C) the officer has not previously failed of se-
lection for promotion to the grade for which the offi-
cer requests the exclusion from consideration.’’. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY OF RESERVE OFFICER FOR PRO-
MOTION.—Section 3743 of title 14, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘§ 3743. Eligibility for promotion 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b), a Reserve officer is eligible for consideration for pro-
motion and for promotion under this subchapter, if that 
officer is in an active status. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTION.—A Reserve officer who has been 
considered but not recommended for retention in an active 
status by a board convened under subsection 3752(a) of 
this title, is not eligible for consideration for promotion. 
‘‘(c) REQUEST FOR EXCLUSION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant may pro-
vide that an officer may, upon the officer’s request 
and with the approval of the Commandant, be ex-
cluded from consideration by a selection board con-
vened under section 3740(b) of this title to consider 
officers for promotion to the next higher grade. 
‘‘(2) APPROVAL
OF
REQUEST.—The Com-
mandant shall approve a request under paragraph 
(1) only if— 
‘‘(A) the basis for the request is to allow 
an officer to complete a broadening assignment, 
advanced education, another assignment of sig-
nificant value to the Coast Guard, a career pro-
gression requirement delayed by the assignment 
or education, or a qualifying personal or profes-
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sional circumstance, as determined by the Com-
mandant; 
‘‘(B) the Commandant determines the ex-
clusion from consideration is in the best inter-
est of the Coast Guard; and 
‘‘(C) the officer has not previously failed of 
selection for promotion to the grade for which 
the officer requests the exclusion from consider-
ation.’’. 
SEC. 3. TEMPORARY PROMOTION AUTHORITY FOR OFFI-
CERS IN CERTAIN GRADES WITH CRITICAL 
SKILLS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 21 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2129 
the following: 
‘‘§ 2130. Promotion to certain grades for officers with 
critical skills: captain, commander, lieu-
tenant commander, lieutenant 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—An officer in the grade of lieu-
tenant (junior grade), lieutenant, lieutenant commander, 
or commander, who is described in subsection (b) may be 
temporarily promoted to the grade of lieutenant, lieuten-
ant commander, commander, or captain under regulations 
prescribed by the Secretary. Appointments under this sec-
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tion shall be made by the President, by and with the advice 
and consent of the Senate. 
‘‘(b) COVERED OFFICERS.—An officer described in 
this subsection is any officer in a grade specified in sub-
section (a) who— 
‘‘(1) has a skill in which the Coast Guard has 
a critical shortage of personnel (as determined by 
the Secretary); and 
‘‘(2) is serving in a position (as determined by 
the Secretary) that— 
‘‘(A) is designated to be held by a lieuten-
ant, lieutenant commander, commander, or cap-
tain; and 
‘‘(B) requires that an officer serving in 
such position have the skill possessed by such 
officer. 
‘‘(c) PRESERVATION OF POSITION AND STATUS OF 
OFFICERS APPOINTED.— 
‘‘(1) The temporary positions authorized under 
this section shall not be counted among or included 
in the list of positions on the active duty promotion 
list. 
‘‘(2) An appointment under this section does 
not change the position on the active-duty list or the 
permanent, probationary, or acting status of the of-
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ficer so appointed, prejudice the officer in regard to 
other promotions or appointments, or abridge the 
rights or benefits of the officer. 
‘‘(d) BOARD RECOMMENDATION REQUIRED.—A tem-
porary promotion under this section may be made only 
upon the recommendation of a board of officers convened 
by the Secretary for the purpose of recommending officers 
for such promotions. 
‘‘(e) ACCEPTANCE AND EFFECTIVE DATE OF AP-
POINTMENT.—Each appointment under this section, un-
less expressly declined, is, without formal acceptance, re-
garded as accepted on the date such appointment is made, 
and a member so appointed is entitled to the pay and al-
lowances of the grade of the temporary promotion under 
this section beginning on the date the appointment is 
made. 
‘‘(f) TERMINATION OF APPOINTMENT.—Unless soon-
er terminated, an appointment under this section termi-
nates— 
‘‘(1) on the date the officer who received the 
appointment is promoted to the permanent grade of 
lieutenant, lieutenant commander, commander, or 
captain; 
‘‘(2) on the date the officer is detached from a 
position described in subsection (b)(2), unless the of-
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ficer is on a promotion list to the permanent grade 
of lieutenant, lieutenant commander, commander, or 
captain, in which case the appointment terminates 
on the date the officer is promoted to that grade; or 
‘‘(3) when the appointment officer determines 
that the officer who received the appointment has 
engaged in misconduct or has displayed substandard 
performance. 
‘‘(g) LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE POSI-
TIONS.—An appointment under this section may only be 
made for service in a position designated by the Secretary 
for the purposes of this section. The number of positions 
so designated may not exceed the following percentages 
of the respective grades: 
‘‘(1) As lieutenant, 0.5 percent. 
‘‘(2) As lieutenant commander, 3.0 percent. 
‘‘(3) As commander, 2.6 percent. 
‘‘(4) As captain, 2.6 percent.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the be-
ginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end 
the following new item: 
‘‘2130. Promotion to certain grades for officers with critical skills: captain, com-
mander, lieutenant commander, lieutenant.’’. 
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SEC. 4. CAREER INTERMISSION PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 25 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 2514. Career flexibility to enhance retention of 
members 
‘‘(a) PROGRAMS AUTHORIZED.—The Commandant 
may carry out a program under which members of the 
Coast Guard may be inactivated from active service in 
order to meet personal or professional needs and returned 
to active service at the end of such period of inactivation 
from active service. 
‘‘(b) PERIOD OF INACTIVATION FROM ACTIVE SERV-
ICE; EFFECT OF INACTIVATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The period of inactivation 
from active service under a program under this sec-
tion of a member participating in the program shall 
be such period as the Commandant shall specify in 
the agreement of the member under subsection (c), 
except that such period may not exceed three years. 
‘‘(2) EXCLUSION FROM YEARS OF SERVICE.— 
Any service by a Reserve officer while participating 
in a program under this section shall be excluded 
from computation of the total years of service of 
that officer pursuant to section 14706(a) of title 10. 
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‘‘(3) EXCLUSION FROM RETIREMENT.—Any pe-
riod of participation of a member in a program 
under this section shall not count toward— 
‘‘(A) eligibility for retirement or transfer 
to the Ready Reserve under either chapter 571 
or 1223 of title 10; or 
‘‘(B) computation of retired or retainer 
pay under chapter 71 or 1223 of title 10. 
‘‘(c) AGREEMENT.—Each member of the Coast 
Guard who participates in a program under this section 
shall enter into a written agreement with the Commandant 
under which that member shall agree as follows: 
‘‘(1) To accept an appointment or enlist, as ap-
plicable, and serve in the Coast Guard Ready Re-
serve during the period of the inactivation of the 
member from active service under the program. 
‘‘(2) To undergo during the period of the inac-
tivation of the member from active service under the 
program such inactive service training as the Com-
mandant shall require in order to ensure that the 
member retains proficiency, at a level determined by 
the Commandant to be sufficient, in the military 
skills, professional qualifications, and physical readi-
ness of the member during the inactivation of the 
member from active service. 
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‘‘(3) Following completion of the period of the 
inactivation of the member from active service under 
the program, to serve two months as a member of 
the Coast Guard on active service for each month of 
the period of the inactivation of the member from 
active service under the program. 
‘‘(d) CONDITIONS OF RELEASE.—The Commandant 
shall prescribe regulations specifying the guidelines re-
garding the conditions of release that must be considered 
and addressed in the agreement required by subsection 
(c). At a minimum, the Commandant shall prescribe the 
procedures and standards to be used to instruct a member 
on the obligations to be assumed by the member under 
paragraph (2) of such subsection while the member is re-
leased from active service. 
‘‘(e) ORDER TO ACTIVE SERVICE.—Under regula-
tions prescribed by the Commandant, a member of the 
Coast Guard participating in a program under this section 
may, in the discretion of the Commandant, be required 
to terminate participation in the program and be ordered 
to active service. 
‘‘(f) PAY AND ALLOWANCES.— 
‘‘(1) BASIC PAY.—During each month of par-
ticipation in a program under this section, a member 
who participates in the program shall be paid basic 
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pay in an amount equal to two-thirtieths of the 
amount of monthly basic pay to which the member 
would otherwise be entitled under section 204 of title 
37 as a member of the uniformed services on active 
service in the grade and years of service of the mem-
ber when the member commences participation in 
the program. 
‘‘(2) SPECIAL OR INCENTIVE PAY OR BONUS.— 
‘‘(A) PROHIBITION.—A member who par-
ticipates in such a program shall not, while par-
ticipating in the program, be paid any special 
or incentive pay or bonus to which the member 
is otherwise entitled under an agreement under 
chapter 5 of title 37 or section 1925 of this title 
that is in force when the member commences 
participation in the program. 
‘‘(B) NOT TREATED AS FAILURE TO PER-
FORM SERVICES.—The inactivation from active 
service of a member participating in a program 
shall not be treated as a failure of the member 
to perform any period of service required of the 
member in connection with an agreement for a 
special or incentive pay or bonus under chapter 
5 of title 37 that is in force when the member 
commences participation in the program. 
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‘‘(3) RETURN TO ACTIVE SERVICE.— 
‘‘(A) SPECIAL
OR
INCENTIVE
PAY
OR 
BONUS.—Subject to subparagraph (B), upon 
the return of a member to active service after 
completion by the member of participation in a 
program— 
‘‘(i) any agreement entered into by 
the member under chapter 5 of title 37 for 
the payment of a special or incentive pay 
or bonus that was in force when the mem-
ber commenced participation in the pro-
gram shall be revived, with the term of 
such agreement after revival being the pe-
riod of the agreement remaining to run 
when the member commenced participation 
in the program; and 
‘‘(ii) any special or incentive pay or 
bonus shall be payable to the member in 
accordance with the terms of the agree-
ment concerned for the term specified in 
clause (i). 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Subparagraph (A) 
shall not apply to any special or incentive 
pay or bonus otherwise covered by that 
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subparagraph with respect to a member if, 
at the time of the return of the member to 
active service as described in that subpara-
graph— 
‘‘(I) such pay or bonus is no 
longer authorized by law; or 
‘‘(II) the member does not satisfy 
eligibility criteria for such pay or 
bonus as in effect at the time of the 
return of the member to active serv-
ice. 
‘‘(ii) PAY OR BONUS CEASES BEING 
AUTHORIZED.—Subparagraph 
(A) 
shall 
cease to apply to any special or incentive 
pay or bonus otherwise covered by that 
subparagraph with respect to a member if, 
during the term of the revived agreement 
of the member under subparagraph (A)(i), 
such pay or bonus ceases being authorized 
by law. 
‘‘(C) REPAYMENT.—A member who is in-
eligible for payment of a special or incentive 
pay or bonus otherwise covered by this para-
graph by reason of subparagraph (B)(i)(II) 
shall be subject to the requirements for repay-
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ment of such pay or bonus in accordance with 
the terms of the applicable agreement of the 
member under chapter 5 of title 37. 
‘‘(D) 
REQUIRED
SERVICE
IS
ADDI-
TIONAL.—Any service required of a member 
under an agreement covered by this paragraph 
after the member returns to active service as 
described in subparagraph (A) shall be in addi-
tion to any service required of the member 
under an agreement under subsection (c). 
‘‘(4) TRAVEL
AND
TRANSPORTATION
ALLOW-
ANCE.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), a member who participates in a pro-
gram is entitled, while participating in the pro-
gram, to the travel and transportation allow-
ances authorized by section 474 of title 37 
for— 
‘‘(i) travel performed from the resi-
dence of the member, at the time of release 
from active service to participate in the 
program, to the location in the United 
States designated by the member as the 
member’s residence during the period of 
participation in the program; and 
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‘‘(ii) travel performed to the residence 
of the member upon return to active serv-
ice at the end of the participation of the 
member in the program. 
‘‘(B) SINGLE
RESIDENCE.—An allowance 
is payable under this paragraph only with re-
spect to travel of a member to and from a sin-
gle residence. 
‘‘(5) LEAVE BALANCE.—A member who partici-
pates in a program is entitled to carry forward the 
leave balance existing as of the day on which the 
member begins participation and accumulated in ac-
cordance with section 701 of title 10, but not to ex-
ceed 60 days. 
‘‘(g) PROMOTION.— 
‘‘(1) OFFICERS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—An officer partici-
pating in a program under this section shall 
not, while participating in the program, be eligi-
ble for consideration for promotion under chap-
ter 21 or 37 of this title. 
‘‘(B) RETURN TO SERVICE.—Upon the re-
turn of an officer to active service after comple-
tion by the officer of participation in a pro-
gram— 
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‘‘(i) the Commandant may adjust the 
date of rank of the officer in such manner 
as the Commandant shall prescribe in reg-
ulations for purposes of this section; and 
‘‘(ii) the officer shall be eligible for 
consideration for promotion when officers 
of the same competitive category, grade, 
and seniority are eligible for consideration 
for promotion. 
‘‘(2) ENLISTED MEMBERS.—An enlisted mem-
ber participating in a program shall not be eligible 
for consideration for advancement during the period 
that— 
‘‘(A) begins on the date of the inactivation 
of the member from active service under the 
program; and 
‘‘(B) ends at such time after the return of 
the member to active service under the program 
that the member is treatable as eligible for pro-
motion by reason of time in grade and such 
other requirements as the Commandant shall 
prescribe in regulations for purposes of the pro-
gram. 
‘‘(h) CONTINUED ENTITLEMENTS.—A member par-
ticipating in a program under this section shall, while par-
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ticipating in the program, be treated as a member of the 
Armed Forces on active duty for a period of more than 
30 days for purposes of— 
‘‘(1) the entitlement of the member and of the 
dependents of the member to medical and dental 
care under the provisions of chapter 55 of this title; 
and 
‘‘(2) retirement or separation for physical dis-
ability under the provisions of chapter 61 of title 10 
and chapters 21 and 23 of this title.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 2513 the following: 
‘‘2514. Career flexibility to enhance retention of members.’’. 
SEC. 5. EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 27 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 2713. Employment assistance 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In order to improve the accuracy 
and completeness of a certification or verification of job 
skills and experience required by section 1143(a)(1) of 
title 10, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) establish a database to record all training 
performed by members of the Coast Guard that may 
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have application to employment in the civilian sector; 
and 
‘‘(2) make unclassified information regarding 
such information available to States and other po-
tential employers referred to in section 1143(c) of 
title 10 so that State and other entities may allow 
military training to satisfy licensing or certification 
requirements to engage in a civilian profession. 
‘‘(b) FORM OF CERTIFICATION OR VERIFICATION.— 
The Secretary shall ensure that a certification or 
verification of job skills and experience required by section 
1143(a)(1) of title 10 is rendered in such a way that 
States and other potential employers can confirm the ac-
curacy and authenticity of the certification or verification. 
‘‘(c) REQUESTS BY STATES.—A State may request 
that the Secretary confirm the accuracy and authenticity 
of a certification or verification of jobs skills and experi-
ence provided under section 1143(c) of title 10.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 2712 the following: 
‘‘2713. Employment assistance.’’. 
Æ 
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