United States Coast Guard Commissioned Officers

The **United States Coast Guard (USCG)** has ten commissioned officer ranks. They are the core leadership of the Coast Guard.

## All Ranks

### Ensign

The Ensign is the most junior commissioned officer's rank in the US Coast Guard. It is equivalent to the Army rank of Second Lieutenant. After receiving his or her commission in the US Coast Guard, the Ensign commences his or her three-year initial active-duty obligation. The Ensign usually serves as a division officer on board a Coast Guard vessel or at a shore station. As such, the Ensign leads a group of petty officers and enlisted personnel, while receiving on-the-job training. Ensigns not assigned to a division on a ship or on shore, spend another year or two in training in their assigned specialty.

Although the final decision regarding deployment of an officer rests with the assignment officer, who determines where the need for leadership is the greatest, officers, just like enlisted personnel, are able to electronically submit their preference for specialties. Specialties available for officers include aviation, C4 (command, control, communication and computers), various engineering opportunities, financial management, human resource management, health services, legal services, marine safety, operations, and reserve program management. Their pay grade is OF-1.

### Lieutenant Junior Grade

The Lieutenant (Junior Grade) (LTJG), popularly known as a "JayGee", is a junior commissioned officer's rank above that of Ensign but below that of Lieutenant. It is equivalent to the rank of first lieutenant in the other services, but with a unique blend of military and law enforcement responsibilities. The LTJG serves as billeted division officers on board a Coast Guard vessel or at a shore station, usually in his or her selected specialty. The Lieutenant (Junior Grade) is normally expected to lead a group of petty officers and non-rates in a particular division.

The main role of a Lieutenant Junior Grade is to pay particular attention to developing his or her specialty qualifications, professionalism and leadership qualities within the Coast Guard. Because of the multi-mission nature of the Coast Guard, the junior officer is expected to be a warrior, sailor, policeman, humanitarian, regulator, protector of the marine environment and coastline, and diplomat. Assignments are designed to test the junior officer's skills and his or her career development depends on how competently he or she handles each assignment. In view of subsequent career advancements, Lieutenants Junior Grade are also encouraged to continue to complete formal education courses in his or her specialty.

Promotion to LTJG is governed by Department of Defense policies derived from the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act of 1980. DOPMA guidelines suggest all "fully qualified" ensigns should be promoted to LTJG. The time for promotion to LTJG is a minimum 18 months in the Coast Guard. Lieutenants, junior grade typically lead petty officers and non-rated personnel, unless assigned to small aircraft or on staff duty. A LTJG's usual shipboard billet is as a division officer. Their pay grade is OF-2

### Lieutenant

The Lieutenant in the Coast Guard is a rank above that of Lieutenant Junior Grade and beneath that of Lieutenant Commander. It is the highest of the junior officer ranks and is equivalent to the rank of captain in the other services. A Lieutenant Coast Guardsman is usually responsible for a group of sailors and petty officers in a division. On board large vessels, the Lieutenant serves as First Lieutenant and may be in charge of a department, such as the deck, with a large component of junior enlisted ranks (E-1 to E-3) completing their 90 days' Temporary Assigned Duty (TAD). Much of the time is occupied in servicing and maintaining, cleaning, organizing and inventorying.

As a junior officer, the Lieutenant's main focus is on developing his or her qualifications in a Coast Guard specialty, while also developing a unique blend of skills suited to a role which is part military and part law enforcement. Most "billets" (occupational openings) available to Lieutenants are in Coast Guard operations. Some are in operational support and yet others in administrative services. Depending on operational needs, a Lieutenant will be posted to an assignment where he or she has an opportunity to develop further skills and competencies.

Promotion to Lieutenant is governed by Department of Defense policies derived from the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act of 1980. DOPMA guidelines suggest 95 % of Lieutenants Junior Grade should be promoted to full Lieutenant. The time for promotion to Lieutenant is a minimum of three and a half years in the rank of LTJG. Their pay grade is OF-3.

### Lieutenant Commander

The Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) in the US Coast Guards is a mid-ranking officer, usually assigned to executive and command divisions. The rank is above that of the highest junior officer rank of Lieutenant, and subordinate to that of the lowest senior officer rank of Commander. The LCDR is usually in command of smaller vessels not requiring the command of more senior officers, such as a Commander or Captain. The equivalent rank in other services is a Major.

By the time a Coast Guardsman has attained the rank of Lieutenant-Commander, he or she will have developed a strong competency in one of thirteen Coast Guard officer specialties, conducted several assignments successfully, completed various educational courses to further develop his or her technical and operational skills, and shown exceptional qualities in leadership. Military rank in the Coast Guard is accompanied by increased levels of responsibility and the decisions that a Lieutenant-Commander makes in the course of his or her operational or other duties is likely to have greater impact than as a junior officer. In addition to the military competencies expected of this rank, the Lieutenant-Commander in the Coast Guard is also expected to be a multi-mission professional with special emphasis on protection and law enforcement roles.

Promotion to Lieutenant Commander is governed by Department of Defense policies derived from the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act of 1980. DOPMA guidelines suggest 80 % of Lieutenants should be promoted to Lieutenant Commander. The time for promotion to Lieutenant is a minimum of three years in the rank of Lieutenant and 9 to 11 service years overall. Their pay grade is OF-4.

### Commander

The Commander in the US Coast Guard is ranked above that of a Lieutenant-Commander and below that of Captain in the Coast Guard. It is the lowest of the senior officer ranks and carries substantial authority and responsibility. The equivalent rank in the United States Army and Air Force is that of a lieutenant-colonel.

A Commander in the Coast Guard is normally placed in command of a small vessel, such as a cutter or submarine, or a squadron of aircraft, or in command of a Coast Guard station on shore, although some serve on the staff of senior officers on board large vessels. Commanders will lead their units or stations in the conducting the multiple missions required of the Coast Guard at this tactical level: search and rescue, law enforcement, homeland security and protection of the marine environment. The Commander reports to the Sector Commander, who usually carries the rank of Captain.

Promotion to Commander is governed by Department of Defense policies derived from the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act of 1980. DOPMA guidelines suggest 75 % of Lieutenant Commanders should be promoted to Commander. The time for promotion to Lieutenant is a minimum of three years in the rank of Lieutenant Commander and 15 to 17 service years overall. Their pay grade is OF-5.

### Captain

The Captain in the US Coast Guard is a senior officer ranked above Lieutenant-Commander and below Rear-Admiral. It approximates the rank of a colonel in the other services. It is a position that enjoys a high level of authority, more so in the Coast Guard than the US Navy because of the relatively smaller size of the service. A Captain in the Coast Guard also enjoys a high level of autonomy. However, in order to advance further in his or her career, the captain must exhibit superior leadership skills.

The Captain typically commands a single large vessel or air wing in the US Coast Guard, but can hold other senior posts, including the Coast Guard's operational commands outside the United States. The Chaplain of the Coast Guard is a captain and advises the Commandant on all religious support within the unit. Usually, a Captain is in command of a Coast Guard sector, which is responsible for a section of the United States' coastline, and reports to the relevant District Commander, a rear admiral. As the Sector Commander, the captain in charge is expected to be able to coordinate te activities of a number of units under his or her command to respond immediately and effectively to an emergency.

Promotion to Captain is governed by Department of Defense policies derived from the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act of 1980. DOPMA guidelines suggest 50 % of Commanders should be promoted to Captain. The time for promotion to Lieutenant is a minimum of three years in the rank of Commander and 21 to 23 service years overall. Their pay grade is OF-6.

### Vice Rear Admiral

The Vice Rear-Admiral (VRA) is a one-star flag officer in the US Coast Guard, the 22nd rank in the Coast Guard. The rank is roughly equivalent to that of a brigadier-general in the other services. The VRA is usually a mature and experienced leader in command of a small flotilla of cutters, or a group of air wings in the Coast Guard. He or she holds the appointment for a term of five years, after which the VRA usually retires from the service, unless he or she is reappointed or promoted.

The Rear Admiral is a District Commander in charge of a few sectors along the United States' coastline. Sectors are relatively new commands intended to offer rapid, coordinated responses to emergencies and Sector Commanders, usually holding the rank of Captain, report to the District Commander.

For promotion to the permanent grade of Vice Rear Admiral, eligible officers are screened by a promotion board consisting of general officers. This promotion board then generates a list of officers it recommends for promotion to general rank. This list is then sent to the service secretary and the joint chiefs who have final say about promotion. Their pay grade is OF-7.

### Rear Admiral

The full Rear Admiral (RADM), sometimes referred to as the Rear Admiral Superior, is a two-star flag officer rank in the US Coast Guard. This flag officer rank is roughly equivalent to the Army rank of Major-General. It exists above the rank of Vice Rear Admiral and below that of Vice-Admiral. It is the 23rd rank in the US Coast Guard.

The rank carries considerable authority and responsibility. The Chief Medical Officer of the Coast Guard holds this rank, as do a number of senior posts in the Coast Guard headquarters. In the field, the rear-admiral is in command of fleets of ships or air wings. He or she serves as a District Commander in charge of the larger of the Coast Guard Districts in the US Coast Guard. Each District Commander is responsible for a number of sectors along the US coastline. These are large operational formations intended to allow rapid and coordinated responses to any emergencies arising in their sector. The Sector Commander, usually with the rank of Captain, reports to the District Commander.

For promotion to the permanent grade of rear admiral, eligible officers are screened by a promotion board consisting of general officers. This promotion board then generates a list of officers it recommends for promotion to general rank. This list is then sent to the service secretary and the joint chiefs for review before it can be sent to the President, through the defense secretary, for consideration. The President nominates officers to be promoted from this list with the advice of the Secretary of Defense, the service secretary, and if applicable, the service's chief of staff or commandant. The President may nominate any eligible officer who is not on the recommended list if it serves in the interest of the nation, but this is uncommon. The Senate must then confirm the nominee by a majority vote before the officer can be promoted. Once the nominee is confirmed, they are promoted to that rank once they assume or hold an office or vacancy that requires or allows an officer of that rank. Their pay grade is OF-8.

### Vice Admiral

The rank of Vice Admiral is assigned to the office of the Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard and other senior appointments within the Coast Guard. It is a three star flag officer rank, equivalent to the rank of a lieutenant-general in other services. It is above that of a rear admiral and beneath that of a full admiral. The tour length is usually three years, but some posts are set by statute for four years.

The Vice-Commandant is effectively second-in-command to the Commandant of the Coast Guard and serves as his or her chief operations officer. He or she directly oversees Coast Guard operational and mission support commanders, and the headquarters staff and takes charge in the absence of the Commandant.There is also a vice-admiral in command of each of the two operational area commands of the Coast Guard, namely the Pacific Area and the Atlantic Area. Each area is subdivided into several district commands.

For promotion to the permanent grade of vice admiral, eligible officers are screened by a promotion board consisting of general officers. This promotion board then generates a list of officers it recommends for promotion to general rank. This list is then sent to the service secretary and the joint chiefs for review before it can be sent to the President, through the defense secretary, for consideration. The President nominates officers to be promoted from this list with the advice of the Secretary of Defense, the service secretary, and if applicable, the service's chief of staff or commandant. The President may nominate any eligible officer who is not on the recommended list if it serves in the interest of the nation, but this is uncommon. The Senate must then confirm the nominee by a majority vote before the officer can be promoted. Once the nominee is confirmed, they are promoted to that rank once they assume or hold an office or vacancy that requires or allows an officer of that rank. Their pay grade is OF-9.

### Admiral

The rank of Admiral is assigned to the Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard. It is a four star flag officer rank, equivalent in rank to a full general in other services. It is a very responsible position, in charge of Coast Guard operations and units throughout the world and overseeing all active duty military personnel, all reserves, all full-time civilian employees, and all civilian auxiliary volunteers. Their appointment usually lasts four years.

The main goal of the Admirals is to ensure safe, secure and environmentally sound use of the waterways around the United States. In addition to the Pacific and Atlantic Area Commands, there are three operational commands outside the United States, covering the Far East, Europe and Southwest Asia. The tour of office of the Commandant is four years. The Commandant of the Coast Guard reports directly to the President of the United States.

Other than voluntary retirement, statute sets a number of mandates for retirement. Four-star officers must retire after 40 years of service unless reappointed to grade to serve longer. Otherwise all flag officers must retire the month after their 64th birthday. However, the Secretary of Defense can defer a four-star officer's retirement until the officer's 66th birthday and the President can defer it until the officer's 68th birthday.

## Insignia Gallery

16 Ensign17 Lieutenant Junior Grade18 Lieutenant19 Lieutenant Commander20 Commander21 Captain22 Vice Rear Admiral23 Rear Admiral24 Vice Admiral25 Admiral
## Notes

* The Coast Guard does not have medical officers or chaplains of its own. Instead, chaplains from the U.S. Navy, as well as officers from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps are assigned to the Coast Guard to perform chaplain-related functions and medical-related functions, respectively. These officers wear Coast Guard uniforms but replace the Coast Guard insignia with that of their own service
* The Coast Guard does not have a General of the Army, General of the Air Force or Fleet Admiral equivalent rank.