116 STAT. 2118 PUBLIC LAW 107-295—NOV. 25, 2002 14 USC 477 note. SEC. 410. HYPOTHERMIA PROTECTIVE CLOTHING REQUIREMENT. The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall ensure that all Coast Guard personnel are equipped with adequate safety equipment, including hypothermia protective clothing where appropriate, while performing search and rescue missions. SEC. 411. RESERVE OFFICER PROMOTIONS. (a) Section 729(i) of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting "on the date a vacancy occurs, or as soon thereafter as practicable in the grade to which the officer was selected for promotion or, if promotion was determined in accordance with a running mate system," after "grade". (b) Section 731(b) of title 14, United States Coast Code, is amended by striking the period at the end and inserting ", or in the event that promotion is not determined in accordance with a running mate system, then a Reserve officer becomes eligible for consideration for promotion to the next higher grade at the beginning of the promotion year in which he or she completes the following amount of service computed from the date of rank in the grade in which he or she is serving: "(1) two years in the grade of lieutenant (junior grade); "(2) three years in the grade of lieutenant; "(3) four years in the grade of lieutenant commander; "(4) four years in the grade of commander; and "(5) three years in the grade of captain.". (c) Section 736(a) of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting "the date of rank shall be the date of appointment in that grade, unless the promotion was determined in accordance with a running mate system, in which event" after "subchapter,". SEC. 412. REGULAR LIEUTENANT COMMANDERS AND COMMANDERS; CONTINUATION UPON FAILURE OF SELECTION FOR PRO- MOTION. Section 285 of title 14, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking "Each officer" and inserting "(a) Each officer"; and (2) by adding at the end the following: "(b) A lieutenant commander or commander of the Regular Coast Guard subject to discharge or retirement under subsection (a) may be continued on active duty when the Secretary directs a selection board convened under section 251 of this title to continue up to a specified number of lieutenant commanders or commanders on active duty. When so directed, the selection board shall recommend those officers who in the opinion of the board are best qualified to advance the needs and efficiency of the Coast Guard. When the recommendations of the board are approved by the Secretary, the officers recommended for continuation shall be notified that they have been recommended for continuation and offered an additional term of service that fulfills the needs of the Coast Guard. "(c)(1) An officer who holds the grade of lieutenant commander of the Regular Coast Guard may not be continued on active duty under subsection (b) for a period that extends beyond 24 years of active commissioned service unless promoted to the grade of commander of the Regular Coast Guard. An officer who holds the grade of commander of the Regular Coast Guard may not be continued on active duty under subsection (b) for a period that extends
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