(a) Establishment.—The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may establish and maintain a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, organized into units, at public and private secondary educational institutions.

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(b) Applicability.—Except as provided in subsection (d), the provisions of chapter 102 of title 10 shall apply to a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps established and maintained under this section in the same manner that such provisions apply to the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps of each military department. For purposes of the application of such provisions to this section—

(1) any reference in such provisions to a “military department” shall be treated as a reference to the department in which the Coast Guard is operating; and

(2) any reference in such provisions to a “Secretary of a military department”, a “Secretary concerned”, or the “Secretary of Defense” shall be treated as a reference to the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating.

(c) Scope.—Beginning on December 31, 2025, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall maintain at all times a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program with not fewer than 1 such program established in each Coast Guard district.

(d) Exception.—The requirements of chapter 102 of title 10 shall not apply to a unit of the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps established by the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating before the date of the enactment of this section unless the Secretary determines it is appropriate to apply such requirements to such unit.