14 U.S.C. § 3702: Authorized strength

The President shall prescribe the authorized strength of the Coast Guard Reserve if not otherwise prescribed by law. Subject to the authorized strength of the Coast Guard Reserve, the Secretary shall determine, at least annually, the authorized strength in numbers in each grade necessary to provide for mobilization requirements. Without the consent of the member concerned, a member of the Reserve may not be reduced in grade because of the Secretary’s determination. The Secretary may vary the authorized end strength of the Coast Guard Selected Reserves for a fiscal year by a number equal to not more than 3 percent of such end strength upon a determination by the Secretary that varying such authorized end strength is in the national interest. The Commandant may increase the authorized end strength of the Coast Guard Selected Reserves by a number equal to not more than 2 percent of such authorized end strength upon a determination by the Commandant that such increase would enhance manning and readiness in essential units or in critical specialties or ratings. The Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe such regulations as necessary so as to apply to the members of the Coast Guard Reserve the provisions of subtitle B of title XLIV of the Defense Conversion, Reinvestment, and Transition Assistance Act of 1992 (division D of Public Law 102–484 ; 106 Stat. 2712 ) [enacting section 1331a [now 12731a] of Title 10, Armed Forces, amending sections 1174a, 1175, and 2133 of Title 10 and section 3012 of Title 38 , Veterans’ Benefits, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 12681 of Title 10 ], including the amendments made by those provisions. For purposes of the application of any of such provisions to the Coast Guard Reserve, any reference in those provisions to the Secretary of Defense or Secretary of a military department shall be treated as referring to the Secretary of Transportation. Regulations prescribed for the purposes of this section shall to the extent practicable be identical to the regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense under those provisions.”