To amend title 14, United States Code, to require the retention of certain enlisted members of the Coast Guard who have completed 18 or more, but less than 20, years of service, and for other purposes.

Summary

Requires retention protections for enlisted Coast Guard members who are close to qualifying for retirement. Regular enlisted members who would otherwise be involuntarily separated or denied reenlistment and who are within two years of qualifying for retirement must be kept on active duty until they qualify for retirement (unless another law causes an earlier retirement or discharge). For enlisted Reserve members on active status with between 18 and 20 years of service who face involuntary separation (except for physical disability or for cause), the bill prohibits discharge, denial of reenlistment, or transfer without the member’s consent until they either reach 20 years of service or until a short statutory postponement window (an anniversary-based limit) expires.

• Requires retention of regular enlisted Coast Guard members who are within two years of qualifying for retirement if they face involuntary separation or denial of reenlistment.
• Protects enlisted Reserve members on active status with 18–20 years of service from involuntary discharge/transfer/denial without consent, except for disability or for cause.
• Reserve protections end either when the member reaches 20 years of service or when a short anniversary-based postponement window expires.
• Does not apply to separations for physical disability or separations for cause, and does not prevent voluntary transfers or separations.
• Adds a clerical amendment to the Title 14 chapter table to reflect the new retention chapter.
• Does not include an appropriation; implementation is administrative and handled within existing Coast Guard personnel systems.
• Affects retention boards, reenlistment decisions, and personnel managers who must track members’ years of service and applicable anniversary windows.
• Likely increases retention into retirement for some enlisted members, with modest short-term personnel costs (pay and benefits) for the service.
• No specific effective date is provided in the text supplied.
• Targets a narrow population and is procedural in nature rather than creating new benefits or broad programs.