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14 USC § 1909 - Policy on hazing

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t14/s1909"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "14 USC § 1909 - Policy on hazing"
title_number: 14
title_name: "COAST GUARD"
section_number: "1909"
section_name: "Policy on hazing"
chapter_number: 19
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD ACADEMY"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "ADMINISTRATION"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXII, § 7245(a), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1730.)"
---

# § 1909. Policy on hazing

**(a)** **In General.—** Subject to the approval of the Commandant, the Superintendent of the Academy shall issue and make available to the public written policies—

**(1)** subject to subsection (d), defining hazing;

**(2)** designed to prevent hazing; and

**(3)** prescribing dismissal, suspension, or other adequate punishment for violations.

**(b)** **Effect of Request for Court-martial.—** If a cadet who is charged with violating a policy issued under subsection (a), the penalty for which is or may be dismissal from the Academy, requests in writing a trial by a general court-martial, the cadet may not be dismissed for that offense except under sentence of such a court.

**1** **Limitation.—** A cadet dismissed from the Academy for hazing or bullying may not be reappointed to the Corps of Cadets, and is ineligible for appointment as commissioned [^1] officer in a regular component of the Coast Guard, until the date that is 2 years after the date of the graduation of the class of the cadet.

So in original. Probably should be preceded by “a”.

**(d)** **Definition of Hazing.—** In developing the policies under subsection (a)(1), the Superintendent shall, to the maximum extent practicable, define the term “hazing” as the unauthorized assumption of authority by a cadet whereby another cadet suffers or is exposed to any cruelty, indignity, humiliation, hardship, or oppression, or the deprivation or abridgement of any right.

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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXII, § 7245(a), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1730.)