14 USC § 2161 - Composition of boards

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t14/s2161"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "14 USC § 2161 - Composition of boards"
title_number: 14
title_name: "COAST GUARD"
section_number: "2161"
section_name: "Composition of boards"
chapter_number: 21
chapter_name: "PERSONNEL; OFFICERS"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "DISCHARGES; RETIREMENTS; REVOCATION OF COMMISSIONS; SEPARATION FOR CAUSE"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 188, § 324; renumbered § 2161 and amended Pub. L. 115–282, title I, §§ 112(b), 123(b)(2), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4216, 4240; Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXV [LXXXV], § 8505(a)(19), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4748; Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXII, § 7223(d)(1)(A), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1702.)"
---


# § 2161. Composition of boards

**(a)** A board convened under section 2158 or 2159 of this title shall consist of at least three officers of the grade of commander or above, all of whom are serving in a grade senior to the grade of any officer considered by the board.

**(b)** No individual may be a member of more than one board convened under section 2158 or 2159 of this title to consider the same officer.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(10)(C), Sept. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 188, § 324; renumbered § 2161 and amended Pub. L. 115–282, title I, §§ 112(b), 123(b)(2), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4216, 4240; Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXV [LXXXV], § 8505(a)(19), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4748; Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXII, § 7223(d)(1)(A), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1702.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2025—Subsecs. (a), (b).  substituted “section 2158 or 2159” for “section 2158, 2159, or 2160”.

2021—Subsec. (b).  substituted “individual” for “person”.

2018—, substituted “section 2158, 2159, or 2160” for “section 321, 322, or 323” in subsecs. (a) and (b).

, renumbered  as this section.