§324. Members of the armed forces

(a) The Secretary of Transportation-

(1) to ensure that national defense interests are safeguarded properly and that the Secretary is advised properly about the needs and special problems of the armed forces, shall provide for participation of members of the armed forces in carrying out the duties and powers of the Secretary related to the regulation and protection of air traffic, including providing for, and research and development of, air navigation facilities, and the allocation of airspace; and

(2) may provide for participation of members of the armed forces in carrying out other duties and powers of the Secretary.

(b) A member of the Coast Guard on active duty may be appointed, detailed, or assigned to a position in the Department of Transportation, except the position of Secretary, Deputy Secretary, or Assistant Secretary for Administration. A retired member of the Coast Guard may be appointed, detailed, or assigned to a position in the Department.

(c) The Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of a military department may make cooperative agreements, including agreements on reimbursement as may be considered appropriate by the Secretaries, under which a member of the armed forces may be appointed, detailed, or assigned to the Department of Transportation under this section. The Secretary of Transportation shall send a report each year to the appropriate committees of Congress on agreements made to carry out subsection (a)(2) of this section, including the number, rank, and position of each member appointed, detailed, or assigned under those agreements.

(d) The Secretary of a military department does not control the duties and powers of a member of the armed forces appointed, detailed, or assigned under this section when those duties and powers pertain to the Department of Transportation. A member of the armed forces appointed, detailed, or assigned under subsection (a)(2) of this section may not be charged against a statutory limitation on grades or strengths of the armed forces. The appointment, detail, or assignment and service of a member under this section to a position in the Department of Transportation does not affect the status, office, rank, or grade held by that member, or a right or benefit arising from that status, office, rank, or grade.

( Pub. L. 97–449, §1(b), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2423 .)

In the section, the words "members of the armed forces" are substituted for "military personnel", "Members of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, or the Marine Corps", and "members of the armed services" for clarity and to conform to title 10.

In subsection (a)(2), the words "other duties and powers of the Secretary" are substituted for "the functions of the Department" for clarity and consistency.

In subsection (b), the words "Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or other law" before "a member" and "Subject to the provisions of title 5" before "a retired" are omitted as unnecessary.

In subsection (c), the words "The Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of a military department may make cooperative agreements under which" are substituted for "by the appropriate Secretary, pursuant to cooperative agreements with the Secretary of Transportation" in 49:1343(a)(1) and 49:1657(c) for clarity. The words "or the Coast Guard" before "may be detailed" in 49:1343(a)(1) (2d sentence) are omitted because of the transfer of the Coast Guard to the Secretary under 49:1655(b) and the transfer of aviation functions to the Secretary under 49:1655(c)(1). The words "may be appointed, detailed, or assigned" are substituted for "may be detailed" for clarity and consistency in 49:1343(a)(1) and 49:1657(c). The words "to the Department of Transportation" are substituted for "for service in the Administration to effect such participation" in 49:1343(a)(1) because of the transfer of aviation functions to the Secretary under 49:1655(c)(1) and to eliminate unnecessary words. The words "in writing" after "annually" in 49:1657(d)(2) are omitted as unnecessary. The words "each member appointed, detailed, or assigned" are substituted for "personnel appointed" and "members of the armed services detailed" in 49:1657(d)(2) for clarity and consistency.

In subsection (d), the words "The Secretary of a military department" are substituted for "his armed force or any officer thereof" in 49:1657(d)(1) and "the department from which detailed or appointed or by any agency or officer thereof" in 49:1343(a)(2) for clarity and consistency. The words "directly or indirectly" before "with respect to" are omitted as surplus. The words "the duties and powers of . . . when those duties and powers pertain to the Department of Transportation" are substituted for "with respect to his responsibilities under this chapter or within the Administration" in 49:1343(a)(2) and "with respect to the responsibilities exercised in the position to which appointed, detailed, or assigned" in 49:1657(d)(1) for consistency and because of the transfer of aviation functions to the Secretary under 49:1655(c)(1). The words "does not control" are substituted for "No . . . shall be subject to direction or control by" in 49:1343(a)(2) and "shall not be subject to direction by or control by" 49:1657(d)(1) for clarity. The words "the acceptance of" before "and service" and "any appointive or other" before "position" in 49:1657(d)(1) are omitted as unnecessary. The words "a member" are added because of the restatement of the section. The words "that member" are substituted for "commissioned officers or enlisted men" in 49:1343(a)(2) and "officers and enlisted men" in 49:1657(d)(1) because of the restatement of the section and to eliminate unnecessary words. The word "held" is substituted for "may occupy or hold" to eliminate unnecessary words. The words "right or benefit" are substituted for "emolument, perquisite, right, privilege, or benefit" to eliminate unnecessary words. The words "incident to or" before "arising" are omitted as surplus.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Termination of Reporting Requirements

For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions of law requiring submittal to Congress of any annual, semiannual, or other regular periodic report listed in House Document No. 103–7 (in which a report required under subsec. (c) of this section is listed as the 5th item on page 132), see section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, as amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance.

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.