(a)
The applicant for an endorsement as staff officer is not required to take any examination; however, the applicant shall present to the OCMI a letter justifying the need for the endorsement.
(c)
An applicant for a higher grade in the staff department shall apply in the same manner as for an original endorsement and shall surrender the previous Coast Guard-issued credentials upon issuance of the new MMC. A staff officer may serve in a lower grade of service for which he or she is registered.
(d)
Title 46 U.S.C. 8302 addresses uniforms for staff officers who are members of the Naval Reserve.
(e)
A duplicate MMC may be issued by the OCMI. (See § 10.229 of this chapter.)
(f)
An MMC is valid for a term of five years from the date of issuance. Procedures for renewing endorsements are found in § 10.227 of this chapter.
(g)
Each applicant for an original or a higher grade of endorsement, as described by paragraph (c) of this section, shall produce evidence of having passed a chemical test for dangerous drugs or of qualifying for an exception from testing in § 16.220 of this subchapter. An applicant who fails a chemical test for dangerous drugs will not be issued an MMC.
[USCG-2006-24371, 74 FR 11253, Mar. 16, 2009]