Original appointments and reappointments

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an original appointment of an officer may be made in such grades as may be appropriate for— An original appointment of an officer candidate, upon graduation from the basic officer training program of the commissioned officer corps of the Administration, may not be made in any other grade than ensign. Officer candidates receiving appointments as ensigns upon graduation from the basic officer training program shall take rank according to their proficiency as shown by the order of their merit at date of graduation. An original appointment may be made from among the following: Graduates of the State maritime academies who— In this subsection: The term “military service academies of the United States” means the following: The term “State maritime academy” has the meaning given the term in section 51102 of title 46. Except as provided in paragraph (2), an individual who previously served in the commissioned officer corps of the Administration may be appointed by the Secretary to the grade the individual held prior to separation. An appointment under paragraph (1) to a position of importance and responsibility designated under section 3028 of this title may only be made by the President. An appointment under subsection (a) or (b) may— Appointees under this section shall take precedence in the grade to which appointed in accordance with the dates of their commissions as commissioned officers in such grade. The order of precedence of appointees whose dates of commission are the same shall be determined by the Secretary. For inter-service transfers (as described in Department of Defense Directive 1300.4 (dated December 27, 2006)) the Secretary shall—