Pub. L. 83-773, tit. VI, sec. 606

Sec. 606. (a) Each officer of the Reserve in an active status shall have a running mate who shall be the officer of the Regular Coast Guard of the same grade, exclusive of extra numbers, who is next senior to him in precedence as determined in the manner prescribed in section 605 of this title. (b) When necessary, new running mates shall be determined at the times and in the manner set forth below: (1) If a running mate is retired, dies, or otherwise is separated from the service, suffers loss of numbers, or fails to qualify for promotion, the new running mate shall be the officer of the Regular Coast Guard of the same grade who was next senior to the old running mate, exclusive of extra numbers, or if there be no such Regular officer then the most senior Regular officer in the grade. (2) If an officer of the Reserve suffers loss of numbers, the new running mate shall be the officer of the Regular Coast Guard, exclusive of extra numbers, who is the running mate of the Reserve officer next senior to the officer concerned after the loss of numbers has been effected. (3) If an officer of the Reserve fails of selection or fails to qualify for promotion and his running mate is promoted, the new running mate shall be the senior officer of the Regular Coast Guard remaining in that grade, exclusive of extra numbers, whose name is not on a promotion list.