“(b) Reserve members in active status.—An enlisted member of the Coast Guard Reserve serving in an active status who is selected to be involuntarily separated (other than for physical disability or for cause), or whose term of enlistment expires and who is denied reenlistment (other than for physical disability or for cause), and who, on the date on which the member is to be discharged or transferred from an active status, is entitled to be credited with at least 18, but less than 20, years of service, may not be discharged, denied reenlistment, or transferred from an active status without the consent of the member before the earlier of the following:

“(1) If, as of the date on which the member is to be discharged or transferred from an active status, the member has at least 18, but less than 19, years of service—

“(A) the date on which the member is entitled to be credited with 20 years of service; or

“(B) the third anniversary of the date on which the member would otherwise be discharged or transferred from an active status.

“(2) If, as of the date on which the member is to be discharged or transferred from an active status, the member has at least 19, but less than 20, years of service—

“(A) the date on which the member is entitled to be credited with 20 years of service; or

“(B) the second anniversary of the date on which the member would otherwise be discharged or transferred from an active status.”.

“(b) Reserve members in active status.—An enlisted member of the Coast Guard Reserve serving in an active status who is selected to be involuntarily separated (other than for physical disability or for cause), or whose term of enlistment expires and who is denied reenlistment (other than for physical disability or for cause), and who, on the date on which the member is to be discharged or transferred from an active status, is entitled to be credited with at least 18, but less than 20, years of service, may not be discharged, denied reenlistment, or transferred from an active status without the consent of the member before the earlier of the following:

“(1) If, as of the date on which the member is to be discharged or transferred from an active status, the member has at least 18, but less than 19, years of service—

“(A) the date on which the member is entitled to be credited with 20 years of service; or

“(B) the third anniversary of the date on which the member would otherwise be discharged or transferred from an active status.

“(2) If, as of the date on which the member is to be discharged or transferred from an active status, the member has at least 19, but less than 20, years of service—

“(A) the date on which the member is entitled to be credited with 20 years of service; or

“(B) the second anniversary of the date on which the member would otherwise be discharged or transferred from an active status.”.