The holder of this position is equivalent to the master chief petty officer of the Navy, sergeant major of the Marine Corps, sergeant major of the Army, chief master sergeant of the Air Force, and chief master sergeant of the Space Force, and by protocol, is equal to a vice admiral.

[2] The MCPOCG is appointed by the commandant of the Coast Guard to serve as a spokesperson to address the issues of enlisted personnel to the highest levels in the Coast Guard and is designated as a special paygrade above E-9.

As such the MCPOCG is the senior enlisted advisor to the commandant of the Coast Guard.

The MCPOCG's exact duties vary, depending on the commandant, though generally devotes much time traveling throughout the Coast Guard observing training and communicating with coast guardsmen and their families.

The normal tour of assignment is four years, which typically runs concurrently with the commandant.