In the early evening hours of March 11, off the coast of Point Loma, California, a small boat sliced through the waves at high speed—it’s engine growling, its course suspicious. It wasn’t a flashy vessel, just a modest recreational boat with a powerful 300HP Yamaha outboard and five people standing on the back deck, but something about it didn’t sit right. The Coast Guard crew from San Diego Station, already on patrol, was quickly diverted to intercept. As the boat veered toward San Diego Bay, the coxswain gave the order: lights and sirens on.
What happened next played out like a scene from a movie. The man at the helm, dressed in black, glanced over his shoulder—but instead of stopping, he hit the throttle harder. The boat began swerving erratically, and in a sudden, telling move, the operator tossed his cellphone overboard before attempting a sharp turn back toward open water.
At that point the coxswain knew two things: 1. He was chasing a non-compliant vessel (NCV), and 2. Because of that, and thanks to recent changes in Coast Guard rules regarding use of force (UOF), he had new ways to deal with it.
“We’ve gone through the training to know what call is appropriate and what step you should take at each level,” said DJ (whose name is being withheld to protect an active law enforcement officer). “The policy change made the whole pursuit of the non-compliant vehicle a lot quicker and more effective.”
In March, Acting Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday delegated NCV Surface Use of Force (SUF) authority to commanding officers (CO) and pursuit coxswains. As the Coast Guard transforms to a more agile, capable, and responsive fighting force through Force Design 2028, this use of force delegation advances that effort by giving operators greater authority.
"Empowering our frontline personnel with the authority to exercise on-scene initiative and make critical decisions in real-time is a fundamental principle of Coast Guard operations,” Lunday said. “The recent changes to the Surface Use of Force policy reflect our dedication to ensuring that our crews are equipped with the tools and trust they need to protect our borders. This initiative enhances safety, ensures our ability to deliver mission results, and underscores the confidence we have in the professionalism and judgment of our Coast Guard crews."
The new rules have given pursuit coxswains and COs options they haven’t had before—not only to successfully complete an interdiction, but to do it in a way that makes it safer for Coast Guard personnel and the people involved.
When dealing with a non-compliant vehicle, the service starts with a warning and then progresses from there. Before the new policy, coxswains couldn't progress to using force until they got a flag officer's permission (through what is called a Statement of No Objection).
Under the new guidelines, coxswains and COs are delegated the authority to use force if warranted.
The first successful use of this policy occurred on that early evening in March off Point Loma. Once the NCV operator ignored the Coast Guard, the coxswain issued a warning, followed by progressively more disruptive tactics. When these, too, were ineffective, DJ directed his subordinate to load four rounds of ammunition as he maneuvered their boat alongside the suspect vessel. When instructed, the officer fired into the outboard motor, disabling the engine.
The Coast Guard boarded the vessel after that, encountering no resistance. They found another three people in the cabin, for a total of eight migrants on board. The boat was towed to Ballast Point where the five adult males, one adult female, and two juvenile males were turned over to Border Patrol.
Having the ability to take the initiative in pursuit decisions, DJ said, “makes myself and my crew feel a lot more trusted.”
“We can use our knowledge and don’t feel like there is any additional pressure,” he added. “It helps us complete the mission more safely.”
The new NSV SUF rules are applicable in all US territorial waters. Delegating more authority to those on the front lines is intended to increase mission effectiveness in controlling our borders and maritime approaches, while reducing the risk to Coast Guard law enforcement personnel.
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