USCG BTM - 183 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION.
What is authority? - (ANSWER)The government's legal power to act
What is jurisdiction? - (ANSWER)The government's power to exercise legal authority over its persons,
vessels, and territories
What authority does 14 U.S.C. 89 (a) give the Coast Guard? - (ANSWER)The Coast Guard may make
searches, examinations, arrests, seizures, inquiries, and inspections upon the high seas and waters
which the U.S. has jurisdiction
How can 14 U.S.C. 89 (a) be explained to the boating public? - (ANSWER)The Coast Guard is authorized
by 14 U.S.C. 89 to board any vessel subject to the jurisdiction or to the operation of any law of the
United States, on the high seas and waters which the U.S. has jurisdiction, at any time, day or night, for
the prevention, detection, and suppression of violations of the laws of the United States.
What are the boarding team members scope of responsibilities? - (ANSWER)1. Reflect credit onto the
Coast Guard by the manner in which they conduct boardings.
2. Be responsive to the public for education of boating safety and legal requirements.
3. Assist the boarding officer as necessary.
What are the jurisdictional limitations (jurisdictional triangle)? - (ANSWER)1. Substantive law (law that
prohibits certain action or requires affirmative conduct).
2. Vessel status/flag
3. Location
What is required for boardings of U.S. vessels in foreign territorial waters? - (ANSWER)Coastal nation
permission
Foreign vessels temporarily using waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction are ___ from U.S. numbering and
safety carriage requirements. - (ANSWER)exempt
Which vessels are not subject to U.S. jurisdiction? - (ANSWER)Foreign government-owned non-
commercial vessels, and foreign naval or military vessels
,USCG BTM - 183 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION.
Do units and personnel have a "duty to retreat" to avoid law enforcement situations? - (ANSWER)No,
however, retreat is an alternative and may be the most reasonable decision, depending upon the
circumstances.
What is non-deadly force? - (ANSWER)Any force other than deadly force.
What are the situations in which non-deadly force may be used? - (ANSWER)1. Individual self-defense
2. To compel compliance with an order the Coast Guard has authority to issue
3. To prevent a federal crime, or where authorized, a serious state or foreign crime for which the Coast
Guard has authority to act on behalf of that state or foreign government
4. To affect a lawful arrest or prevent an escape when there is probable cause that the suspect
committed a federal crime (or non-federal crime if lawfully acting under non-federal authority).
5. To prevent the theft of, intentional damage to, or destruction of property (including information) that
the Coast Guard has authority to protect.
What is the Use of Force Policy? - (ANSWER)Only the force reasonably necessary under the
circumstances may be used. Force shall not be used where assigned duties can be discharged without it.
Excessive force may never be used.
Are BTMs authorized to fire warning shots? - (ANSWER)NO
Name the 3 types of self defense and their definitions. - (ANSWER)1. Individual: defending oneself or
other persons from imminent danger
2. Unit: defending a particular unit of US military forces or law enforcement agencies
3. National: defense of U.S., U.S. forces, and, in certain circumstances, U.S. persons and their property,
and/or U.S. commercial assets from a hostile act or demonstration of hostile intent
What chapter in the MLEM is Use of Force Policy found? - (ANSWER)Chapter 4
What are the 4 types of subjects? - (ANSWER)1. Passive compliant: follows the officer's task direction
and verbal commands; will not harm the officer
, USCG BTM - 183 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION.
2. Passive resistor: does not follow the officer's request or verbal directions but offers no physical
resistance to the officer's attempt to gain control
3. Active resistor: subject does not follow the officer's request or verbal directions, offers physical
resistance that prevents the officer of gaining control
4. Active aggressor: does not follow the officer's requests or verbal directions, attempts to harm the
officer
What is the use of force continuum? - (ANSWER)1. Officer presence
2. Verbal commands
3. Control techniques
4. Aggressive response techniques
5. Intermediate weapons
6. Deadly force
What is officer presence? - (ANSWER)Appearance, demeanor, verbal and non-verbal communication
that create an atmosphere of compliance
Why was the Use of Force Continuum created? - (ANSWER)To show the different levels of force
authorized when receiving certain types of resistance; the subject's actions primarily determine the
appropriate level of force that can be used in a specific situation.
What are some factors that must be evaluated when moving up or down the UOF Continuum? -
(ANSWER)1. Physical size and capabilities of the law enforcement team member compared to the
subject
2. Number of subjects
3. The physical condition of both the member and the subject
4. The environmental conditions.
Which levels of the UOF Continuum are designed for controlling passive subjects? - (ANSWER)Levels 1,
2, and 3
What is authority? - (ANSWER)The government's legal power to act
What is jurisdiction? - (ANSWER)The government's power to exercise legal authority over its persons,
vessels, and territories
What authority does 14 U.S.C. 89 (a) give the Coast Guard? - (ANSWER)The Coast Guard may make
searches, examinations, arrests, seizures, inquiries, and inspections upon the high seas and waters
which the U.S. has jurisdiction
How can 14 U.S.C. 89 (a) be explained to the boating public? - (ANSWER)The Coast Guard is authorized
by 14 U.S.C. 89 to board any vessel subject to the jurisdiction or to the operation of any law of the
United States, on the high seas and waters which the U.S. has jurisdiction, at any time, day or night, for
the prevention, detection, and suppression of violations of the laws of the United States.
What are the boarding team members scope of responsibilities? - (ANSWER)1. Reflect credit onto the
Coast Guard by the manner in which they conduct boardings.
2. Be responsive to the public for education of boating safety and legal requirements.
3. Assist the boarding officer as necessary.
What are the jurisdictional limitations (jurisdictional triangle)? - (ANSWER)1. Substantive law (law that
prohibits certain action or requires affirmative conduct).
2. Vessel status/flag
3. Location
What is required for boardings of U.S. vessels in foreign territorial waters? - (ANSWER)Coastal nation
permission
Foreign vessels temporarily using waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction are ___ from U.S. numbering and
safety carriage requirements. - (ANSWER)exempt
Which vessels are not subject to U.S. jurisdiction? - (ANSWER)Foreign government-owned non-
commercial vessels, and foreign naval or military vessels
,USCG BTM - 183 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION.
Do units and personnel have a "duty to retreat" to avoid law enforcement situations? - (ANSWER)No,
however, retreat is an alternative and may be the most reasonable decision, depending upon the
circumstances.
What is non-deadly force? - (ANSWER)Any force other than deadly force.
What are the situations in which non-deadly force may be used? - (ANSWER)1. Individual self-defense
2. To compel compliance with an order the Coast Guard has authority to issue
3. To prevent a federal crime, or where authorized, a serious state or foreign crime for which the Coast
Guard has authority to act on behalf of that state or foreign government
4. To affect a lawful arrest or prevent an escape when there is probable cause that the suspect
committed a federal crime (or non-federal crime if lawfully acting under non-federal authority).
5. To prevent the theft of, intentional damage to, or destruction of property (including information) that
the Coast Guard has authority to protect.
What is the Use of Force Policy? - (ANSWER)Only the force reasonably necessary under the
circumstances may be used. Force shall not be used where assigned duties can be discharged without it.
Excessive force may never be used.
Are BTMs authorized to fire warning shots? - (ANSWER)NO
Name the 3 types of self defense and their definitions. - (ANSWER)1. Individual: defending oneself or
other persons from imminent danger
2. Unit: defending a particular unit of US military forces or law enforcement agencies
3. National: defense of U.S., U.S. forces, and, in certain circumstances, U.S. persons and their property,
and/or U.S. commercial assets from a hostile act or demonstration of hostile intent
What chapter in the MLEM is Use of Force Policy found? - (ANSWER)Chapter 4
What are the 4 types of subjects? - (ANSWER)1. Passive compliant: follows the officer's task direction
and verbal commands; will not harm the officer
, USCG BTM - 183 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION.
2. Passive resistor: does not follow the officer's request or verbal directions but offers no physical
resistance to the officer's attempt to gain control
3. Active resistor: subject does not follow the officer's request or verbal directions, offers physical
resistance that prevents the officer of gaining control
4. Active aggressor: does not follow the officer's requests or verbal directions, attempts to harm the
officer
What is the use of force continuum? - (ANSWER)1. Officer presence
2. Verbal commands
3. Control techniques
4. Aggressive response techniques
5. Intermediate weapons
6. Deadly force
What is officer presence? - (ANSWER)Appearance, demeanor, verbal and non-verbal communication
that create an atmosphere of compliance
Why was the Use of Force Continuum created? - (ANSWER)To show the different levels of force
authorized when receiving certain types of resistance; the subject's actions primarily determine the
appropriate level of force that can be used in a specific situation.
What are some factors that must be evaluated when moving up or down the UOF Continuum? -
(ANSWER)1. Physical size and capabilities of the law enforcement team member compared to the
subject
2. Number of subjects
3. The physical condition of both the member and the subject
4. The environmental conditions.
Which levels of the UOF Continuum are designed for controlling passive subjects? - (ANSWER)Levels 1,
2, and 3
