USCG BTM Definitions – Study Guide, Key Terms & Exam Preparation
Authority - ANS ✔✔Governments legal power to act
Jurisdiction - ANS ✔✔Governments power to exercise legal authority over its persons, vessels,
and territories
Jurisdictional Triangle - ANS ✔✔Substantive Law, Vessel Status, Location
Substantive Law - ANS ✔✔One that prohibits a certain action or requires affirmative conduct
SMTJ - ANS ✔✔High seas and waters, US vessels in foreign territories, Great Lakes, Federal
Reserves, Land/Waters not within nor in-between the 50 states, Territorial Seas.
Use of force policy - ANS ✔✔Only that force reasonably necessary under the circumstance may
be used. Excessive force may never be used. However, nothing in the application of the CG UOF
policy shall be construed for personnel to meet force with equal to or lesser than force.
Level 1. - ANS ✔✔Officer presence- Appearance, demeanor, verbal and non verbal
communication that creates an atmosphere of compliance
Level 2 - ANS ✔✔Verbal commands- In the form of a task direction with the consequences
aimed at the subject.
Level 3 - ANS ✔✔Control Techniques- Techniques or actions with a low probability of causing
connective tissue damage, lacerations, to the skin, and or broken bones. EX. Pressure points,
normal application of handcuffs, escort.
, Level 4 - ANS ✔✔Aggressive Response Techniques- Techniques or actions with a probability of
causing connective tissue damage, lacerations to the skin, broken bones, or irritation to the skin,
eyes, and or mucous membranes. EX. OC spray (5-10%, Thumb actuated trigger and safety, 5-10
ft away any closer may cause ballistic needle effect) Take downs.
Level 5 - ANS ✔✔Intermediate Weapons- Techniques or actions with a high probability of
causing connective tissue damage, lacerations to the skin and or broken bones. EX. Baton
( friction locking, non slip grip, stainless steel, rounded tip with no jagged edges, 15-22 in long,
not spring loaded or trigger actuated.)
Level 6 - ANS ✔✔Deadly force- Any force that is likely to result in death or serious physical
injury. EX. PDW. Authorized for Self defense, protection of hazmat, property, or deadly weapon,
Lawful arrestor prevention.
Serious Physical Injury - ANS ✔✔Actual physical injury to the body that results in
unconsciousness, protracted and obvious disfigurement, protracted loss or impairment of the
function of a bodily member, organ, and or mental faculty.
Deadly force triangle - ANS ✔✔Subjects actions, Opportunity, weapon.
2 prong test for opportunity - ANS ✔✔Unrestricted access, Max effective range.
Passive Compliant - ANS ✔✔Follows an officers requests or verbal commands.
Passive Resistor - ANS ✔✔Does not follow the officers verbal requests but offers no physical
resistance to the officers attempt to gain control.
Active Resistor - ANS ✔✔Does not follow the officers verbal commands and offers physical
resistance to the officers attempt to gain control.
Authority - ANS ✔✔Governments legal power to act
Jurisdiction - ANS ✔✔Governments power to exercise legal authority over its persons, vessels,
and territories
Jurisdictional Triangle - ANS ✔✔Substantive Law, Vessel Status, Location
Substantive Law - ANS ✔✔One that prohibits a certain action or requires affirmative conduct
SMTJ - ANS ✔✔High seas and waters, US vessels in foreign territories, Great Lakes, Federal
Reserves, Land/Waters not within nor in-between the 50 states, Territorial Seas.
Use of force policy - ANS ✔✔Only that force reasonably necessary under the circumstance may
be used. Excessive force may never be used. However, nothing in the application of the CG UOF
policy shall be construed for personnel to meet force with equal to or lesser than force.
Level 1. - ANS ✔✔Officer presence- Appearance, demeanor, verbal and non verbal
communication that creates an atmosphere of compliance
Level 2 - ANS ✔✔Verbal commands- In the form of a task direction with the consequences
aimed at the subject.
Level 3 - ANS ✔✔Control Techniques- Techniques or actions with a low probability of causing
connective tissue damage, lacerations, to the skin, and or broken bones. EX. Pressure points,
normal application of handcuffs, escort.
, Level 4 - ANS ✔✔Aggressive Response Techniques- Techniques or actions with a probability of
causing connective tissue damage, lacerations to the skin, broken bones, or irritation to the skin,
eyes, and or mucous membranes. EX. OC spray (5-10%, Thumb actuated trigger and safety, 5-10
ft away any closer may cause ballistic needle effect) Take downs.
Level 5 - ANS ✔✔Intermediate Weapons- Techniques or actions with a high probability of
causing connective tissue damage, lacerations to the skin and or broken bones. EX. Baton
( friction locking, non slip grip, stainless steel, rounded tip with no jagged edges, 15-22 in long,
not spring loaded or trigger actuated.)
Level 6 - ANS ✔✔Deadly force- Any force that is likely to result in death or serious physical
injury. EX. PDW. Authorized for Self defense, protection of hazmat, property, or deadly weapon,
Lawful arrestor prevention.
Serious Physical Injury - ANS ✔✔Actual physical injury to the body that results in
unconsciousness, protracted and obvious disfigurement, protracted loss or impairment of the
function of a bodily member, organ, and or mental faculty.
Deadly force triangle - ANS ✔✔Subjects actions, Opportunity, weapon.
2 prong test for opportunity - ANS ✔✔Unrestricted access, Max effective range.
Passive Compliant - ANS ✔✔Follows an officers requests or verbal commands.
Passive Resistor - ANS ✔✔Does not follow the officers verbal requests but offers no physical
resistance to the officers attempt to gain control.
Active Resistor - ANS ✔✔Does not follow the officers verbal commands and offers physical
resistance to the officers attempt to gain control.
