Coast Guard boarding officer leads a team to enforce U.S. laws and regulations at sea by boarding vessels. Qualification involves completing courses like the Basic Boarding Officer Course (BBOC), which is a five-week program that includes training in maritime law enforcement, criminal law, and safety. The Boarding Officer Practical Course (BOPC) is a two-week program also available for both active duty and reserve members, notes the Coast Guard.  

Roles and responsibilities 

• Lead a boarding team in a safe and professional manner. 
• Enforce U.S. laws and regulations, which can include checking a vessel’s documentation, safety, and compliance with various civil and criminal laws. 
• Conduct law enforcement ashore and at sea, and deter illegal activity in the maritime domain. 

Qualification and training 

• Basic Boarding Officer Course (BBOC): A five-week course for U.S. Coast Guard personnel and foreign naval officers, covering law, defensive tactics, and safety. 
• Boarding Officer Practical Course (BOPC): A two-week program that is ideal for reserve members but also open to active duty members if quotas allow and a waiver is approved. 
• Boarding Officer Certified Ashore (BOCA): A 22-day program specifically for law enforcement ashore operations, which includes virtual and practical exercises. 
• Online Course: An online version is available to all Coast Guard personnel, consisting of four modules on fundamental principles, boarding activities, enforcement actions, and an exam. 
• Prerequisites: Successful completion of the online modules, meeting physical fitness standards, completing pepper spray exposure training, and having orders to a unit that performs law enforcement duties are often required. 

What to expect during a boarding 

• A uniformed and armed Coast Guard boarding team will approach a vessel and notify the crew that they are coming aboard. 
• The team will conduct an initial safety inspection and check vessel documentation and regulatory status. 
• The boarding officer will explain their mission and what they are looking for. 
• A boarding form will be completed, and a copy is given to the operator. This will either be a yellow copy if no discrepancies are found or a white copy if a warning or violation notice is issued. 
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  Coast Guard boarding officer is a designated law enforcement officer who leads an armed team to board vessels and enforce U.S. laws and treaties at sea. They act as the direct representative of the commanding officer for all law enforcement matters during the intervention. 
  
  Role and Responsibilities
  Boarding officers are responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the United States, as well as the boarded ship, its cargo, and crew. Their duties include: 
  Conducting searches, examinations, inspections, and inquiries upon the high seas and U.S. waters.
  Detecting and suppressing violations of federal laws, including those related to boating safety, commercial fishing, and boating under the influence (BUI).
  Implementing tactical procedures, defensive tactics, and arrest procedures as needed.
  Identifying themselves to the master, owner, or operator of a vessel and explaining their mission.
  Filling out a boarding form detailing any discrepancies found, providing a copy to the operator.