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USCG Small-Boat Coxswain Exam Questions and
Answers 2026 Update with complete solutions
From where is our authority to conduct SAR drawn? - ✅✅14 U.S.C. 88: The Coast Guard shall develop, establish, maintain and operate SAR facilities and may render aid to distressed persons and protect and save property on and under the high seas and waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States Under what situations are we permitted to fight fire? - ✅✅ 1 - Aboard our own vessels 2 - In the early stages of a fire to prevent a situation from worsening 3 - As needed to save lives 4 - In support of a regular fire-fighting agency iff under the direction of a qualified fire officer How do you respond to flare sightings? - ✅✅All flare sightings--regardless of color--are treated as distress until proven otherwise. Unresolved searches require a first-light search. Red/Orange = Distress White = illumination Green = training From where does a coxswain get their authority? - ✅✅Coast Guard Regulations Manual COMINST 5000.3B
The coxswain is the direct representative of the commanding officer or officer in charge and, as such has authority and responsibility which are independent of rank or seniority in relation to other personnel embarked. The coxswain's authority and responsibility exist only when the boat is engaged on a specific sortie or missions. Who can relieve a coxswain? - ✅✅ 1 - CO/OiC 2 - XO/XPO 3 - A senior officer at the scene of distress, emergency or other abnormal situation who exercises authority under the provisions of Article 5- 1 - 4, What are the coxswain's responsibilities--in order of precedence? - ✅✅"The coxswain shall be responsible, in order of precedence, for the safety and conduct of the passengers and crew;, the safe operation and navigation of the boat assigned; and the completion of the sortie or missions(s) assigned or undertaken pursuant to Coast Guard Policy and regulations. A coxswain underway will at all times respond, within the limits of capabilities and legal authority, to observed hazards to life or property, and violations of laws or regulations." And report AtoN discrepancies. Can a coxswain leave the boat while engaged in a specific sortie or mission? - ✅✅It should be remembered that completing a mission is secondary to ensuring the safety of the crew, passengers, and the boat. The coxswain may ONLY leave the boat if: In the coxswain's judgment, and after careful consideration of the remaining crewmember's experience, the operational benefits clearly outweigh the risk of leaving the boat without a qualified coxswain, and every reasonable attempt to garner the CO/OiC's concurrence shall be made.
What can we do when an operator insists we perform salvage we do not advice? - ✅✅Occasionally an operator will insist that the Coast Guard take action, such as pulling a vessel from a reef, which the Coast Guard personnel on scene consider unwise. The Coast Guard is under no obligation to agree to any such request or demand. If a decision to comply with such a request is made, it should be made clear to the operator that he is assuming the risk of the operation and the fact that the action is undertaken at his request against Coast Guard advice should be logged. In regards to engaging in fire-fighting operations, what is a "fire officer"? - ✅✅A person who has been trained and certified, under National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guidelines to take command of firefighting operations As a Basic Coxswain, are you required to ensure your Boarding Officer and Boarding Team Members have their PFD and Pyro Jacket on at all times during a boarding? - ✅✅Answer is in MLEM Chapter 3, Appendix H Outfitting and Equipping LE Personnel: Boarding team personnel shall wear PFDs and survival vest at all times when embarking or disembarking small boats, or being transported by boat to or from the vessel being boarded. During a boarding, boarding team personnel may remove their PFDs and survival vest when necessary (such as to go below decks or into a confined space). PFDs and survival vest must be clean and free of stains or blemishes. When can a Coast Guard member STOP giving CPR once begun? - ✅✅ 1 - When physically unable to continue
2 - If the person has sustained an injury or is in a state that is ENTIRELY irrefutable (for example, if somebody is missing half of their skull and brain is falling out...you don't have to provide CPR) 3 - If relieved by a MORE qualified individual 4 - If the person is successfully resuscitated What CG form might you use when transporting a subject to medical care or providing a MEDEVAC? - ✅✅CG- 5214 Coast Guard MEDEVAC Report, provides pertinent clinical information about the patient to the receiving medical facility, and is a permanent record of patient care. Detailed instructions for using this form are contained in Chapter 4 of the Medical Manual What are the elements of the PEACE model? - ✅✅Planning Event complexity Assets Communication/supervision Environment any other unique factors can be added on What are the elements of the STAAR model? - ✅✅Spread out Transfer Avoid Accept Reduce
What are the two major types of shock and how are they different? - ✅✅Shock: a depressed physiological or mental state. Anaphylactic shock: a rapid, extreme allergic reaction When do we use Surface Swimmers and what major things can they NOT do? - ✅✅Surface Swimmers at small-boat stations are used primarily for MOB. They shall not enter capsized hulls. Must maintain a fixed grasp on the outside of a vessel. They may wear the swimmer harness, but they MUST be tethered, and a crew member MUST be assigned to their line at all times. Expanding Square: - ✅✅SS / SM Location of the object is known within relatively close limits, but some doubt exists. First leg is in the direction of current. Second unit's offset is 45° right of first SRU Sector Search: - ✅✅VS / VM Used when search area is small, high level of confidence that the search object is in the area, and a concentrated search is desired. Second unit's offeset is 30° to the right of first SRU. If you're performing another VS in the same location as you just did, first leg will be 90° to the right. Parallel Search: - ✅✅PS / PM A search pattern that provides uniform coverage of a large area. Search legs align to the major axis of datum-left and datum-right. Creeping-line Search - ✅✅CS / CM
A search pattern that provides uniform coverage of a large area. Search legs align to the minor axis of datum-left and datum-right. Define "datum" - ✅✅The most probably location of a search object corrected for movement over time. Fatigue limits for trailer - ✅✅350 miles or 8 hours--whichever comes first. When is a SITREP provided to OSC or SMC? - ✅✅15 minutes prior to arrival on- scene & then once ever 24 hours thereafter. What features must be present to constitute a Safe Haven? - ✅✅Must be able to safely accommodate the vessel Must be readily accessible Must have a means of communication What waivers is a CO/OIC responsible for giving? - ✅✅-Weather
- PPE
- NAV draft
- Weapon What waivers is a SECTOR responsible for giving? - ✅✅-Restrictive/Disabling
- Operational
- Fatigue
- Heavy weather
SAR procedure references.... - ✅✅The International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual (or "IAMSAR") This is refined for domestic use in the United States National Search and Rescue Supplement (or National SAR supplement or "NSS"). This is further refined in the Coast Guard Addendum (or "CGADD") These are the references used in creating our SAR manuals. What is the MSAP? - ✅✅Maritime SAR Assistance Policy: The MSAP is the result of an effort enacted by Congress in 1982. It directed the Commandant to "review Coast Guard policies and procedures for towing and salvage of disabled vessels in order to further minimize the possibility of Coast Guard competition or interference with...commercial enterprise." What is the definition of "heavy weather"? - ✅✅Heavy Weather is defined as seas, swell, and wind conditions combining to exceed 8 feet of seas or winds exceeding 30 knots
