The US Coast Guard has introduced jet skis (tactical personal watercraft) into its operations off the Southwest US maritime border, with personnel training on them near San Diego, California, as part of expanded border security efforts.

Originally used in 2024 by Rescue Swimmer teams and the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the jet skis are now being applied to bolster coastal patrols and interdiction missions under the service’s ongoing modernization and Force Design 2028 initiatives. The article notes increased Coast Guard recruitment and wider transformation efforts, but does not specify whether the jet skis have officially entered active operational deployment. The ArmyTimes writes:

In its ever-evolving fight on the U.S.-Mexico border, the U.S. Coast Guard has unveiled its latest tool: the Jet Ski.

First utilized in 2024 for Rescue Swimmer Stan Team members as well as the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Coasties have begun Jet Ski training off the shores of San Diego, California, as a component of a newly implemented effort to shore up America’s southwest border. […]

The Coast Guard is in the midst of an overall facelift as part of Force Design 2028, a plan introduced by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem last May to transform the service into a “stronger, more ready, and capable fighting force,” Military Times previously reported. […]

However, no word as to whether the Jet Ski — and the Coast Guard’s slogan of “They say money can’t buy happiness, but have you ever seen a sad person on a Jet Ski?” — has played a role in hitting those recruiting numbers.

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