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Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen: On Maritime watch.Located in the Caribbean Sea about 1,000 miles (1,610 kilometers) southeast of Florida, Puerto Rico is home to roughly 3.2 million people and forms part of a broader Caribbean archipelago.Although self-governing, it is an unincorporated territory of the United States, and its residents are U.S.citizens — enabling the free movement of people and goods between the island and the mainland.Positioned east of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Cuba, and north of South America, Puerto Rico’s location makes it a key transit point for drug trafficking and human smuggling operations.As one of the primary agencies responsible for safeguarding Puerto Rico’s surrounding waters and airspace, the U.S.Coast Guard plays a central role in countering these threats.Working alongside partner organizations — including Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, the U.S.Army National Guard, FURA (Puerto Rico Joint Forces of Rapid Action), the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and U.S.Immigration and Customs Enforcement — the service helps monitor, interdict, and respond to illicit activity across the region.Its core missions include maritime law enforcement, search-and-rescue (SAR), marine safety, transportation system management, security operations, and national defense.Operationally, the Coast Guard is divided into Pacific and Atlantic Areas, with Puerto Rico falling under the latter.Sector San Juan — including Air Station Borinquen — reports to District 7 alongside air stations in Clearwater, Miami, and Savannah.That presence on Puerto Rico’s northwest coast reflects a long operational history.The Coast Guard’s aviation footprint on the island began near San Juan before relocating in 1971 to Ramey Air Force Base near Aguadilla.Originally established in 1936 as Borinquen Field, the site later transitioned from U.S.Air Force and Navy control before becoming Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen in 1976.Today, it operates alongside civilian traffic at Rafael Hernández Airport.Enter the Jayhawk Over the years, Air Station Borinquen has operated a range of aircraft, with its rotary-wing fleet evolving alongside mission demands.Early operations paired Grumman HU-16E Albatross amphibians with Sikorsky HH-52A Seaguard helicopters, before transitioning in 1973 to the larger Sikorsky HH-3F Pelican.Beginning in 1985, the HH-3Fs were replaced by Aérospatiale HH-65A Dolphin helicopters, which became the backbone of the station’s short-range search-and-rescue (SAR) mission for decades.On April 29, 2021, the unit received its first Sikorsky MH-60T Jayhawk.By the end of the year, three Jayhawks had replaced four upgraded MH-65D/E Dolphin Short Range Recovery helicopters, marking a significant step forward in range, endurance, and capability.The arrival of the MH-60T Medium Range Recovery (MRR) helicopter at Borinquen is part of the Coast Guard’s plan to standardize its rotary-wing fleet, replacing the remaining MH-65 Dolphins across all air stations.The service currently operates 45 MH-60Ts, all slated for the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP), launched in 2017 to address the fleet’s 19,000-flight-hour limit, with many aircraft nearing that threshold by 2028.SLEP includes major overhauls at the Aviation Logistics Center in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, featuring new or refurbished U.S.Navy Seahawk hulls, updated wiring, and modernized rotor systems.The program will deliver upgraded MH-60Ts across the fleet in phases, with full transition expected by the early 2040s.Alberto Stanton Raymond, an MH-60T co-pilot at Borinquen, described the aircraft as a highly capable medium-range helicopter, highlighting its endurance, redundancy, and mission systems.With internal and external fuel tanks, the aircraft can remain airborne for up to six hours, while still maintaining strong endurance even with a full passenger load.“What I love most is its power and endurance.It was built for combat, with fully redundant systems.If we lose an engine, it keeps flying.If hydraulics fail, backup systems take over.” He added that the aircraft is equipped with a Trakka Systems TrakkaBeam A800 searchlight, an Onboard System hoist rated at 600 pounds (272 kilograms), an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB), multiple radios, and weather and surface radar — capabilities that are critical for locating vessels and operating in poor conditions.Covering the Caribbean Coast Guard Sector San Juan is responsible for roughly 1.3 million square miles across the eastern Caribbean, encompassing nearly 20 sovereign nations and territories.“Working in this [area] is especially challenging,” Raymond said.“We face daily issues with illegal immigrants and smugglers, and the weather in this area presents unique challenges.” He noted that hurricane season runs from June to November, bringing potentially dangerous conditions — as seen during Hurricane Maria in 2017, which caused thousands of casualties in and around Puerto Rico.“In 2024, we conducted 160 SAR cases and saved 23 lives,” Raymond said.“We also conduct many migration interdictions and law enforcement activities, though these missions require approval from District 7.” When a target of interest is identified, crews may be tasked to launch immediately — even if it means diverting from an ongoing SAR case.That level of operational demand places a premium on experience.As Raymond noted, pilots typically require at least 500 flight hours to qualify as a first pilot, and around 700 to 750 hours to become an aircraft commander — a progression that can take two to three years after initial MH-60T training.“I chose helicopters because I wanted to be in the action,” Raymond added.“I wanted to be hands-on, on scene, working with the team to get people to safety.” Critical to the mission The rescue swimmer — officially designated as an aviation survival technician (AST) — is a critical member of every Coast Guard helicopter crew.All AST training takes place at U.S.Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and consists of an intensive 22-week program.This includes a 10-week rescue swimmer course, a seven-week emergency medical technician (EMT) course, and a five-week aviation life support equipment course, along with rigorous physical training and aircraft familiarization.“It’s not just about flying in the helicopter and conducting rescue missions,” explained AST1 Daniel Wilson.“The rescue swimmer role is technically a collateral duty, although it’s the main reason most of us take the job.In addition, we are responsible for the maintenance, repair, and procurement of all rescue systems and life-support equipment on board.” He added that this includes parachute and oxygen systems, emergency flotation gear, protective clothing, life vests, rescue kits, and even the storage and handling of pyrotechnics and ordnance in the unit’s workshop.Born in the United Kingdom, Wilson joined the U.S.Coast Guard in 2011 and trained in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, before serving in Astoria, Oregon; Kodiak, Alaska; and, since 2022, Borinquen, Puerto Rico.His father’s career in law enforcement helped shape his sense of duty.“I like the structure of the military,” Wilson said.“I didn’t want a desk job — I wanted something active, where I could help people and get paid to do it.” Wilson said one of the most challenging aspects of being an AST is the unpredictability of the job, with missions ranging from migrant interdictions to distressed vessels in Puerto Rico’s often demanding conditions.He added that major hurricanes can resemble mass-casualty events.“My most memorable case involved Customs and Border Protection agents who were shot by drug smugglers,” he said.“That’s not something we typically deal with.” The incident involved three agents — one mortally wounded and two seriously injured — and, Wilson noted, responding to such a 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