Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen

Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen
Unit Patch CGAS Borinquen
Active	1971-Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Coast Guard
Type	Air Station
Role	To patrol the San Juan SAR sector (Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean near Puerto Rico and the U.S.V.I.)
Motto(s)	Pride of the Caribbean
Commanders
Commanding Officer	Captain Patricia A. McFetridge
Ceremonial chief	CDR Flip P. Capistrano
Command Master Chief	AMTCM Steven W. Payne
Aircraft flown
Helicopter	4 MH-65C Dolphin

Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen is located at the Rafael Hernandez International Airport (formerly Ramey Air Force Base), in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

History

United States Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen is the direct descendant of the former Coast Guard Air Station San Juan, which was located at the former U.S. Naval Air Station Isla Grande. In November 1971, the Air Station relocated to its present location at what was then Ramey Air Force Base, a Strategic Air Command (SAC) B-52 bomber and KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft base in Aguadilla, and became known as Coast Guard Air Station Puerto Rico. Two years later the Air Force discontinued its operation at Ramey AFB, turning the facilities over to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the United States Navy. The Coast Guard assumed the host role in July 1976, when the Navy vacated the station. It was then that the unit was designated Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen. The Air Station originally utilized three HU-16E Albatross amphibious seaplanes and two HH-52A Sea Guard helicopters to effect its search and rescue missions. In March 1973, three HH-3F Pelican helicopters replaced these aircraft. The need for increased range for law enforcement and search and rescue resulted in the addition of four HU-25A Falcon jets to the Air Station's inventory in late 1983 and early 1984. In 1985, four new HH-65A Dolphin short-range rescue helicopters replaced the three HH-3F Pelicans, giving the Air Station a shipboard deployment capability. The HU-25A Falcons were replaced in 1987 by three HC-130H Hercules aircraft that provided long range search and surveillance capability until their departure in June 1996. Due to the increased tempo of operations in the Caribbean, the Air Station again added four HU-25A Falcons to the inventory from July 1999 until September 2001. The Air Station currently operates with HH-65C Dolphin helicopters while also supporting a variety of other forward deployed aircraft.

Operations

U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen is under the operational control of Commander, Coast Guard Sector San Juan located in San Juan, PR. Its main operation is search and rescue missions, Secondary missions include: law enforcement, aerial support for ATON, and logistic support. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen also provides support for U.S. Coast Guard vessels and aircraft, and other U.S. Department of Homeland Security agencies such as the U.S. Border Patrol Ramey Sector and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands against drug traffic and illegal entry into United States Territory. The complement at U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen is made of 170 enlisted personnel, 35 officers and 150 civilians.

Base Facilities

• DoDEA Ramey School
• Coast Guard Exchange & gas station
• Coast Guard Housing Area
• Hangar for U.S. Coast Guard Aircraft and adjacent facilities
• U.S. Coast Guard Recruiting Office
• MWR Guest Cottages
• Child Development Center
• Community Center - The Pelican Pub and the Enlisted Lounge are at the same building
• Ray Park
• Boys and Girls Club
• Post Library
• Movie Theater
• Base Chapel
• Borinquen Fitness Center
• Tennis Courts and Basketball Court
• Recreation Gear Locker
• Swimming Pool
• Air Station Borinquen Health Clinic
• Dental Clinic