WEBVTT 00:00:02.124 --> 00:00:07.206 >> When I first started working my job was to support the captain of the boat, 00:00:07.206 --> 00:00:11.360 and one of our primary focuses was gathering information and intelligence. 00:00:11.360 --> 00:00:15.017 >> It allows the vessel to get into areas that the agents 00:00:15.017 --> 00:00:20.596 may not necessarily be able to get into on shore due to lack of access. 00:00:20.596 --> 00:00:23.882 So it expands the operating environment. 00:00:23.882 --> 00:00:29.524 >> I already knew the area from the ground, working from a vehicle, responding to sensor traffic, 00:00:29.524 --> 00:00:33.778 responding to trails that went through the brush and through the grass, through the farmland. 00:00:33.778 --> 00:00:37.591 Working on a boat I got a better sense of how the traffic moved, 00:00:37.591 --> 00:00:40.785 how the aillegal aliens were smuggled through the area. 00:00:40.785 --> 00:00:43.698 I could see where they originated, where they crossed from Mexico 00:00:43.698 --> 00:00:47.016 across the Rio Grande River and landed on the U.S. side. 00:00:47.016 --> 00:00:53.215 >> There were a lot of different variables out there, heat, wind, of course weather. 00:00:53.215 --> 00:00:55.850 >> Safety is always a key in your mind. 00:00:55.850 --> 00:01:00.679 You have to be aware of everything because you're a target in the river. 00:01:00.679 --> 00:01:05.386 >> On the water you're in the open. You're very exposed. 00:01:05.732 --> 00:01:10.376 The noise level is extremely high; 00:01:10.630 --> 00:01:13.854 extremely hard to communicate, to hear each other and to hear the radio. 00:01:13.854 --> 00:01:16.644 It's very challenging in that regard. 00:01:16.644 --> 00:01:19.415 The obstacles in the water, you encounter a lot of different things, 00:01:19.415 --> 00:01:22.795 livestock, people swimming, fishermen, logs, rocks, 00:01:22.795 --> 00:01:26.545 all those things to take into consideration when you're piloting the airboat. 00:01:26.545 --> 00:01:32.775 >> We respond to a lot of rescue situations, a lot of body recoveries. 00:01:32.775 --> 00:01:36.104 There's a lot of people that try and cross the river that don't know how to swim, 00:01:36.104 --> 00:01:39.912 and the current in the Rio Grande River is deceptive, very strong. 00:01:40.103 --> 00:01:43.261 [radio talk] 00:01:45.744 --> 00:01:50.549 So we identify and locate bodies pretty frequently. 00:01:50.549 --> 00:01:55.757 >> The RSDV will be able to operate in as little as 4 inches of water. 00:01:55.757 --> 00:02:00.742 The safe boat, they can't operate in that. 00:02:01.676 --> 00:02:05.118 Then you have the airboat. 00:02:05.118 --> 00:02:12.152 It'll complement the airboat in areas which is right now it will operate only during daytime hours. 00:02:12.152 --> 00:02:18.940 The RSDV will be able to operate 24/7 so they'll split the capabilities with the airboats. 00:02:18.940 --> 00:02:29.934 It adds to the overall operations within each sector to use in their operations day to day.