Seabee Divers train under stress for success

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Tyler Thompson | Underwater Construction Team One (UCT ONE) and Underwater Construction Team Two (UCT TWO) conduct surface supplied diving operations during diver training aboard USAV Matamoros (LCU-2026). Diver training is a two-week, joint training evolution between UCT ONE and UCT TWO designed to reinforce standard operating procedures, qualify personnel, maintain proficiency, and evaluate dive protocol during scuba, surface supplied and recompression chamber operations.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Tyler N. Thompson/Released)  

KEY WEST, FL, UNITED STATES

01.26.2015

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tyler Thompson      

Expeditionary Combat Camera

KEY WEST, Fla. - Seabee divers assigned to Underwater Construction Team One 1 and Underwater Construction Team Two 2 conducted a two weeks of training, Jan. 11-28.

The training reinforces standard operating procedures, qualifies personnel, maintains proficiency, and evaluates dive protocol during scuba, surface-supplied and recompression chamber operations.

Nearly every diver present was put into a dive supervisor role, many of which had never worked with or met one another.

“We do this training in a joint setting to ensure all of our divers are working together and that the policies of UCT 1 and UCT 2 align with one another,” explained Lt. Thomas Hallam, executive officer of UCT 1. “These divers put their lives in the hands of the dive supervisor. They [supervisors] are responsible for the divers going down, accomplishing the mission, coming back up and being able to go home at the end of the day. We put them under pressure to ensure missions can be accomplished no matter what the scenario.”

Throughout the training, divers would surface with simulated diving-related injuries to test the dive supervisors’ response under pressure.

“This training really takes the supervisors to the maximum level of stress. It’s really easy to forget it’s just a scenario,” said Engineering Aide 2nd Class Garrett Snyder.

Capt. John Adametz, commander of Naval Construction Group Two, visited the training site and had the opportunity to participate in a surface-supplied familiarization dive with the divers.

“What I’ve noticed from this team is cohesion,” said Adametz. “When you think about what makes a successful team, it comes down to guys looking out for one another and wanting each other to succeed. They’re not about individuals - they’re about the team and the mission.”

UCT 1 and UCT 2 provide responsive inshore and ocean underwater construction, inspection, repair and maintenance of ocean facilities in support of Naval and Marine Corps operations.

• Date Taken: 01.26.2015
• Date Posted: 01.27.2015 14:51
• Story ID: 152865
• Location: KEY WEST, FL, US