USS Wasp Marines Training in Guantanamo

Photo By Spc. Cody Black | Marine Combat Instructor of Water Survival, Staff Sgt. Bruce Henning instructs a Marine of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines while he performs an elementary back stroke during water survival skill training in preparation for his annual swim qualification at Windjammer pool, U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Nov. 9. The Marines with Fox Co. are conducting training in GTMO until the arrival of USS Wasp, where they will re-board and continue their mission.  

GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA

11.09.2009

Story by Spc. Cody Black 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — U.S. Marines of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines deployed to the USS Wasp, participate in the annual swim qualification at the Windjammer pool, U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Nov. 9. As a part of the annual swim qualification, Marines are required to tread water, and swim in uniform to simulate abandon ship scenarios.

While at GTMO, Marines with Fox Company are conducting training while waiting for the arrival of the USS Wasp, where they will re-board the ship and continue their deployment. Although the possibility of an at-sea mishap is rare, it is important for service members to be trained for any situation. Both Marines and instructors see the importance of the annual swim qualification.

"I know that if I was ever to go overboard, that I would be able to survive until rescued," said Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Thomas Devine, a member of Fox Company, who understands the purpose of the training and believes the qualification will help him.

This confidence is exactly what instructors like Staff Sgt. Bruce Henning, a Marine Combat Instructor of Water Survival, are hoping for when they are training Marines for survival.

"It is important to have my guys be able to swim with confidence in any situation," Henning said.

The quality of the water survival training, and the non-commissioned officers who were in charge of the swim qualifications, left a positive impression with Fox Company.

"The training here is so much better," said Marine Corps 1st Lt. Peter Dinardo, executive officer of Fox Company. "The Marines are what make it happen. Marine training [is] more worth while when you have a good staff of non-commissioned officers, they have exceeded my expectations."

• Date Taken: 11.09.2009
• Date Posted: 11.11.2009 16:58
• Story ID: 41423
• Location: GUANTANAMO BAY, CU