Company F recruits learn water survival skills

Photo By Sgt. Eric Quintanilla | Recruit Miles Post, Company L, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, takes a step off the 10-foot diving board as part of the combat water survival basic certification at the recruit training pool aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego March 6. A full combat utility uniform is required in all levels of training, adding to the difficulty of completing the qualification.  

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

03.07.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Eric Quintanilla 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego     

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Recruits of Company L learn the importance of combat water survival at the recruit training pool aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, March 5-8.

In the 12-week training schedule, four days are dedicated to ensuring every recruit has the knowledge they need to survive in the water. Swim qualification is an annual training requirement for every Marine and a graduation requirement for every recruit.

“Marines are mainly mobilized by ship,” said Staff Sgt. Dean Begaye, senior drill instructor, Company L, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion. “The basis of learning how to swim is paramount to their job description.”

Combat water survival is broken down into three levels: basic, intermediate and advanced. However, recruits are only certified in the basic level. A full combat utility uniform is required in all levels of training, adding to the difficulty of completing the qualification.

“This is very important because we’re an amphibious service,” said recruit Andrew Lasky, Company L, 3rd RTBn, who used to work as a life guard. “It was a lot more difficult than I thought it was going to be.”

Marine Corps Instructors of Water Survival are posted around the pool to promote a safe training atmosphere. The pool posts one instructor for every five recruits who are comfortable in the water and one-on-one for recruits who are having a difficult time.

“I felt very comfortable and safe in the water,” said Lasky, 18, a St. John, Ind., native. “It was actually very fun.”

The basic swim qualification incorporates swimming 25 meters, treading in deep water for four minutes, and traveling in the deep end with a pack. Recruits must also be able to strip off a Kevlar helmet, flak jacket and rifle while underwater in less than 10 seconds.

“The better they are in the water, the better they can get to land,” said Begaye.

Swim training helps promote self-confidence and reduce fear when confronted with a potentially life-threatening situation in the water. Recruits must also face any fears of heights by jumping off a diving board 10 feet above the water.

“We operate from the sea, it’s important that they not only can get to shore, but if they were to fall in, they know what to do,” said Sgt. Christopher Battaglia, MCIWS instructor trainer. “Here we are giving them different scenarios to work on basic survival.”

Combat water survival is introduced to the recruits in week four of recruit training. Company L is also getting ready for their movement to Weapons and Field Training Battalion, Camp Pendleton, Calif., to begin their training on the rifle range.

• Date Taken: 03.07.2012
• Date Posted: 03.07.2012 13:52
• Story ID: 84876
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US