Photo By Lance Cpl. Javarre Glanton | Recruit from Alpha Company, 1st recruit Training jumped 10 feet into 11 feet of water...... read more read more
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PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. - Recruits from Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, and Oscar Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion, took their training to new depths at the recruit training pool, Jan. 30 through Feb. 6.
During swim qualification week, recruits are taught and evaluated on basic water survival skills.
“It’s all a part of becoming a well-rounded Marine,” said Staff Sgt. Kristy Kayto, a Marine Combat Instructor-Trainer of Water Survival at the facility. “As a Marine, you’re able to be sent anywhere at any time, so you have to be ready.
“They have enough knowledge to sustain water survival as basic Marines,” she added. “We teach them the five water survival classes.”
There are five tests recruits must pass before they are deemed basically trained in water survival. The recruits receive training before each test.
The five classes are: the shallow-water assessment, a self-rescue jump, the four-minute stay-on-surface, employed flotation, and the gear shed.
The first test consists of a 25-meter shallow-water assessment, in which recruits must swim 25 meters in shallow water without touching the ground.
The second evaluation is jumping from a 10-foot platform into the pool to simulate abandoning a sinking ship, then swimming 25 meters to “safety.”
During the third portion of evaluation, the recruits must spend four minutes keeping their heads above the surface in the deep end with techniques they learned earlier. The techniques include treading and inflating their blouses with their breath to create makeshift flotation devices.
The recruits’ fourth evaluation is the employed flotation. They use an Improved Load Bearing Equipment pack, and pull it 25 meters from 11 feet of water to four.
The final test is the gear shed. The recruits jump into the shallow end wearing flak jackets, Kevlar helmets and throat protectors, with rubber rifles in their hands.
The purpose of the event is to get the recruits conditioned to getting the gear off their bodies in an aquatic environment if they need to, said Staff Sgt. Jim McCord, a swim instructor.
“We give them every opportunity we can here,” Kayto said.
Each recruit is given two chances each day of the week to pass the evaluations. Recruits who are unable to pass the tests are recycled back through training and will resume with the next training company.
“It’s difficult swimming with clothes and boots on,” said Recruit Zack Hopkins with Platoon 1021, Alpha Company. “It’s tough but I like being challenged and I like the feeling of pushing myself. I know once I get past this, I’ll be a step closer to my goal of being a Marine.”
| Date Taken: | 01.30.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.29.2012 10:11 |
| Story ID: | 85948 |
| Location: | AL, US |
| Web Views: | 129 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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