CAMP ZAMA, Japan – Ten Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members of the bilateral Cooperative Work Program class 74 were run through a training session at the Yano swimming pool here Dec. 11 simulating what it would be like if a helicopter went down in water.
After donning equipment worn by flight crews, such as flight helmets and vests with underwater breathing devices, they were submerged in a simulated water egress trainer. They escaped using their newly-learned training techniques and swam from the overturned simulator.
In combat gear, the students also jumped from the 3 meter diving board and swam 25 meters using various swimming strokes, such as the front crawl, side stroke, breast stroke and back stroke, as part of the class II Navy swim test. Training also included floating or treading water for five minutes.
The program was conducted by qualified members of U.S. Army Aviation Battalion Japan.
These co-op class 74 students completed their 12-week program through their adopted Camp Zama units Dec. 12.