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One of the things that really outraged me in the Marines was that SNCOs and officers could get away with the most basic level of swimming, some even had to have remedial swimming. For members of the Marines, Navy and Coast Guard I would think being a GOOD swimmer would be rather essential. A leader is responsible for their troops and if one of those troops is drowning and they do not have the swimming ability to help that troop, that just really feels unacceptable.
Marine Corps
Navy
Training
Coast Guard
Posted >1 y ago
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I'd take it a step further and say that people need to be able to swim (moreso in the branches you mentioned) but also go through combat water survival. We've had multiple people drown from not being able to get themselves out of a vehicle that rolls or crashes into a river. I think that with few exceptions, any death that isn't by the hands of the enemy is unacceptable and avoidable.
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LCpl Mark Lefler
oh.. yeah, I know i didn't think about that, getting out of a vehicle, that's got to a panic moment. I know being that my rank was so low and i was a pog, I never heard of such training, does it exist anywhere? Do grunts do so?
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SFC James Baber
Now it has been about 3 years since I retired, and the last time I recall any duty stations or units doing the drown-proofing or the combat water survival as CPT Miller mentioned was in '04 when I was at Riley just before we were in recovery from OIF I. I am not even sure if anyone other than specialized units do that type of training anymore, but I think all should for the safety of every SM in today's OPTEMPO.
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CPT Mike M.
As I was graduating, West Point just completed building a whole combat water survival simulator. From my understanding, it was a wave pool that they could submerge a mock HMMWV in to train on getting out. Also heard it had speakers they'd blast gunfight sounds from and had a smoke machine. Pretty all around awesome if you ask me. Never had a chance to use it though. We had to train on some combat water survival in a regular pool while I was there, though. Bob and travel, using your uniform as a floatation device, swimming in full uniform with a "rubber duck" slung across your back, etc. Great times, I've always loved the water.
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I was a Marine Combat Instructor of Water Survival (M.C.I.W.S.) I see your point LCPL and its a great point. I can teach the skills for Marines to survive in water but if they have a phobia or fear of water it does effect their ability to become strong swimmers. Unless they can over come their phobia. I used to see this day in day out when I conducted swim qualifications. If you only knew how many I would have to save from drowning...
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Officers had to qualify to second class or better to graduate TBS. As far as re-qualifying, it is hit or miss, usually it was done when time permitted or when going up for a promotion board.
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