SWIM Week is here!

Here is the short skinny on Swim week!
All Marine recruits are required to know how to survive in the water. This week Sara is being taught basic water survival training at the indoor pool.  Traditionally, this is a relief for the platoon from the previous three training weeks.  Sara has written that she is looking forward to this week and especially Grass Week in the days ahead.

With her MCMAP Tan belt test on Friday, she will be pretty much wrapping up Phase One training at MCRD PI.  Her letters, though candid, for the most part are upbeat.  I sent her some Super Echinacea per her request for her throat by Priority Mail... hopefully, there will be no "special attention" but I have learned that all recruits will get "QD'd" or Quarter Decked which basically means "special time" one on one with the DI.  I am concerned about permanent damage to her vocal chords... she has such a beautiful voice.  Knowing Sara, she is pushing to the limit and beyond.  Enough of that! :)


Today, Sara had the opportunity to test out of Combat Water Survival-4 (CWS-4).  As a trained life guard, I am confident she did.  Each day till Thursday, as she meets the level requirements, she may upgrade to a higher level, the highest in Boot Camp being CWS-2.  I will list the requirements for each level below to give you an idea of what she is doing over the next three days.

Today everyone trained in their "cammi's" as Sara would say.  Upgrading will require full combat gear, which includes a rifle, helmet, flak jacket and pack.

Tuesday - Combat Water Survival, Fourth Class (CWS4)
Emphasis is on personal survival without combat gear. CWS4 training will include instruction on the Beginner's Swimmer Stroke (front and back), drown-proofing, and treading water. This is the minimum skill level for all enlisted Marines and she will re-qualify each year.

(1) Uniform for qualifying is utilities only (no boots).
(2) Enter shallow water (minimum 1m depth).
(3) Swim 25m in shallow water using either the beginner swimmer stroke (front or back), or demonstrating a basic knowledge of a survival stroke, or any combination thereof.
(4) Using the ease-in entry method while wearing utilities, enter deep water and perform personal water survival skills using one, or a combination of, water survival techniques (i.e., drown-proofing, treading water, and/or trouser or blouse inflation) for a total of four minutes. Touching the bottom or the side of the pool before the four minutes elapses will disqualify the Marine.
(5) Without exiting the water, from the side of the pool, swim 25m using either the beginner's swimming stroke (back or front) or demonstrate working ability of any survival stroke or combination thereof.

Combat Water Survival, Third Class (CWS3)  Sara will have completed CWS4 to be eligible. Emphasis is on personal survival under combat situations and while on maneuvers in full combat gear. She will do this re-qual every other year.
(1) From minimum height of eight feet (maximum of 15 feet), using the abandon ship technique and wearing utilities and boots only, enter deep water and travel 25m using either a beginner swimming stroke (on front or back) or demonstrating a basic knowledge of any survival stroke or combination thereof.
(2) Enter shallow water (minimum 1m depth) with rubberized training rifle at port arms and wearing full combat gear.
(3) Walk 20m in shallow water (minimum 1m depth/waist deep) with weapon at port arms and wearing full combat gear.
(4) Walk 20m in chest high water wearing full combat gear with weapon slung around neck, muzzle down.
(5) Travel for 20m in chest deep water wearing full combat gear with weapon slung around neck, muzzle down, using a modified breast stroke arm movement and modified combat stroke leg movement (bicycle kick).
(6) Travel for 40m in deep water (over the head) wearing full combat gear with weapon slung around neck, muzzle down, using a modified breast stroke arm movement and modified combat travel stroke leg movement (bicycle kick).
(7) From a height of five feet, using the abandon ship technique, enter deep water with full combat gear and weapon (weapon inverted at sling arms),
travel 10m, remove pack, and travel 15m transporting both pack and weapon.

Combat Water Survival, Second Class (CWS2)  This is getting tougher.  Sara will have qualified at CWS3 to continue to CWS2.  Here, the emphasis is on the ability to assist an exhausted/wounded Marine to safety wearing full combat gear.

Though a long way off, this would be a very important level for Sara's hopes and vision for her Marine Corps future as CWS2 is the minimum requirement for all marine aviation aircrew. It is also the minimum skill level required of all officers.  It is not a requirement for her current MOS.  At this level she would have to re-qualify every three years.

(1) Wearing full combat gear minus pack, using one or a combination of survival strokes, travel 50m in deep water, with weapon slung across back (muzzle down).
(2) Wearing full combat gear, perform 25m collar-tow on wounded "victim", dressed identically, while simultaneously towing two packs. Weapons will be slung across the back (muzzle down). Victim will hold on to the two packs and will not assist in propulsion. (parrisisland.yuku.com/topic/1818/t/Combat-Survival-Swimming-Levels.htm) 


And that is swim week!  Of course, the rest of the days are filled with PT and drill drill drill, the Obstacle Course level II, getting ready for the MCMAP test, etc etc etc.
See you Friday for next post on training day 22, MEPS

"This Recruit's

God keep you safe Sara.

Thanks to all the men and women serving at home and overseas away from your loved ones.




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