Photo By Sgt. OWEN KIMBREL | Students of a Marine Corps Instructor of Water Survival course wait to be rescued by...... read more read more
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NAVAL AMPHIBIOUS BASE CORONADO, Calif. – The cold ocean waves crash upon the cold sand, the brisk morning air is filled with a dense fog as Marines stare off into the unforgiving sea preparing to conduct a rescue.
San Diego based Marines traveled to Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif., to perform beach rescues, Nov.1. This real life training is all part of a Marine Corps Instructor of Water Survival course at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
Unlike pool training, the frigid 60 degree ocean waters provided the Marines with quite the challenge. The Marines put on their wetsuits and stepped in the water. The beach rescue exercise began as five students swam out 500 meters and treaded water waiting for the remaining five students to come to their rescue.
“Not all Marine Corps training is done in the pool,” said Staff Sgt. Nathan Karlson, chief instructor of MCIWS course. “These Marines will be certified waterfront lifeguards and dealing with [Marine Expeditionary Units]. They will have a lot of ship to shore operations. They need to understand that the ocean is dynamic and how much different the type of swim is.”
The students battled through the unforgiving five foot surf, crashing down on the students as they make their way out to others in need of rescue and performed the proper rescue steps. The Marines then towed the students back to the beach swimming nearly 1,000 meters during the exercise.
“It’s a completely different type of ballgame out in the ocean,” said Karlson.
The Marines finished up the exercise and made their way back to the Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Pacific building where they received additional classes. Marines attending the MCWIS course are scheduled to graduate Nov. 8.
| Date Taken: | 11.01.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 11.05.2013 15:34 |
| Story ID: | 116325 |
| Location: | NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 145 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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