Photo By Cpl. Adam Korolev | Lance Cpl. Brian Vecchitto, a motor transport operator with Headquarters and Service...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - “Ditching, ditching, ditching!” the underwater egress instructors yell. The modular amphibious egress trainer drops and shudders as it makes contact with the water. The rising water creeps up the legs of the Marines. There is nothing they can do except grab their legs and brace for their world to fill with water and flip over.
The “Island Warriors,” 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment underwent the shallow water egress training Tuesday at Marine Corps Base Hawaii’s base pool.
There were 13 Marines who took and completed the course. The first day of the two-day course was a class explaining the equipment, its uses and the process of exiting a sinking helicopter. The second day was putting that knowledge to use.
Cpl. Michael Scott, a motor transport operator with 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines, was part of the first team that completed the training. It was also his first time doing the training.
“I’m not going to lie, I was pretty nervous,” the six-foot, 200-pound Marine said. “(It was hard) adjusting to being flipped upside down and strapped in while being in the water.”
During the training the “Island Warriors” used three different seat belts while plunged into the water. There are 5 mandatory levels to the training, each new level adding a bit more challenge to the equation. The scenarios ranged from scooting farther away from the exits to shedding gear before exiting the MAET. One dunk requires Marines to work without an oxygen supply tank altogether.
“(The new scenarios) make you lose your position,” Scott said. “The instructors teach you how to find your place by feeling your surroundings and reorienting yourself.”
It’s kind of a mind game as the water rushes in and up your legs, he added.
“There is a lot of anticipation with the water surging in,” Scott said. “You’re waiting (and watching) the water to hit you so you can start the process of getting out. It’s like a cold, wet clock ticking away as it climbs up (your body).”
Scott said this is one course where you need to listen to the instructors. They tell you exactly how to get out and the easiest way to do it.
“(Remember,) you have an air tank with you so you’re fine,” Scott said.
Michael Brennan, a SWET instructor, guided the Marines through the final level, which was the performance evaluation. Brennan has been a SWET instructor for ten years.
“(We teach) people to get comfortable with breathing compressed air to get out of a conveyance,” Brennan said. “The more comfortable you are with breathing compressed air, the more likely you are able to survive a mishap.”
| Date Taken: | 06.02.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.03.2015 21:56 |
| Story ID: | 165418 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 95 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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