Photo By Sgt. Erik Brooks | Reconnaissance Marines tread water with air tanks, weighted belts, fins and scuba...... read more read more
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CAMP SCHWAB, Japan - The students lined up shoulder-to-shoulder at the edge with their ankles bound and hands clenched tightly together. After asking permission they plunged into the bone-chilling water.
This was the initial scene during a proficiency screening of Marines with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, at the aquatics center on Camp Schwab Feb. 2.
The screening process is designed to determine if the reconnaissance Marines are prepared for the U.S. Marine Corps Combat Diving School in Panama City, Fla.
“Our job here is to take six Marines out of the 16 and send them on to the school,” said Master Sgt. Roger S. Smith, the battalion training chief. “We are not going to send anyone who is not yet ready for the course.”
After leaping into the depths of the pool, the Marines performed the action they call bobbing.
Bobbing is when Marines take a large breath at the surface of the water. They then exhale immediately, causing them to sink to the bottom of the 12-foot pool. From there, they push forward in an upward direction toward the surface. This is completed with hands and feet bound by rope.
During the screening, the bobbing was executed for five minutes.
“The bobbing exercise is designed to have the Marines practice controlling their breathing,” said Smith.
After the bobbing drill, the Marines transitioned into an exercise which required them to surface and remain afloat. The Marines were allowed to execute any swim technique needed to stay afloat. The drill was performed for two minutes.
“This is hard for some people who are not naturally buoyant,” Smith said. “The students needed to find out what worked for them to stay afloat.”
Following the float, the Marines swam 100 meters using a dolphin kick to propel themselves through the pool. The dolphin kick required Marines to thrust themselves through the water without using their arms or kicking with their feet, said Smith.
When the Marines returned to the deep end of the pool, they executed a front and back-flip underwater.
After successfully completing the flips, the Marines were required to conduct the bobbing drill five more times before the next test.
“The bobs between exercises allows the Marines to catch their breath and get focused mentally,” said Smith.
Next, the students attempted to recover a mask located at the bottom of the pool, using only their teeth. Because their feet were still bound and hands still clenched together, teeth were their only option.
The screening process concluded with tank treading.
The Marines strapped air tanks to their backs and donned fins and scuba masks. After leaping back into the water, the Marines were required to tread water for five minutes. This time, they were allowed to use both their hands and feet.
This was the final test for some Marines before attending dive school. Others had to continue training and repeat the process to gain entry into the school later in the year.
“This screening is hard for some of the Marines because some of them have never been introduced to the test,” said Sgt. Thomas M. Vigen, an amphibious reconnaissance team leader. “This provides great introduction and training for the Marines.”
One of the main focuses for the instructors was to build water confidence, said Smith.
“The Marines have to get past that mental barrier,” said Smith. “After they can get past that, they can accomplish the course.”
The other focus was for the instructors to see and know that the Marines they are sending to the dive school have the skills and ability to pass the class, said Vigen.
“Most Marines can fight farther than they think they can,” Vigen explained. “They just have to have the confidence and break their mental barrier.”
| Date Taken: | 02.02.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 02.09.2012 20:23 |
| Story ID: | 83623 |
| Location: | CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 382 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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