Photo By Cpl. James Sauter | Cpl. Thomas Masters, a Marine Corps Instructor Course of Water Survival student, acts...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - Marines from Marine Corps Base Hawaii endured strenuous training to become water survival instructors during a Marine Corps Instructor Course of Water Survival at the Base Pool, April 11.
For three weeks, MCICWS tests Marines’ endurance as they go through exhausting exercises such as rescue swimming, emergency response, first aid and combat scenarios. By the end of the course, the Marines who pass will be certified instructors to teach other Marines water survival skills.
“This course teaches the Marines how to instruct and supervise water survival training,” said Gunnery Sgt. Ivan Del Valle, chief instructor and course manger. “It also teaches the safety aspect of the training in addition to the instructional part in order for them to deliver classes in the future.”
During the day’s training, the Marines were given a classroom instruction on proper techniques and swimming strokes in preparation for a rescue swimming practical application session in the pool.
“After they see the initial demonstration, they’re going to do three different rescue techniques,” Del Valle said. “The first rescue is approaching the victim from the front and escaping underwater from the victim after he grabs hold. The second rescue is rescuing from behind, and the third is rescuing while escaping from the victim’s hold and then towing the victim across the pool.”
During the exercises, simulated victims shouted, “Help, I’m drowning!” and the rescuers shouted, “Don’t worry buddy, I’m coming!” The victims were instructed to grab the rescuer when they grabbed onto them to take the rescuer underwater.
“During a rescue, the preferred method is to approach the victim from behind,” Del Valle said. “When you come from behind the victim [he/she] cannot see you and cannot grab you. If the victim grabs hold of the rescuer, chances increase of both the victim and rescuer becoming victims.”
Del Valle explained that in a real-life situation, the victim is panicking and is trying to grab onto something that floats. When a rescuer comes, the victim’s instinct is to grab on. So during the training, the students are taught how to approach the victim, escape if the victim grabs on and then tow the victim, once he’s passive and calm, using the proper swimming techniques.
“Initially we had 25 students for the pre-screening, but only 20 made it,” Del Valle said. “This course has a 50 to 55 percent attrition rate.”
After several minutes in the pool, repeating the rescue drills, fatigue set in as some Marines said they couldn’t perform the proper technique due to cramping and lack of breath. Before the exercise was over, two Marines dropped on request, bringing the total number of students down to 18.
“I heard a few of those guys talk about how they couldn’t do it anymore,” said Cpl. Thomas Masters, a MCICWS student, and native of Kearney, Mo. “I was expecting hell and a gut-check when I decided to sign up for this course. Even if you’re a decent swimmer, it’s a mind game. It’s more than just pushing yourself, it’s also convincing yourself that you can do it.”
Masters signed up for the course to make himself more valuable to his unit. Although there were points during the day’s training when Masters wanted to quit, he convinced himself that he could do it. Masters also said he was an avid swimmer before coming to the course. He said being a decent swimmer beforehand does help when performing the required techniques for the rescue strokes.
“Most of swimming is technique because once you get that down, then your strength conditioning comes into play,” Masters said. “When you try hard and listen to what the instructors have to say, then the course is actually a lot of fun. It does suck at times, but every time you get out of the water, the urgency to do it all over again comes back.”
For the course’s final test, the students will have to swim 1,500 meters and perform various swimming exercises with combat gear, including helmets and rifles, in order to graduate as certified water survival instructors.
| Date Taken: | 04.11.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.18.2012 20:42 |
| Story ID: | 86949 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 761 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Surviving the Cut: Marines train to be Water Survival Instructors, by Cpl James Sauter, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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