Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego -- The roots of the Marine Corps’ history go deep in amphibious operations. That hasn’t changed, and today’s modern Corps still requires proficient knowledge and skill execution of basic water skills. To ensure recruits understand the importance of water survival skills, they are taught the basics here in recruit training.
Recruits of Bravo Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, completed the Water Survival Basic Qualification at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Dec. 15.
“The Marine Corps is an amphibious force,” said Sgt. Kurtis A. Earls, instructor of water survival, Instructional Training Company, Support Battalion. “Just like ‘every Marine a rifleman’, every Marine must be amphibious and pass the basic Marine Corps swim qualification.”
Recruits first received a brief of qualification requirements. Marine Corps Instructors of Water Survival demonstrated each event and taught the proper techniques necessary to successfully pass. The techniques are intended to be completed even by those who are not confident in their swimming abilities.
“We take recruits who have never been in or around water and teach them to survive,” said Earls, a Eureka Springs, Ark., native. “We go out on ships and helicopters, so you never know when you’ll need the skill if an accident happens.”
The swim qualification introduces new challenges that recruits must overcome in order to graduate recruit training. It consists of a 25-meter swim in the shallow and deep end of the pool, 10-foot jump from a diving board, four-minute water tread, 25-meter swim using a waterproof-pack and a 10-second gear strip while submerged.
Recruits are required to wear the Marine Corps Camouflaged Utilities Uniform and combat boots. The extra items weigh down the recruits, which restrict swim movements they may be used to. These additional challenges raise the difficulty and greatly affect their ability to complete the qualification.
“I thought the pack swim was difficult,” said Recruit Joseph J. Birch, Platoon 1026. “I tried going forward, but felt like I was moving backwards.”
Fear and lack of confidence caused some to become stressed and panicked, which made them not utilize the techniques they were taught.
“I was surprised at how many other recruits failed at listening to the basics,” said Birch, a Big Rapids, Mich., native who was recruited out of Recruiting Substation Lansing, Mich. “Some of the events they could just make their way through, but the four-minute water tread was where they really struggled as they moved a lot instead of just floating.”
The instructors do their best to recognize struggling recruits and help them maintain their composure while in the water.
“As an instructor, it’s our job to make sure they’re amphibiously qualified,” said Earls. “You see (recruits) not mentally in it, so we try to calm them down and show them we want them to pass.”
Although the majority of recruit training is focused on land-based training, combat water survival training is just as critical to learn. Marines can be deployed on ships around the globe, as it is one of the main components to the Corps’ long history and purpose.
“This taught me to be confident with any potential water situation I may be put in,” said Birch. “You just never know when something might occur and you need to utilize these skills that will save your life.”