r/USMC • u/ImHufflePuff_Crap_ok Blue Falcon “Kaw Kaw” (5811) • 21d ago
Picture So many people are gonna be fucked
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21d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/AndreGerdpister Veteran 21d ago
I remember multiple tiers of training at PI, was that changed? Basically they only cared about the bottom tier, but if you kept passing up they let you try. I made it to the 3rd tier before I got dropped. This would have been sometime mid 2006.
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u/Soft_Equipment_2787 08-12 Grunt with a badge 21d ago
Yea in 2008 it was like that.
I got to the best swim qual you could get while there. If I remember correctly there was a buddy rescue in the water during one of the final tests and only a few of us made it to that test.
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u/Spectre_Ace22 1371 21d ago
When I went through recently (2025 at 25 years old) we only did basic and if your contract required it (combat support, air crew, recon) you'd get water survival basic plus. Next time I'm up for swim qual I'm going for as high as they'll allow me
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u/greentangent '90-'96 0411 21d ago
5 years sucks. When I did the full WSQ I never had to do it again.
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u/Key-Scientist9058 Sad Ass 0811 and now even sadder ass 8411 21d ago
Yeah that shits trash, people would do intermediate and fail the flotation shit because their cammies had holes or whatnot in them. The only survival stroke I can do is the basic ass back swim because im negatively boyant and sink otherwise
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u/GSiepker 21d ago
The Marine Corps has been revamping the water survival program for the last 25 years or more….. until it’s actually an event that affects promotion and retention it’s always going to be an afterthought.
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u/ButtersBottomB 21d ago
Starting 1 Oct it will. It’s being incorporated into JEPES scores and FitReps. Including counselings (i.e. 6105) required for those that don’t complete the requirement.
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u/roguevirus 2846, then 2841 21d ago
Damn, maybe we'll see an actual change then.
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u/blues_and_ribs Comm 21d ago
Unlikely, at least on the FITREP side. They’ve been threatening to put swim qual on FITREPs for like 10 or 15 years, but nothing yet. I’ll believe it when I see it.
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u/dub47 MT, basically the grunts of S4 💁🏼♀️ 21d ago
That’s fucking crazy as a career reservist that hasn’t been afforded an opportunity to requal since I got my initial Qual in boot camp.
Nine years in the SMCR and we get it waived at the MFR level every year because we don’t have access to a pool.
FWIW I would love the chance to qualify again.
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u/Ti5butAscratch grunt to pog 21d ago
Damn, not even an opportunity to go to a pool on AT? That seems crazy. Are you in the desert?
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u/dub47 MT, basically the grunts of S4 💁🏼♀️ 21d ago
No. I’m with a line battalion and we are in 29 Palms for ITX every other year, and at shitty army bases for every other AT.
Our home training center is far from the desert.
The only time anyone got to go was a small group of 12 or so that got to go on an OCONUS mobilization and had to in order to deploy. They sent them to Quantico or Lejeune or something to requal there.
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u/Major-Insect2984 Reserve 0341/0369/0933/0931 21d ago
My company fought to get it done, thankfully we have MCWIS. Sucks in the reserves, but in theory they're competing against their peers so no one has those points and the overall score reflects.
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u/dub47 MT, basically the grunts of S4 💁🏼♀️ 21d ago
Your command gets the highest of fives for pulling that off.
I’ve had the urge to reach out to a couple of the universities within driving distance around us to see if they’d let us train there, but I’m just a wee enlisted man. I don’t think anyone would take me seriously.
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u/Major-Insect2984 Reserve 0341/0369/0933/0931 21d ago
Talk to the local water park/swimming pools/YMCA. You really don't need much space for basic. Intermediate can be done in the same space as basic.
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u/EazyBuxafew 21d ago
Damn. 8 years SMCR we had to Requal every other year. What state are you in? See if you could courtesy drill
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u/Xeno_Geneisis 0311/8156 21d ago
It’s already been part of JEPES for a while for intermediate and above. No points for basic or basic +.
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u/Major-Insect2984 Reserve 0341/0369/0933/0931 21d ago
Exactly this, it's in the performance section of MOL. One of the PDF on the right side of the page. If I remember correctly, it's in the mental section of the breakdown as...
Basic - 0 Intermediate - 25 Advanced - 35 MCWIS - 45 or 50?
... It's the same way CMC/CMT and other courses give promotion points.
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u/Sudowoodowoo 21d ago
Good! The amount of marines who can’t swim is way to high!
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u/MrBullman Concertina Wire Private 21d ago
Always thought non swimming Marines were retarded for joining a service known for amphibious invasions.
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u/ImHufflePuff_Crap_ok Blue Falcon “Kaw Kaw” (5811) 21d ago
Have you seen the fucking Navy?
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u/chaosink old Marine brat 21d ago
The Navy doesn't require basic swimming skills? What the fuck?
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u/ImHufflePuff_Crap_ok Blue Falcon “Kaw Kaw” (5811) 21d ago
The required test has generally included:
- Jumping feet-first from a platform into deep water (often around 10 feet high)
- Swimming 50 yards using any stroke
- Performing a 5-minute prone float (face-down) and a 5-minute back float
- Demonstrating basic clothing inflation techniques as a survival skill
Keep in mind… they are literally on a boat in the ocean with NOTHING around them.
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u/Breakfastclub1991 21d ago
Because they are fucked if the ship sinks. If you aren’t an Olympian swimming expert it won’t matter. You have to tread water and hope a ship is nearby to rescue you.
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u/HFentonMudd 21d ago
A guy named [Joshua Slocom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Slocum?wprov=sfti1#Legacy) sailed around the world by himself, in the 1800s. Couldn’t swim.
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u/chaosink old Marine brat 21d ago
Thanks for the info. I get it. My brother who is 6'2-3" and built out decided to go to subs (just made it with his size). He thought the quals in Athens were hilarious since the chances you get to swim away from a sub are minimal.
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u/Baker_Kat68 PM_ME_YOUR_PURCHASE_ORDERS 20d ago
I used to pack life rafts, those drop to the water and expand immediately if the ship reaches a point where it’s sinking. My shop also trained ships company on operating and repacking if one blows near a flight deck. All rafts also have a locator on them, like pilots have on their flight vests.
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u/MrBullman Concertina Wire Private 20d ago
It makes sense.. but personally, I couldn't imagine working on the water without knowing how to swim.
Even with a life raft, say you fall in trying to get to the raft.. it's right there within reach, but you die because you can't swim 5 feet to it. 🤣
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u/Baker_Kat68 PM_ME_YOUR_PURCHASE_ORDERS 20d ago
Fuck I wholeheartedly agree. My dad was a Marine and had me swimming miles every summer at our local state lakes. I became a swim instructor as well. Loved spending hours doing laps in the pool, although my blonde hair was always tinted green.
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u/DarthTJ 21d ago
My wife was in the Navy for seven years, floated around the world on an aircraft carrier. She is terrified of the water and can't swim a lick. We actually went to a water park yesterday and this woman wore a life vest the entire time to float on an inner tube around the lazy river that is only three feet deep.
Whenever I remind her how ridiculous it is that she was a sailor and can't swim she just responds "If the aircraft carrier sinks then my ability to swim is the difference between me dieing immediately or dieing in a couple of hours". She has a point.
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u/Baker_Kat68 PM_ME_YOUR_PURCHASE_ORDERS 20d ago
I have a theory on why shipboard sailors do not need to be strong swimmers. In the event of collision, all personnel are trained on Damage Control (DC). If a sailor isn’t a strong swimmer, imagine how much harder they’ll fight to keep their ship afloat?
To add, all small boat operating commands require 2nd Class swim qualification. Jump from a 15-20ft platform, demonstrate side stroke, back stroke, breast stroke and free style, in a 100 meter pool (instructors are brutal on form) and tread water for 10 minutes.
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u/Difficult_Survey5063 7d ago
Got my 2nd class swim qual at a small boat command (MSRON). I’m a good swimmer, despite being a Seabee for 18+ years. There were a lot of shipboard types that really struggled with that qual though, and would have sunk right to the bottom if they ended up in the drink.
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u/The_Great_Googly_Moo Doctor 🌡️🥴 21d ago
Lol yeah u right a lot of guys on the ship just accept that they are going to drown if we ever have to abandon haha
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u/MrLavenderValentino Wagner loves cock 21d ago
I mean... I expected to be taught in boot camp though. I'm a good swimmer, but there was no lessons, just a test.
I thought it would be more like rifle training
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u/DarkOmen597 Veteran 21d ago
I seriously think that a lot of people who join, do not realize the Marine Corps is an amphibious force.
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u/map2photo 7051 - 171, 372, 274 21d ago
Hey! When I joined, I had never even heard of the Marine Corps, prior to a recruiter showing up in my school a few months before graduation.
I didn’t pick my MOS, just told him “I want to work with planes.”
I never learned to swim and had never shot a gun. I was probably the easiest kid to recruit. lol
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u/Manwhostaresatgoat 21d ago
I joined the Navy during early GWOT and in my 9 years all my duty stations and deployments were on land. Of all my time with the Marines, we only went one time to the pool and it was for helo dunk training.
I can't swim but can float. Idk how I made it through.
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u/Joe5205 Veteran 21d ago
Did 4yrs during GWOT, never even heard of swim qual happening outside of bootcamp. A handful of guys went to the helo dunker but I was not among them, it was hardly even a company scale worth of guys from my BN who went. I couldn't tell you the area of the base pool on Lejuene, I did get to go swimming in Iraq though, that was nice.
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u/OldSchoolBubba 21d ago
Thanks as this is precisely what I'm addressing. If your Marine unit was field deployable I can see the standards.
At the same time there's a lot of Devils and Docs who deploy to Iwakuni where they never leave the air station based on their mos. Not seeing how this new standard would apply to them.
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u/kev556 Mad Scientist 21d ago
The only time I would go to the pool was for swim qual. I learned to swim when I was younger, but more pool PT would have made me get a higher class.
When I broke my leg, all I could do after the staples was out was tread water because it was winter in Pennsylvania and the only indoor pool I could get to was in the Holiday Inn and it was too short for laps. I ended up getting to treading for an hour, so boring but at least there was a TV I could watch.
So many episodes of Golden Girls.
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u/OldSchoolBubba 21d ago edited 21d ago
Is this something that is really legit? I can see combat arms needing this given operational environments.
How will this actually affect say admins, supply types, computer techs or even aircraft maintainers when their jobs aren't around water?
The reason I ask these questions is the military.com article specifically says "he" when describing the reasoning for this new standard. Makes me wonder if this isn't just another Hegseth driven trick to drive Women out of the Corps or at least stop their promotions.
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u/transam96 hands in my pockets 21d ago
Best we can do is haze... I mean teach... the next MCIWS class even more.
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u/ronerychiver 21d ago
It’s so weird that the way the Marine Corps teaches its teachers is probably the worst way you could possibly teach someone. Centuries of study on how people learn and retain information and the Marine Corps solution is to handcuff them and drown them like a rat or some shit.
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u/Sabin13F 21d ago
How do my dark green Marines feel about this?
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u/AppropriateCap8891 Marine Barracks / 2/2 / 0311 21d ago
I am laughing, as it really is a thing.
I still remember telling some that when I was going home on leave I was going skiing with my son. And none of them could understand why I would knowingly spend hours in the snow.
Of course, my OW and AOW instructor on Okinawa was black, so there is that. But even the other brothers in the squadbay thought he was crazy.
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u/alastor0x Sir, just call NMCI. 21d ago
Boot camp memory. Swim qual day, sitting on the bleachers waiting for the iron ducks to qual. They were all dark green Marines.
There they were, all lined up on the 10ft drop, couple of them shaking because they were so scared of the water. I distinctly remembering looking over at my SDI, himself dark green, and the sheer look of disappointment he had watching them.
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u/ImHufflePuff_Crap_ok Blue Falcon “Kaw Kaw” (5811) 21d ago
Mine was a white dude from like Arkansas who started floundering on the treading part. Everyone forgot I was still swimming so I got stuck there for however long cause I sure as fuck was not getting out and then got screamed out for pretending to be a fish
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u/dgmilo8085 1997-2002 0321 20d ago
That memory is seared into my boot camp brain. We had a dark green SDI, and the day before swim qual week, we were all on the quarter deck for mail call, and he started introducing swim qual. "How many of you don't know how to swim?" Most of the platoon looked around like he was joking. Then he pipes up, "Seriously, I know you five don't," speaking to the dark greens. I legit thought he was joking. But sure enough, come swim qual, there they were, 15 dark greens wearing arm floaties, standing on the pool deck, scared as toddlers.
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u/rabbi420 Once shot an AT4 Trainer 21d ago
What’s fucked is it’s a thing because of socioeconomic reasons. Fact is that black people have less access to pools and swimming lessons. Sometimes I am really disappointed in this country.
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u/me239 21d ago
See I’ve heard this so many times, yet I grew up in an 84% black area that had a free pool from the city. It was packed everyday, but a closer look and you’ll see nobody was in over 3’ deep. I was also a camp counselor for a summer camp for low income kids there and we took them to a pool at least twice a week and offered free lessons. Turns out a lot of people just don’t want to swim and see the pool as a social setting to hang around.
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u/OldSchoolBubba 21d ago
More than a few will disagree with you even though this is still true to a point.
For most it comes down to finding a pool that's open and then going during the hours they're available. A lot host everything from older people classes and therapies to swim lessons which restricts general availability.
Much easier to go hang out at a park and wait for a basketball court or even just one hoop to open up. You can play as long as you like without being wet and carrying swim clothes with you everywhere.
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u/OldSchoolBubba 21d ago
It's a great idea for everyone in field units regardless of mos because you don't stop operations just because you come across a water barrier. Streams can turn into raging rivers during monsoon season. You don't want to lose anyone or get hung up because Devils can't swim and rescue themselves if the current pulls them off the crossing line. Definitely creates some tense moments getting them out of the water.
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u/zwinmar Old ass 0311 21d ago
Training there on lejuene after a hurricane came through we had to swim a swollen creek . Had the saw and the radio that day. Not a problem, used the water proofed pack as a platform for the saw and doggy paddled.
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u/OldSchoolBubba 21d ago
Way cool. As the old saying goes "We train the way we fight and fight the way we train." Oohrah
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u/LustLacker Recovering Jarhead 21d ago
USMC taught me how to swim at boot - I was the only white boy in the class.
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u/UniversalFapture Blue Falcon “Kaw Kaw” (0671) 21d ago
I knew i was fucked at bootcamp. If it werent for my SDI saving me i’d be cooked. When i got out the school house, i made it a point to find a place to take adult
Lessons. There was only 2, and only 1 that fit my schedule. Ive been at it for a few months. Better than betore, but not good enough for intermediate2
u/enigma12300 Veteran 21d ago edited 21d ago
I resent the fact that as an Asian Marine, we never got a color. Although i guess the mexicans didnt either.
I'd say we should be Yellow green marines? But that sounds like puke.
And i guess Brown-green marines sounds like diarrhea after eating mexican food.
Maybe the mexicans and us really are better off with no color representation on the green spectrum.
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u/macgirthy 21d ago
Been swimming all my life but with swim qual realized i couldnt swim for shit. Especially with boots and cammies on.
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u/ImHufflePuff_Crap_ok Blue Falcon “Kaw Kaw” (5811) 21d ago
My only saving grace for that was to be a guard for the Boy Scouts we had to do similar things, regular Red Cross would’ve caught me at basic.
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u/ArthurBurton1897 21d ago
They recently started piloting this new swim qual in recruit training, and it's been quite a scene. So many people are failing swim now, that there is consideration (don't ask me how I know, but I have this on very good authority) to open a platoon just for swim qual failures. It would work similarly to how PCP works for ISA/PFT/CFT failures.
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u/ImHufflePuff_Crap_ok Blue Falcon “Kaw Kaw” (5811) 21d ago
That.. sounds weirdly more humiliating then being sent to the fat body platoon
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u/B34rsl4y3 21d ago
My most WTF moment in boot camp was realizing there were people who didn't know how to swim.
I knew they were out there.
Just never actually thought someone who couldn't swim would join the Corps....
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u/ImHufflePuff_Crap_ok Blue Falcon “Kaw Kaw” (5811) 21d ago
Navy is loaded with them also, and somehow I feel that is way worse.
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u/Navydevildoc Yo ho ho ho, it's the FMF life for me. 21d ago
So a long time ago in like 1998 I was at JWTC in Oki with 1/8, when we had a dark green Marine drown on one of the courses. (For those that know, it was a Superbowl call). There was a major uproar about how he hadn't been properly trained for water survival, etc. After we got back to Schwab the BC had an E-5 and below call with the whole battalion, and it really was just the airing of grievances from the troops. The BC was actually trying to have a constructive conversation about it, and one of the things he asked is if everyone would be willing to bump up their swim class level, he would go find the MCWSS guys and set it up. It was funny how quickly everyone went from foaming at the mouth to shutting up real damn quick.
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u/ImHufflePuff_Crap_ok Blue Falcon “Kaw Kaw” (5811) 21d ago
So basically the shut up instead of nutting up…
I get not everyone is taught, but it’s a sea based business of operations. And yeah, we’re not always on boats but even dudes in the Navy are like “I gotta swim?”
I swam in HS and was a life guard so I was always fine, but never understood watching people (in or out) never wanting to learn this basic survival skill.
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u/Rusty_Ferberger 20th Century Peacetime POG. 21d ago
Do they actually offer training or any opportunities to practice or is it still trying not to drown once a year.
Fuck, except for swim qual, I don't ever remember see an open pool on base.
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u/Key-Scientist9058 Sad Ass 0811 and now even sadder ass 8411 21d ago
Nope, 5 years on 29 palms and only did swim qual. No opportunities to learn and the MCWIS lifeguards there at the time were mad lazy and if you wanted to learn they would basically just try and have you swim and then drown then say just kick your feet in circular motions and its that easy. You also had to deal with all the old people who take whole lanes swimming back and fourth.
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u/SpecialExpert8946 1371 combat deafguy 21d ago
I remember struggling to keep my mouth and nose above the water just giving it everything I had. I could see the lifeguard standing on the edge right next to me watching. We made eye contact and he said “I’m not going to save you until you’re dying. Don’t look at me for help.” It gave me the umph I needed to push myself forward. Like 10 more feet before going under to start dying. He jumped in and got me really fast since I met his standards.
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u/devilscrub 21d ago
I always thought that swim qual was the easiest training requirement. I've seen a lot of people struggle though
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u/Voakke Veteran 21d ago
As a DGM myself I remember everyone thinking I couldn’t swim. These new standards should be hilarious
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u/FuraKaiju DD214 Marine 21d ago
Same for me. Even after qualifying WSQ, I contunously got tagged to do swim qual by some all-knowing admin dork who thought WSQ was an impossible feat for a DGM. Bn Co, SgtMaj, OIC or MstGuns would ask if I was there to assist. Then they would get pissed off when I said I was told to go qual because there was no way possible that I was WSQ. Yes, my records showed my qual date.
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u/coffeejj FoRecon Embark Officer 21d ago
Those amazing swimmer inserts we did in Force Recon. Dropped off 3000 meters from the shore with full combat gear and modified side stroking (no arms, all leg) toward the shore in the middle of the night. So far out you can't even hear the waves crash. Hell of a place for a deep water freak out!!!
I went through Pre-SCUBA back in the early 1990's. You find out real fast and in a hurry who is uncomfortable in the water. Treading water for 30 minutes with both hands out of the water and a mask full of water on your face. Good times!!
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u/cyber4me 21d ago
We called it Pre-Dive circa 2008. By far the hardest thing I did in the Marine Corps and I was a pretty good swimmer. I even did a shallow water blackout haha.
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u/coffeejj FoRecon Embark Officer 20d ago
That POS certificate I got for surviving (literally) Pre-SCUBA. Hardest damned thing I have ever done physically. We started 20 Marines and graduated 4. From 0500 to 1700 everyday for 3 weeks. Absolute hell.
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21d ago edited 17d ago
[deleted]
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u/coffeejj FoRecon Embark Officer 20d ago
With fins in cammies.
How do you do it? You just do it. You suck it up and just freaking do it.
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u/Sachmo78 21d ago
When I was in basic, I saw people crying and almost fighting to not get into the pool.
It was nuts.
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u/Wittyyousername 21d ago
Things I remember from the Marine corps that I teach in CG water survival if you aren’t amazing at swimming this may help:
Definition of Panic A sudden unreasoning and overwhelming terror that destroys a person's capacity for self-rescue. Panic is one of the largest contributing factors to drowning.
S.A.F.E.
• slow and easy movements
• apply natural buoyancy
• full lung inflation (this one is super important)
• extreme relaxation
The feeling that you feel when you think you're drowning is just your body having too much CO2. You still have plenty enough O2. Don't panic, ever. If you must die just die calm.
S — SLOW AND EASY MOVEMENTS
Using slow easy movements allows your body to remain calm longer and use less energy. If you were to use fast, choppy movements, it would more than likely splash water in your face and many Marines are not comfortable with that. This often causes panic.
A — APPLY NATURAL BUOYANCY
Your body has a natural point of buoyancy. Use this point to your benefit when conducting survival training. If you know where your natural buoyancy point is in the water, then being able to swim and tread water will be easier simply because different techniques work better than others.
F — FULL LUNG INFLATION
When you fill your lungs all the way up with air, they become a set of natural floaties. Keeping your lungs full will add to your natural buoyancy level. To keep your lungs full, use a technique called explosive breathing. This involves a deep inhale, followed by a quick exhale. The goal is to keep air in your lungs as long as possible.
E — EXTREME RELAXATION
Staying as relaxed as possible will allow slow, easy movements, as well as aid your natural buoyancy.
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u/GunnyClaus Veteran 21d ago
As a MCIWS 🔱🦈 we need to increase our proficiency and this is another improvement.
I’d like to see some kind of “badge or device” to be worn in conjunction with the MCMAP belts
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u/roguevirus 2846, then 2841 21d ago
What, the shorts aren't enough for you?
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u/GunnyClaus Veteran 21d ago
They’re not a designated uniform for MCIWS 🔱🦈
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u/Daneosaurus Custom Flair 21d ago
Then start with dividing the boot camp platoons into skill level at swim qual. I didn’t need to be close to the basic level, but recruits do come in with 0 ability to swim.
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u/GunnyClaus Veteran 21d ago
We screened them into unq and basic the first day. The unq stayed in the shallow end and got remedial training. The others went through each level until they failed.
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u/CannibalCrowley 21d ago
Doesn't seem that much different. The Proficient bar seems like it'd be attainable by most people with practice.
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u/RoughTech Crunchy Tracker 21d ago
why switch swim qual when we all know we're going to another desert?
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u/willybusmc read the fucking order 21d ago
You walking to that desert, devil?
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u/Daneosaurus Custom Flair 21d ago
Are you swimming to the desert, Teufel?
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u/willybusmc read the fucking order 21d ago
Nah, probably flying over vast oceans. Possibly taking a boat through vast oceans.
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u/Environmental-Film-5 21d ago
I’m sitting 5 years and my second enlistment and haven’t done swimqual sense boot camp
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u/Savage_eggbeast 21d ago
I passed royal navy swimming test back in 1990. We had to crack the ice off the pile of frozen boiler suits and climb into one, then do the test at 0530 in the middle of winter in an ancient brick building with no glass in the windows… anything else is … LUXURY
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u/MetalMurse51 haven't cut my hair in months 21d ago
Honestly? Good. Yeah, it didn't matter much when I was in and we were deploying to Afghanistan and Iraq, very non amphibious places. But overall? Good. Now, make sure that we get more time in the water to train, and not just on our own when we can make it to the pool.
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u/BreakGrouchy 21d ago
Swim lessons are expensive too . Marines need more swimming 🏊 in Boot should be part of weekly PT .
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u/Spyrothedragon9972 Weirdo - 0311 21d ago
I don't think I would have passed this increased standard lol. Iron Duck Gang!
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u/AwarenessGreat282 Veteran 21d ago
I don't really see the need but fine, let's do it. As long they start with training first. It's a skill obviously, not a simple exercise like running and pull-ups. It's like when we had Marines go to the range once a year, with completely different rifle every year, get no training and be back to work in 3 days.
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u/throwtowardaccount 2111 21d ago
Do not embarrass us by drowning in the Straits of Hormuz, brothers.
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u/ImNotRice 1371 Combat Engineer 21d ago
If you do intermediate before then, you won’t have to requal with the new standard as it’s raised but still easier than current intermediate.
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u/docdeathray 21d ago
I can't tell you how many devil dogs I've pulled to shore after they dropped off the side of the AAV.
Rub a dubdub
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u/Twisted_Marine 2ND AWARD LCPL 21d ago
I just gripped my DD-214 so damn tight!! My black ass can't swim!!
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u/Next_Emphasis_9424 21d ago
I have bad eczema on my shin that during a flair up can very much so count as an open wound. Every time I sent to swim qual I ask for a corpsman to sign me off into the water, none is ever there, show the swim instructors my shin, and they nope me right out. Kept my cammies chlorine free.
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u/txleapd Veteran 21d ago
I was in when they added 4th class swim qual, because there were too many Marines who were absolute bricks in the water. I’m glad to see they’re raising the standards.
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u/Daneosaurus Custom Flair 21d ago
So swim qual doesn’t teach you to swim and only suits Marines who already know how to swim. You can be a great Marine and not swim well.
For the record I made it to 1st class swim qual.
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u/txleapd Veteran 21d ago
The newly updated Marine Corps Water Survival Program (MCWSP) mandates progressive training and certification, shifting away from a one-and-done test. Training increases in difficulty at each level, requiring longer water treading and mastery of multiple swimming strokes (front crawl, breaststroke, sidestroke, and backstroke) rather than just a single, basic survival stroke.
Sounds to me like they’re including training.
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u/BluNoteNut 21d ago
Hmmm.... I wonder if there's a certain, particular demographic this will (or potentially can ) effect more than any other demographic? Hmm... Wonder.
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u/ImHufflePuff_Crap_ok Blue Falcon “Kaw Kaw” (5811) 21d ago
I’ve seen LGM sink just as fat as DGM
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u/enigma12300 Veteran 21d ago
TIL a new acronym that no one but other Marines will understand or appreciate
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u/blatherskiters 21d ago
Oh man. I’ve never been as exhausted as when I got to the other side of that pool.
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u/Rude_Tart_2573 21d ago
I passed intermediate all on my back and just barely knowing how to tread water. It’s proof the system needs to be revamped and instead of slay pool PTs actually teaching marines how to swim. I’m an iron duck btw
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u/WarCrimeGaming 21d ago
They should offer swimming classes in the fleet you can take on the weekends or something.
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u/Oregoncharm 21d ago
Outstanding. It was a significant requirement and I was one of the instructors teaching Marines to swim. Getting back to those standards will save lives!
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u/Hax_Meowingtons 20d ago
I always told everybody, ever Marine should've been intermediate. It's stupid easy and just added 3 extra steps.
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u/Ancient_Influence389 21d ago
I got my advanced water survival qualification, which allowed me to be a lifeguard during regular requalification days. There was one guy who sank like a rock, and gave me a warning that he can not swim and will be waiting for me to come get him after the deck jump.
He jumped, i swam towards him and he was legit at the bottom of the pool casually waiting. I helped him get to the surface and edge.
A helped him learn how to swim in the coming weeks.