Staff Writer
Cadet James Seay spent much of his teenage years in the water. His freshman year he was a lifeguard, sophomore year head lifeguard and junior year he was an assistant manager at a pool in his hometown of Jacksonville, Fla. So he found most of the activities at Combat Water Survival Training easy.
However, the Delta Co. Cadet from Florida A&M was used to regular swimming clothing, so the added uniform and gear gave him a challenge, especially in the 15-meter combat gear swim.
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| Precious Comer from the University of South Alabama with Co. C 1/46th Inf. leans back while treading water during Combat Water Survival Training. Cadets unable to tread water for 5 minutes were sent to remedial swim in the shallow end of the pool. Photo by Ryan Stone |
CWST is composed of five stations aimed at teaching survival techniques to stay afloat with and without gear. Some of that gear includes an M16 rifle and load-bearing equipment.
Surviving, overcoming fear and building confidence are goals of the combat water survival training at the Leader’s Training Course.
“Water survival in a nut-shell is the basic ability to survive, not necessarily swim,” said CWST committee commanding officer Lt. Col. Ivan Evans.
The Cadets coming to CWST have swimming abilities ranging from a great swimmer to somebody who has never touched the water before, so for some it’s easy and for some it’s difficult. The goal is to help each individual break down the barrier that she or he might have.
Co. D 1/46th Inf. Cadet Shemeria McNeal struggled with aspects of the course. The first test she faced was five minutes of water treading, which is deceptively tough. Most Cadets have never experienced treading in full clothing before.
“I can swim, but I’m worried about treading,” the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University student said.
After a minute of smooth treading, McNeal started struggling and grabbed the wall. She was then directed toward remedial swimming, which is a station in shallow water designated for Cadets who need some additional assistance. After they get the grasp of treading, they then head back toward the deep end of the pool to re-test for treading.
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| Brittany Brewer from Jackson State University with Co. C 1/46th Inf. keeps afloat during Combat Water Survival Training. Photo by Ryan Stone |
“I kind of panicked the first time. The second time I got it pretty good,” he said.
Charlie Co. Cadet Gary Lambert from Mississippi State also struggled with the 15-meter swim.
“The 15-meter swim was the hardest for me because I had to do it twice because my foot hit the floor,” he said.
Seay described his overall experience as fun, especially since he knew how to swim.
While Cadets like Seay flow through the course, struggling Cadets usually have to try things two or more times and are given support from the cadre.
“When a Cadet is struggling I’ll send them to another station that they are good at,” Evans said.
This gives the Cadets a chance to do something they’re good at to help them build some confidence, and then come back and try to tackle the obstacle they are trying to overcome, Evans said.
McNeal took the tough way through the course, having to go through remedial swimming and trying events multiple times. She said she was exhausted from the early morning physical training test.
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| Cadet Jeremy Fuentes from San Antonio blows air into his ACU to help him float during Combat Water Survival Training. Photo by Ryan Stone |
“The Cadets are exhausted, she’s exhausted,” said 2nd Lt. Brandon Halligan of Fayetteville, NC.
McNeal’s last event found her atop the three-meter diving board. She wanted to turn around, but cadre kept urging her on. She jumped off the board twice, but technically didn’t pass the test, because she didn’t hold on to her weapon. She tried again, same result.
“She faced fear today. She may not have succeeded by the same measures as other Cadets, but she definitely succeeded. She left one event on the table and she’ll get that before she’s done here the end of the month at LTC,” Maj. Stoner said.