Grissom Marines conquer swim qualifications

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Mota
  • 434th ARW Public Affairs
GREAT LAKES NAVAL STATION, Ill. --  While every Marine is a rifleman, these amphibious warriors are also proficient swimmers, enabling them to rise from the depths of the sea to challenges the nation places on their shoulders.

Marine reservists of Detachment 1, Communication Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 45, 4th Marine Logistics Group from Grissom, conducted their Marine Corps water survival training program qualifications at Great Lakes Naval Station, Ill., March. 21.

"Marines are amphibious in nature, so our ability to survive in water is critical to our mission," said Capt. Timothy Chun, Detachment 1 inspector instructor. "MCWSTP is a critical part of our training requirements because it ensures we have the confidence and ability to continue our mission in the event of a water-borne mishap."

MCWSTP is a course consisting of basic, intermediate and advanced levels of qualifications. Marines are required to complete the basic level of qualifications every two years and can progress to the advanced levels of training based on military occupational specialty requirements and on a voluntary basis.

"The basic level of qualification gives Marines an opportunity to see what it is like to be in the water with their gear on," said Sgt. Peter Richards, Engineer Service Company, Combat Logistics Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group instructor of water survival. "The training is designed to mimic real-world scenarios we might encounter during a water-borne mishap."

In the water survival basic level, Marines have to remove their flak jackets, helmets and rifles in shallow water in less than 10 seconds, enter water from a 15-foot tower simulating an abandon ship technique, tread water for four minutes, and conduct a 25-meter pack-swim, explained Richards.

"The qualification really pushed my confidence," said Sgt. Daniel Morehouse, Detachment 1 training chief. "It was especially beneficial for individuals who are not naturally strong swimmers because it gave them a chance to use the water survival skills they were taught in an environment that replicates situations Marines might encounter."

"During MCWSTP approximately 90 Marines completed basic qualification with a 100 percent pass rate," said Chun. "After everyone successfully completed the basic level 25, volunteers went on to complete intermediate qualification."

The intermediate level consists of employing flotation gear, swimming with full gear and a pack for 50 meters, a self-rescue after jumping off a diving tower and swimming 250 meters. After completing those tasks Marines must employ flotation techniques for 10 minutes and shed their gear in the deep end of the pool.

"The intermediate level really pushed my endurance and tested the skills I learned during the course," explained Morehouse who successfully passed the intermediate level of the course. "When I was treading water I had to blow up my blouse to tread water for the longer duration required during intermediate qualification; I couldn't have done it without those techniques."

Due to time restraints, none of the Marines were able to qualify further than the intermediate level; however their training goals were met, said Chun.

"We came here with the goal of getting everyone their basic qualifications, and we were able to do that and then some by sending additional Marines through the intermediate qualifications" concluded Chun.

Detachment 1 is a tenant unit located at Grissom. The base is also home to the 434th Air Refueling Wing, the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command, as well as three Army Reserve units. Airmen, Soldiers and Marines routinely deploy from Grissom around the world in support of the Department of Defense mission and U.S. strategic objectives.

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