Combat Diver Preparation

[Kar358]

0

[Pete]

Every TV commercial break take a deep breath and then while holding it - do 20 good pushups, tie a bowline, girth hitch with extra turn, square knot - then untie them all, then do 20 more pushups and then breath.

When you can do about 150 flutter kicks you're getting close.

Being able to drink water through your nose while on your back didn't hurt back in the old days. Don't know if this modern course will have you do that...

Oh, and using the search feature will find a ton more similar stuff on this site.

[Kar358]

Thanks! I'm already well above 150 4-counts, but I'll definitely have to try the breath hold pushups. I did try searching the site, but didn't have any success with "Combat Diver", "Diver", "Special Forces Diver", or "Combat Diver Qualification Course." My results on google have been almost equally bare. Did you have a specific past thread in mind that discusses this topic?

[TrapperFrank]

My question is, and I mean no disrespect, why would a school slot in Combat Diver School be wasted on an ROTC cadet? It used to be hard enough for guys on dive teams to get a school quota. This does not seem like a good use of army resources.

[Kar358]

I would tend to agree with you, but I'm certainly not going to complain about the opportunity. I'm assuming that its a recruiting tools for Rangers and SF, because the few cadets who have gotten a chance to go in the past have been truly the best in the nation, and will make up a sizable chunk of future spec ops officers.

[JJ_BPK]

How to fail the SCUBA course,,

Observations from a FOG:


1) I went in 69' and I think one of the little "problems" I pondered was swimming side stroke. It's a stroke that is seldom used and at that time All open top water swims were side stroke. You can switch sides,, as long as your partner agrees. In our case, my partner and I didn't switch. I was on my right, he always stayed on his left.

The kicker was all swims at that time were also with a compass. You had to take into account the arc you generally swim on your side, depending on who was lead.

2) Claustrophobia,, Do everything you can to test yourself. We probably lost 20% of my class because they could not swim in the pitch dark.. I say test, not overcome. I don't think there is a way to "learn" not to be. And I don't want you on my team "trying". This phobia is not only confined spaces. It can come on while swimming in a crystal clear open ocean dive. Looking down into 1500 ft of water when you're 80 ft from the top,, it's awesome,, to some of us..

3)Clearing you sinuses and eustachian tubes as you dive. Failing to properly clear can do tremendous damage to your ears. Part of our final qual was a free dive riding a 20lb anchor to 85ft. Let go of the anchor, strike one. You had two chances, and if you were lucky, one retry on another date. This problem can at times be traced to your childhood. Did you have your tonsils out? Did you have a lot of sore throats or childhood allergies.

Good Luck.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by TrapperFrank

My question is, and I mean no disrespect, why would a school slot in Combat Diver School be wasted on an ROTC cadet? It used to be hard enough for guys on dive teams to get a school quota. This does not seem like a good use of army resources.

I concur completely.

As well as cadets at SFAS.

TR

[Kar358]

I've heard about the cadets going to SFAS, but I don't believe that program is still operational. Playing devil's advocate, I would argue that any cadet of similar quality to the one's selected for CDQC would be significantly more qualified than the average 18x. After all, pretty much all of these kids have 3.7+ gpa's, 370+ pt scores , and have demonstrated impressive skill/competence in their battalion or the MA for their first two/three/four years. Is it a "waste" if they don't proceed directly to SFQC, even if they will likely be there a few years later?

I'm not intending to be disrespectful, just curious what you think of that.

[Peregrino]

Originally Posted by TrapperFrank

My question is, and I mean no disrespect, why would a school slot in Combat Diver School be wasted on an ROTC cadet? It used to be hard enough for guys on dive teams to get a school quota. This does not seem like a good use of army resources.

Because we aren't filling the available slots with SF Soldiers.

Side note for the SF Soldiers reading this who are interested in attempting CDQC - pre-SCUBA is back. The CG just signed the new Policy Letter. Check with your DLSMF for details. Fair warning - if you try to go to SFUWO without meeting the new pre-reqs, you will be sent home.

[jsmitty11]

Youtube. Great resource with a great PJ cadre givin you tips. Mike Maroney is the username. Total Immersion is also a good resource for surface swimming. Never use restraints while you're training and always have a buddy who knows how to pull you out of the deep end. Hypoxic training can't be taken lightly. Few things to search: Egg Beat kick, keyhole stroke, 10 ups, Combat Side Stroke, bobbing, flooded mask. You'll be able to bounce around the common videos and get tons of information from other people trying to not drown and people who have succesfully not drown and graduated indoc. To my knowledge, PJ indoc has prescuba built into their selection type smoke sessions for the beginning of their pipeline

[Last hard class]

Originally Posted by jsmitty11

Youtube. Great resource

How do you know? Have you been to CDQC?

I didn't go through MFF when I was in. I would never have the balls to get on that thread and tell people how to prepare for it.


Feels like your selling something.


LHC

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by jsmitty11

Youtube. Great resource with a great PJ cadre givin you tips. Mike Maroney is the username. Total Immersion is also a good resource for surface swimming. Never use restraints while you're training and always have a buddy who knows how to pull you out of the deep end. Hypoxic training can't be taken lightly. Few things to search: Egg Beat kick, keyhole stroke, 10 ups, Combat Side Stroke, bobbing, flooded mask. You'll be able to bounce around the common videos and get tons of information from other people trying to not drown and people who have succesfully not drown and graduated indoc. To my knowledge, PJ indoc has prescuba built into their selection type smoke sessions for the beginning of their pipeline

You really need to slow down, stop posting, and read the rules.

TR

[89DTexan]

What is the view from those who have been to CDQC as it pertains to having previous diving experience?

I've put a few guys looking at going to CDQC through a discover SCUBA class I teach. And have heard a few others completed the open water course taught at JBLM's NAC.

Would previous experience at the recreation level help, or do the techniques taught by the civilian side seem to interfer?

I don't want to waste people's money if they're just doing it to get an edge at CDQC and it isn't helping them.

[JJ_BPK]

Originally Posted by 89DTexan

What is the view from those who have been to CDQC as it pertains to having previous diving experience?

I've put a few guys looking at going to CDQC through a discover SCUBA class I teach. And have heard a few others completed the open water course taught at JBLM's NAC.

Would previous experience at the recreation level help, or do the techniques taught by the civilian side seem to interfer?

I don't want to waste people's money if they're just doing it to get an edge at CDQC and it isn't helping them.

I'll give you the short answer, assuming your question is not as stupid as it sounds..

Discover Scuba Class???

NO.

One can verify they are not claustrophobic in the pool, and will get a cursory education on diving physiology. That's it..

There isn't any comparison to the physical, mental, & academic requirements needed to complete CDQC.

If you took every course PADI teaches, you would still be short of CDQC..

[Peregrino]

Originally Posted by JJ_BPK

I'll give you the short answer, assuming your question is not as stupid as it sounds.. ---------------- If you took every course PADI teaches, you would still be short of CDQC..

True. A bad day on a recreational civilian dive equals an aborted dive. Not so much on a military dive.

Originally Posted by exsquid

Diving in the military sucks. That is just the nature of the beast and why nobody wants to do it.

x/S

Also true. I'm one of the very few SF Divers I know who holds/held civilian instructor certs. Most of the guys will only dive when they're required to.

If you want to prep for CDQC there are training plans available both here and elsewhere on the net to assist with physical conditioning and swimming skills (just another form of physical conditioning). So long as you have an adequate physical prep, everything else you need to know will be taught during training. There's a reason PADI courses are taught in a weekend and CDQC takes weeks that include 16-18 hour days.