swim class in phase II - Page 2

doc22584 · 08-24-2006, 09:33

I've been in the pool everyday swimming and i've got my confidence up. I dont panic in the water anymore so thats a plus. I'm fairly confident in my swimming abilities now and am confident about the swim test. I understand what everyone is saying about getting better at swimming. Ill be in the pool everyday until its second nature to me.

x SF med · 08-24-2006, 09:47

Doc-
We're trying to let you know swimming is a very important part of your chosen career path. If you can get to lakes, rivers, the ocean - practice in them too, your buddies that are strong swimmers will probably want to go with you, for the practice, and as a cameraderie thing - keep working on it, you'll probably get to the point that you find swimming fun.

doc22584 · 08-24-2006, 15:38

I understand that swimming is very important, and i appreciate everyone help and suggestions. I mean it only makes sense that you have to be able to swim if you want to be a QP. Like someone said earlier, those 3 lighting bolts stand for LAND, SEA and AIR.

whitej34 · 08-24-2006, 20:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by NousDefionsDoc

I was just wondering...How much of the earth's surface is covered by water?

A little more than 70%.

12B4S · 08-27-2006, 02:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by doc22584

I understand that swimming is very important, and i appreciate everyone help and suggestions. I mean it only makes sense that you have to be able to swim if you want to be a QP. Like someone said earlier, those 3 lighting bolts stand for LAND, SEA and AIR.

TS, was that 'someone.' doc.....

x_ made a good point as well. There will be times you may have to use the 'crawl'. Most of it will be..... ohhhh how to put all this in type? Most will be with fins, more than likely, wearing a 'dry suit', other times a 'wet suit', at times, neither.

Have more here than I feel like typing. However. One example:
In Toelz, most the Teams were mountain Teams. My Team, received orders to go to Greece for Amphib/Scout swimming school. Training was a month. There was no swimming school or test when I went through SFTG.

In Greece we started everday with a 5 mile run. Several times a week, we had 'swims'. They varied from 2 miles to 5 miles, along with the other training, RB15s and such. We worked with the Greek army. When my Team and the other Team swam, we were tethered to a Greek soldier, not to mention that our instructors made a point of dropping us whatever given miles out in the 'Med,' knowing damn well the tide would be going out. I thought Greeks were swimmers/divers. NOPE. We tried towing these guys to shore. That got old after an hour and more, even on a two mile swim. The next day, we towed thier lazy asses for a mile or so, talking, yelling...... then un-hooked the 5 foot or so 'bubby line' ...... Waving buh bye.

That is a nutshell thing. It comes to..........you'd best be able to swim for hours in any conditions. If you want more on those conditions, I'm sure there are many of us on here that can fill you in.

Bottom line......... You aren't swimming a whatever stroke for a Gold Medal. You need the stamina in the water, just as you do on land. At times both!!!

**Team Sergeant** · 08-27-2006, 08:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by doc22584

I dont panic in the water anymore so thats a plus.

That's great cause the first time you jump off a BlackHawk into 2 feet of water carrying an M-240 or M-249 with a thousand rounds of ammo, grenades etc and find out the water is really 12 feet deep you will know what it is to be a SF soldier.

The first time I stepped off a Navy landing craft was after we "hit" a sandbar 100 meters from shore. I watched the first two guys "disappear" carrying the basic load of infantry equipment. I also "disappeared" for a minute while carrying the M-60 right behind them.....

If you do not learn to control your emotions they will control you. If you panic in SF at anytime you will be gone.

TS

**Jack Moroney (RIP)** · 08-27-2006, 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by 12B4S

Bottom line......... You aren't swimming a whatever stroke for a Gold Medal. You need the stamina in the water, just as you do on land. At times both!!!

That's a fact. I am negatively bouyant, can dive in a pool and sit on the bottom and basically have to work to stay a float. The hardest thing I ever had to do was when I was a midshipman (don't ask) in the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point was tread water for 30 minutes without being allowed to change my position. For me, swimming is not relaxing it is extreme PT.

TFM · 08-27-2006, 10:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Moroney

. I am negatively bouyant, can dive in a pool and sit on the bottom and basically have to work to stay a float.

I'm in the same boat. I have spent some time trying to improve my endurance in the water, but never got outstanding results. I spent a lot of time trying to refine my stroke to rule that out as the reason I suck so bad. What drives me crazy is that I can run to no end, but I swim 50 meters and I'm suckin.

x SF med · 08-27-2006, 20:45

COL Jack-
you went to school at the north end of Little Neck Bay? I used to sail Blue Jays, Lasers, etc. right by your Alma Mater(grew up on the SE end of the bay, home of the Sappho) - got to sail the 12's out of KP a few times. I loved getting the idiots to follow a blue jay through the slot at Stepping Stones.

To the point of the Thread - we also used to swim from the south end of the bay to the south jetty at KP, rest for 20 minutes and swim back - crossing Udalls Cove/Great Neck Estates was the worst part - had to cross open water without any warning to boaters - didn't realize I was training for SF as a kid.

NousDefionsDoc · 08-27-2006, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by x_sf_med

COL Jack-
you went to school at the north end of Little Neck Bay? I used to sail Blue Jays, Lasers, etc. right by your Alma Mater(grew up on the SE end of the bay, home of the Sappho) - got to sail the 12's out of KP a few times. I loved getting the idiots to follow a blue jay through the slot at Stepping Stones.

To the point of the Thread - we also used to swim from the south end of the bay to the south jetty at KP, rest for 20 minutes and swim back - crossing Udalls Cove/Great Neck Estates was the worst part - had to cross open water without any warning to boaters - didn't realize I was training for SF as a kid.

I doubt it was at the same time, I read somewhere that Colonel Sir cut his naval teeth on triremes at Arginusae...

x SF med · 08-27-2006, 21:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by NousDefionsDoc

I doubt it was at the same time, I read somewhere that Colonel Sir cut his naval teeth on triremes at Arginusae...

As the drum guy, or a rower?

I know it wasn't at the same time - he would have been there from the year I was born till the time I was about 4. I think the Reliant and Sappho were still sailing back then..... It still amazes me that COL Jack went to the easiest "Military Academy" in the US. I just cannot see the COL as a Merchant Marine (boy, there's an oxymoron)

NousDefionsDoc · 08-27-2006, 21:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by x_sf_med

As the drum guy, or a rower?

I know it wasn't at the same time - he would have been there from the year I was born till the time I was about 4. I think the Reliant and Sappho were still sailing back then..... It still amazes me that COL Jack went to the easiest "Military Academy" in the US. I just cannot see the COL as a Merchant Marine (boy, there's an oxymoron)

Piper on the Hephaistia

Goggles Pizano · 08-27-2006, 23:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by x_sf_med

As the drum guy, or a rower?

"We keep you alive to serve this ship. So row well, and live!"

**Jack Moroney (RIP)** · 08-28-2006, 04:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by x_sf_med

I just cannot see the COL as a Merchant Marine (boy, there's an oxymoron)

Neither could I, but that, as they say, is another story. I left there and graduated from the University of Maine. Of course, you must realize with the timeline you all have relegated me to, one of my visiting professors was a Viking on sabatical from pillaging along the coast of Newfoundland.

x SF med · 08-28-2006, 06:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Moroney

Neither could I, but that, as they say, is another story. I left there and graduated from the University of Maine. Of course, you must realize with the timeline you all have relegated me to, one of my visiting professors was a Viking on sabatical from pillaging along the coast of Newfoundland.

Leif or Eric? I understand they were both visiting professors at the USMMA during your stay. I understand Jason gave a few guest lectures too, there was a nice write up on his "Song of the Sirens, or 101 uses for beeswax and wool for your crew" lecture.