Combat Water Course looking for a few good swimmers

[SR-25]

Submitted by: MCB Quantico
Story Identification #: 2005512112633
Story by Cpl. Justin P. Lago



MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. (May 12, 2005) -- The Marine Combat Instructors of Water Survival are looking for a few Marines to help with the overall instruction of students who will attend the MCIWS courses at The Basic School’s Rammer Hall. The course trains eligible Marines to become Combat Water Safety swimmers to aid in the safety of the students.

The Combat Water Safety swimmers’ responsibilities are to assist MCIWS trainers during a course of instruction and serve as safety swimmers for pool and other aquatic training. A CWSS candidate should possess good communication skills and be able to work in a potentially stressful environment.

The CWSS course packs training into a seven-day cycle. During the first day, instructors at the school will screen the Marines to ensure they are physically capable of completing the training, and will certify them in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Students are taken to a beach shoreline area and taught waterfront life saving techniques which include spinal board securing, where students learn how to properly secure and transport an injured person on a rescue board. Students are also taught gear waterproofing methods and learn different styles of swimming strokes.

“Throughout the course, the students will be trained in basic lifeguarding skills, as well as the skills required to become a Combat Water Safety swimmer,” said Sgt Joao Z. Araujo, Marine Combat Instructor Trainer of Water Survival, or MCITWS. “The students will also receive American Red Cross Life Guarding and Standard First Aid training.”

At the end of the course, they are given a practical application test on their rescue skills as well as a written test on the CWSS and their duties.

“It is definitely a physically demanding course,” said Sgt. Eric R. Bellard, TBS enlisted instructor and former CWSS student. “You are definitely pushed beyond that mental and physical barrier. Beyond all the knowledge you learn in the course, you learn how to push past that break point. The course had outstanding instructors and it was a great course.”

“The CWSS course is a challenging school even for the best of swimmers. Students will swim around 15 miles in seven days,” said Sgt. Zachary J. Hulet, MCITWS.

Class enrollment must be complete by June 2 for the course prescreening and there is a limited amount of class space available, according to Sgt. Scott R. Rocco, MCIWS. The course is scheduled for June 2-10. For more information about CWSS or to enroll in the CWSS course, contact Sgt. Joao Z. Araujo or Sgt. Zachary J. Hulet, (703) 784-5617/5304.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn20...0?opendocument