Swim Qualification

[jhnsn34]

I just recently enlisted (infantry) and i ship out in about ten days. I was just curious if infantry marines have to pass the highest level of swim qualification at boot camp, or if they have to pass it at SOI. Thanks

[cincymarsdad]

You need to pass CWS Level 4 in boot camp. If you do well enough, you can try for Level 3, 2, and 1, which is the highest available in boot. Higher levels are achievable later in the fleet depending. If you pass CWS 4, you'll need to do so every year. Level 2 looks pretty doable for a decent swimmer, and level 1 is pretty tough by all accounts, but not impossible. About 1% of recruiits pass level 1 (based on my two kids' experiences at PI).

I can direct you to a description of the requirements if you are interested.

My son never said a thing about swimming at SOI - I think it's all field work.

http://p088.ezboard.com/fparrisislan...opicID=2.topic

Information on the Combat Water Survival requirements for each level.

This site is a good one for Poolees and parents of recruits, as well as interested folks thinking about enlisting.

[SGRock]

In 1981, we only did WS4 or basic swim qual. That is all we had time for. The only ones that advanced more were those going for engineer, and they had to go for WS2. That was 25 years ago. And we didn't swim in ITS (SOI).

[USMCRET6391]

Originally Posted by cincymarsdad

You need to pass CWS Level 4 in boot camp. If you do well enough, you can try for Level 3, 2, and 1, which is the highest available in boot. Higher levels are achievable later in the fleet depending. If you pass CWS 4, you'll need to do so every year. Level 2 looks pretty doable for a decent swimmer, and level 1 is pretty tough by all accounts, but not impossible. About 1% of recruiits pass level 1 (based on my two kids' experiences at PI).

I can direct you to a description of the requirements if you are interested.

My son never said a thing about swimming at SOI - I think it's all field work.

http://p088.ezboard.com/fparrisislan...opicID=2.topic

Information on the Combat Water Survival requirements for each level.

This site is a good one for Poolees and parents of recruits, as well as interested folks thinking about enlisting.

Good info John, thanks for posting it. Like Rock when I went through Boot Camp in 1967 all they wanted to know was that you were not going to drown if you had to hit the water for some reason. Even though I had several years of swimming lessons while growing up and had been through a Red Cross Life Saving Course, I wasnt certified Class 1 WSQ until I went to DI School in 1973.

[SGRock]

Originally Posted by USMCRET6391

I wasnt certified Class 1 WSQ until I went to DI School in 1973.

Is that a requirement to become a Drill Instructor?

[USMCRET6391]

Originally Posted by SGRock

Is that a requirement to become a Drill Instructor?

I wasnt then, they wanted you to be the highest qualification you could achieve while you were in DI School, so as you went up in qualification you were kept in the pool until you didnt pass a segment. Out of a class of about 70 maybe 20 of us made 1st Class. I have no idea what is required now.

[Vulture6]

WSQ or WSSI is not a DI School requirement.

[SpongeJuan]

I got 1st class swim qual out of bootcamp. I got dunked in the water many many many many times while saving the DI. Good thing I didn't have the one that was huge, cuz he would've killed me. All I remember was that my eyes were sooooooooo dry that if I blinked my eyes started to cry. We were in the pardade deck that evening after chow, and I couldn't really see where I was going. I had to keep my eyes wide open. Then when we walked back in the squadbay I had to have someone walk me to my rack and to put my rifle on the rifle rack too.