Water Survival Training helps Soldiers stay afloat

By Maj. Penny Zamora, 157th Infantry Brigade Public AffairsSeptember 17, 2013

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1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Bobby Shrader (grey), trainer/mentor and noncommissioned officer of water survival training, watches as Soldiers of the 2-289th Field Artillery Battalion, 157th Infantry Brigade confidently enter a swimming pool with full gear during water... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Trainer/mentors of the 2-289th Field Artillery Battalion, 157th Infantry Brigade, must tread water for two minutes with full gear during water survival training at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind.

Full gear includes: Army combat u... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – We train for combat! Sgt. 1st Class Salvador Valle, trainer/mentor of the 2-289th Field Artillery Battalion, 157th Infantry Brigade demonstrates water survival skills at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Pen... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Salvador Valle, trainer/mentor of the 2-289th Field Artillery dons his equipment, as the demonstrator, for water survival training at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind. Staff Sgt. Bobby Shrader, the lead instructor and... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

EDINBURGH, Ind. -- According to the Army's Water Survival Training Manual, each year, many Soldiers lose their lives through their in ability to manage themselves in water. Recently, a First Army Division East unit reversed the 'trainer' tables to gain confidence in the water while wearing their personal protective equipment.

The 157th Infantry Brigade Soldiers train and mentor active and reserve component units for deployment and contingency operations by providing realistic and relevant training reflecting the most current conditions Soldiers will face in theater.

"As trainer/mentors, we are all confident in our ability to lead and train deploying Soldiers, however, we decided to change things up a bit and challenge ourselves by going back to some of the basics," said Sgt. 1st Class Bobby Shrader, trainer/mentor of the 157th Inf. Bde., First Army Division East.

Prior to stepping into the pool, the Soldiers learned to waterproof a rucksack using the issued waterproof bag and regular plastic bags.

"It doesn't matter how heavy an individual rucksack is. As long as it is properly waterproofed and sealed, a rucksack can help a Soldier stay afloat," said Sgt. 1st Class Salvador Valle, 157th Inf. Bde., trainer/mentor.

As much as the Soldiers were eager to jump into an invitingly cool pool on a hot day, wearing a full uniform including boots, helmet, interceptor body armor with plates, a training M4 rifle and a full rucksack, could stop any Soldier in his or her tracks.

"I was skeptical that I could actually float, in the deep end of the pool, in my uniform and boots with a full rucksack and body armor," said Sgt. 1st Class Graciano Ortiz, 2-289th Field Artillery Battalion, 157th Inf. Bde.

Taking the crawl-walk-run approach, each Soldier waded across the shallow end of the pool before easing into the chest-deep water.

"At this point, the Soldiers attempted to submerge themselves and were surprised that they couldn't. That's when they realized that a properly waterproofed rucksack can help them stay afloat," said Shrader.

While awkward at first, all the Soldiers eventually swam across the pool's width with the encouragement of other Soldiers serving as lifeguards.

After verifying each Soldier could swim with a rucksack and get out of the water unassisted, the Soldiers then returned to the water, without their gear, to learn basic water survival skills.

"Soldiers who are not strong swimmers tend to panic and waste too much energy before they can be pulled out," said Shrader.

He recommended that Soldiers use the acronym SAFE to survive in the water.

S -- Slow, easy movement…critical for conserving energy.

A -- Apply natural buoyancy.

F -- Full lung inflation maintains buoyancy

E -- Extreme relaxation ensures control and composure.

At the end of the day, even the weakest swimmer was able to tread water for five minutes.

"We stress using slow movements, and when they get too tired, they can do the hanging float to conserve energy. Time is the critical factor here. The longer a Soldier can relax and stay afloat could be the time it takes to pull them to safety," said Shrader.

More than 15 Soldiers completed the water survival training course. The two biggest lessons learned, according to many, were properly waterproofing a rucksack and learning to relax while treading for five minutes.

"Our goal is to make our trainer/mentors well-rounded leaders. We should be ready to lead any training in any environment, as more Reserve and National Guard units come through Camp Atterbury for annual training," said Command Sgt. Maj. Donald Ferguson, 2-289th Field Artillery Battalion, 157th Inf. Bde., First Army Division East.