Soldiers receive swim assessments, FMWR looking for lifeguards

FORT SILL, Okla.-- The Rinehart Fitness Center pool is seeing more action as post leaders ensure Soldiers and family members receive training that could save their lives.

"Swimming is really a life skill that you can do from early ages till when you're old," said Victoria Ward, Fort Sill sports fitness aquatics.

Fort Sill lost a Soldier last May to drowning and afterward Maj. Gen. John Rossi, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general, has required every unit that belongs to a permanent party to pass through the pool for a swimming assessment.

Ward said 1,600 Soldiers have come through so far, but said many more need to be reviewed.

"I think for the most part (General Rossi) is trying to ensure we know and identify who cannot swim. The second idea is hopefully we can identify those who can't and interest them to learn to swim," said Ward.

During the assessment she said each Soldier is asked to perform six strokes for 25 meters each.

"We don't assess form. We just assess can you make it safely across in a recognizable form? A lot of Soldiers are concerned about the form or the speed. They think if I do this I'm going to be branded a terrible swimmer, but that's not our objective. We really want to identify who can swim and who cannot."

Ward said they offer swim classes for active-duty Soldiers and Marines Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-5:30 p.m. Participants show up, there is no need to register. Family members and civilians are invited to swim lessons Monday and Wednesdays from 5-5:30 p.m.

She said they also identify Soldiers and Marines who are strong swimmers and are eligible to become water safety instructors (WSI). Once they pass the instructor training they can conduct swim assessments for their unit and teach swim lessons on their own.

The next WSI course is April 13 at Rinehart Fitness Center pool from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The course is three times a week for two weeks. Ward said a WSI can be a Soldier or Marine of any rank. A couple slots are still available. Call 580-442-6200 for more information.

Lifeguards

Fort Sill Family and Morale Welfare and Recreation Aquatics is hiring lifeguards for the swim season. Eligible people must be at least 18 years old, able to pass a background check and physical and upload certifications at time of applications.

To be certified they must pass one of the following courses:

Lifeguard Spring Training 2: March 30 to April 10 from 4-8 p.m. for $140. A prerequisite swim test is March 21 at 8 a.m.

Lifeguard Spring Training 3: April 27 to May 8 from 4-8 p.m. for $140. Pre-requisite swim test is April 18 or April 25 at 8 a.m.

Water Safety Instructor Spring Training 1: April 4, 11, 18, 25 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for $175. Prerequisite swim tests are April 15, 22 or 29 at 2 p.m.

Courses are open to the community. Eligible applicants must get a visitor's pass.

For more information about the positions, call Fort Sill MWR Aquatics at 580-442-6200/6186 or visit www.usajobs.gov.