Fort Sill, Okla. -- When the Army loses a Soldier, that grief is felt throughout the ranks. Although every death cannot be prevented, the Soldiers do the best they can through training exercises.
The recent drowning of Fort Sill's Pfc. Patrick Washington has brought into sharp focus the importance of water survival training - a course the cadre at 3rd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery teaches its Advanced Individual Training students.
"It could happen to anybody. That's why we've really taken it a further step to improve our program and make sure that doesn't happen to our Soldiers," said Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns, water survival lead instructor.
Johns and other instructors take students in the 14T and 14E courses to the Rinehart Fitness Center Pool every Monday and Thursday to learn the basics of surviving in the water.
Since the course was implemented nine months ago, more than 500 Soldiers have gone through. Most of the students know how to swim, but there are some who are learning to for the first time.
"We've had 18 different students we've taught to swim," said Sgt. 1st Class Donald Clemons, 3-6th ADA. "We have some who have come through and they still can't swim, they need more practice, but at least they understand their abilities."
One such Soldier was Pvt. Ivan Hernandez.
"At first I was like I really don't want to do this," said the Patriot Launching Station Enhanced Operator/Maintainer student. "But it's a good experience. I actually learned how to doggy paddle and how to float."
After his first class the instructors told Hernandez to come back two days later for more training.
"They're willing to teach me and I'm willing to learn."
Required training
Johns said water survival training is actually one of many Army tasks that is an annual requirement.
"We want to make sure when these Soldiers go out to their line units they know different precautions to take while doing their job, but off duty too. There are lakes and water recreational areas, so the chances of them just getting in the water to have fun is high."
Johns said the students are taught in their ACU uniform, as if they were on duty, but they do not wear boots because that is reserved for more advanced classes.
"We don't teach the full course. We've taken a piece of the different levels Class 3, 2 and 1 so they get a whole overview of the main components," said Johns.
Clemons said although they've had excellent swimmers in the course, the added weight of the uniform can affect their abilities.
"It's completely different from just swimming in a normal bathing suit. You can add 10-15 pounds when you have ACUs and boots on."
The instructors break down the training by teaching floating techniques first.
"The more air you have in the longer you can stay afloat. Your lungs are now acting as a life preserver," said Johns. "In rough water you don't want to be on your back because the waves will bring water on your face, which will cause you to swallow more water."
The instructors moved on to different resting strokes which are moves that keep the swimmer's head above water using the least amount of energy. Then the students learned how to swim carrying a weapon and finally how to create a makeshift life preserver out of their ACU bottoms.
"This is the most life saving technique we teach them. Any type of pants you wear you can turn into a flotation device," said Clemons.
While some students overcame their inability to swim, others have to conquer their fear from a near-drowning experience.
In those cases, the instructors said they don't force the student into the pool, but they help them understand how important the training is.
"We had one student it took us 45 minutes just to get him in here. He was terrified of the water. He almost drowned when he was a kid, but he's getting better," said Clemons.
Johns said he understands how those students feel after having a terrifying experience himself.
"[I was] just out in the lake one day jumping off rocks. As soon as I hit the water I went deep enough that there was an undertow and it just caught me. It was scary, but I wanted to perservere. I didn't want to be afraid of the water."
Johns said the best thing to do if a swimmer is caught by an undertow is to not fight it.
"You want to make your body go limp. That way if you hit the bottom you'll hit it and then bounce back up. If you're stiff it will take you under and it can cause you more injury," said Johns.
He stressed the importance of being aware of the water's depths, any dropoffs and what is below the surface before entering the water.
"I think the biggest thing they get out of this is they know their limits. Hopefully they understand OK I don't swim too well, I might want to take steps to save myself. I need to put a life jacket on," said Clemons. "It's raising that awareness. That if something happens they might not be able to make it to shore. And then in some cases some of them might be able to make it to shore because of this training."
Social Sharing