FORT STEWART, Ga. </B>- Imagine you are on a dismounted night foot patrol around a canal when all of a sudden you feel the ground give way. You land in the dark water with all your gear and have a few precious seconds to react. Would you know what to do'
For Soldiers in Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade Combat Team, they were not only shown what to do, they now know how to survive if in that situation.
More than 60 Soldiers from HHC, 4th IBCT, participated in a Combat Water Survival Course to familiarize themselves with water egress procedures, July 31.
During the training, Soldiers learn how to swim with gear, tread water with gear and also how to ditch gear.
"(The training) is important because in a combat situation, your vehicle could roll over into a river, and it teaches you how to ditch all your gear, swim out and possibly save your (battle buddy)," said Sgt. Ernest Montgomery, Combat Water Survival Course instructor.
As Soldiers prepare for their next deployment, water survival courses help prepare Soldiers for any possible scenario they may encounter while deployed.
Training like this helps build confidence in Soldiers skills, said 1st Sgt. Charles White, HHC first sergeant.
As the Vanguard Brigade continues its transition from a light infantry brigade, Soldiers are training in some skills not previously trained in.
"Light infantry patrols are the norm but not likely for all our people to do that," 1st Sgt. White said. "But at least with familiarity, if they are ever in that situation, they'll know how to react."
Though set in a pool, Soldiers gain useful skills and develop the knowledge on how to survive in the water.
"It's a controlled environment being in a pool, a lot different than being in a pond," 1st Sgt. White said. "So, while it may seem clinical in concept, it was still a great opportunity for the crawl phase and to get orientation."
Private First Class Donte Hill, a terrain analyst in HHC, said the training was a way to test Soldiers ability in the water with their equipment.
"(The training) is important because you'll never know what situation you will be in - whether it's a rolled over vehicle or someone falls into a ravine," Pfc. Hill said. "So, it's good to have confidence in your equipment, in the ability to act under pressure and get out of your gear and stay in the fight."
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