• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Yokosuka SAR Swimmers Train for Mission

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS071109-11
Release Date: 11/9/2007 8:19:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Bryan Reckard, Fleet Public Affairs Det. Japan

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Search and Rescue (SAR) swimmers from the Yokosuka area participated in fleet concentration area SAR physical training at the Seahawk Natatorium Nov. 7, on Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka.

During the training session, SAR swimmers worked on proficiency in downed pilot rescues, the use of rescue litters and untangling parachutes while in the water.

The event was coordinated by local SAR evaluators Chief Operations Specialist (SW) Frank Chieffo, Fire Controlman 1st Class (SW) Ambrose Schulte and Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class (SW) Nathan Demetruk. All three Sailors are trained SAR swimmers and know what it takes to succeed as a Navy rescue swimmer.

"Training rescue swimmers in Seventh Fleet is extremely important," said Schulte. "The ship can't get underway unless their rescue swimmers are qualified and up to date on their proficiency training. Every quarter they have to meet certain requirements."

According to Schulte, holding the job of a SAR swimmer in the Navy is already a difficult task, but the operational tempo of being a Sailor of the forward-deployed naval forces compounds those difficulties.

"We have to keep their skill sets honed, because really, we're only about one percent of the Navy and out here the op (operational) tempo is so high that we're are constantly underway," said Schulte. "I would say the chance of these guys doing a rescue is higher than the majority of other rescue swimmers in the fleet."

According to Chieffo, who has trained over 100 SAR swimmers since becoming an evaluator, the U.S. 7th Fleet's high operational tempo also poses challenges to pull Sailors away from their shipboard jobs for SAR training. After all, being a SAR swimmer is not a rate - it is a collateral duty.

"These guys have to do their job on the ship and train extra. It really says a lot about the quality of Sailor these guys have to be as rescue swimmers," said Schulte. "To perform their duties and perform them well, and do their ship duties, it speaks volumes about them. They really are the elite of the fleet."

According to Schulte, if a Sailor wants to become a rescue swimmer, he or she must first contact the command SAR officer and a SAR evaluator who will pre-screen candidates before they are sent to school. The screening test for SAR swimmers consists of pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, a 1.5-mile run and a 400-meter swim.