ROTC Cadets Complete Water Survival Training
Published 09.30.2013
News
Student News
ROTC cadets from Bison Battalion, which includes Penn College and four other institutions, gathered during Bucknell University's recent Parents Weekend to conduct Combat Water Survival Training. The training is relatively short, but intensive, and is meant to measure cadets' overall ability to swim and perform various tasks in an aquatic environment. Cadets are required to swim continuously for 10 minutes during the exercise, followed by five minutes of treading water. They then must complete a 25-meter equipment swim wearing load-bearing equipment while holding a “dummy” rifle out of the water. Following the equipment swim, cadets rotate to the three-meter equipment jump, which consists of cadets wearing load-bearing equipment, masks over their faces and again holding “dummy” rifles. They are pushed off the three-meter diving board, then swim back to the edge of the pool while holding onto their equipment. (Parents of Bucknell cadets were allowed to push their sons and daughters off the high dive.) The last test for cadets was the equipment ditch, which consists of a cadet's fall backward into the pool with the same equipment as before. and. while submerged, removing all the equipment from his or her body. Successful completion of Combat Water Survival Training is a requirement for all cadets prior to attending the Leadership Development Assessment Course between their junior and senior years.Photos provided by Cadet Michael Embs, public affairs officer, Bison Battalion