Navy SAR Swimmer school

[LoneSailor]

I'm not about to sugar it up for you, I thought about quiting every minute of every day, hell I still think about quiting everything when shit gets hard, I know all the so called "tough" guys will say the thought never even crossed their mind while at ARSS or what have you, but do enough underwater sprints and watch the tough guy disapear and bitch come out.
If you ain't cheating you ain't trying and if you ain't at least thinking about quiting then you ain't thinking about the dangers around and YOU will get people killed! (just another mile in my "burning bridges" tour!!)

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Def Leppard SUCKS!

College must've been rough huh ?

 

[Riptide80]

I'd like to help you out but chances are you will DOR, so I would just be wasting my time.

Wow… Not true, many of my classmates could barely swim during the standard Aircrew School, and they went on to become great Rescue Swimmers. Anyone who thinks RSS (SAR School) is really tough obviously had little/no skill as a Varsity Athlete. In something like this, “Attitude” always goes further than “Ability.” Pretty sure the Captain of your Football team or your high school’s best Wrestler/Hockey Player/”Swimmer” is NOT a U.S. Navy Rescue Swimmer.

MCraider09 listen carefully, don’t listen to Navy12, if you want it, you go for it buddy…

If by chance you make it through SAR, AW school, SERE, FRAC, and every other school in the pipeline and then become a respected qualified Aircrew Rescue Swimmer…

Navy12, If by chance you make it through today’s required Calculus I & II, Physics I & II, IFS, API, Primary, Intermediate, Advanced, FRAC, and every other school in the pipeline and then become a respected qualified (Fill-In-The-Blank), well you get the idea…

An AW3 gets more responsibility and respect than the average "Shoe" 0-3.

You’re out of your dam mind. Ever led a VBSS? Until you’ve walked in the shoes of a “Shoe” you have no idea what you’re talking about. Before I crossed the fence and became an “O” I used to think just like you. I can remember countless days where I was hanging my feet out the cargo door thinking I knew what was going on, but I and other Aircrew that have come with me through Primary realize just how little we knew, and have found a newfound respect for Pilots (and NFO’s). I can’t believe we ever had the balls to knock their landings, hover, navigation, etc… Like Pilots/NFO’s, SWOs have to know a TON of info…

As to your “responsibilities” of an AW3? I seem to remember occupying an AW billet for about 3-years (former AE2), and about 92% of the time our young (or senior) AW’s in the back had their systems in Stand-By while reading MAXIM or Stuff Magazine. While that’s AWESOME, what responsibilities are you referring to? I also seem to remember having to fix helicopters to adhere to operational requirements as an AE with my fellow AD’s, AM’s, and AT’s, while the AW’s sat below with their arms crossed. Most of our AW’s would go to the gym or BS in Air Ops. Again, AWESOME, but what are you talking about? Do you “really” think a SWO has as much slack time as an AW3?

Now, a lot of AW’s are awesome, overall one of the best groups of studs, but you’re giving them a bad name and making them look like tools. The biggest reason everybody hates AW’s (and Rescue Swimmers) is because we’re always walking around like we’re better than everybody. Do us all a favor = stop talking…

You may find yourself all alone, left on station in a dark cold stormy ocean at 2am managing multiple survivors, some of which will be panicking and in shit condition and if at that moment you decide that you want to DOR, then…

And if you should find yourself all alone (long pause), left on station in a dark cold stormy ocean at 2am managing multiple survivors, well than holy crap somebody call David HasselHoff, cause I’m sure “he’ll be ready” and inbound to assist you.

Are you kidding me? Someone’s been burning WAY too many copies of “The Guardian.”

MCraider09, you did the right thing coming to Air Warriors for info, but don’t listen to anything Navy12 says. I’m sure he was a pain in the ass to be around, always speaking up as if he knew something, and his pilots were rolling their eyes every time he spoke (just like the pilots behind me right now).

My station had a modest 22 rescues even though we were #4 on Speed Dial, meaning whenever an ocean emergency existed they would call (in order):

#1 Coast Guard
#2 Rescue (Baywatch)
#3 Fire Department
#4 Navy

Depressing I know, but hey, reality bites…

My point is if you should find yourself in a horrible situation, (though highly unlikely) your Navy training will kick in and you’ll be ready for it (as long as you continue to Study/PT).

MCraider09 – Reach for the Stars Boy…

Navy12 - Build Bridges, Don’t burn them… You might have a shot at O-3E that way…

 

[S.O.B.]

^^ exactly. This is the guy to listen to.

 

[m0tbaillie]

I'd like to help you out but chances are you will DOR, so I would just be wasting my time. If by chance you make it through SAR, AW school, SERE, FRAC, and every other school in the pipeline and then become a respected qualified Aircrew Rescue Swimmer you will not regret it, unless you mess up and get yourself killed (see the memorial board at AW A school). Just know that SAR school may seem hard but being an SAR AW at a deployed squadron will be a far greater test then the 5 weeks at ARSS. An AW3 gets more responsibility and respect than the average "Shoe" 0-3. You may find yourself all alone, left on station in a dark cold stormy ocean at 2am managing multiple survivors, some of which will be panicking and in shit condition and if at that moment you decide that you want to DOR, then you and everyone in the water will die... but on the bright side Crew Rest Rocks!!! SAR, like many other special programs are not for everyone, there were several stand up guys in my class who DOR'ed because it just wasn't for them, for the most part they went on to have good careers doing jobs they enjoyed, so don't worry if you don't fit in at SAR, just keep trying to find where you DO fit in, good luck!

Here's a good example of the difference between being realistic, and being a douchebag.

...rep if you can guess which he is...

 

[exo]

realis... I mean douchebag?

 

[MCraider09]

thanks guys man ya'll reply fast. yeah good advice except that one guy.lol but yeah i been a lifeguard for a few years now but if you seen our pool it don't count. but yeah no oceans here either.lol but next county over has an indoor pool reckon i oughtta get a membership. i mean i got til august before i ship out. thanks so much everyone

 

[utak]

*words that just translates to nickUSN's mind as "I want to meet a new and special friend for Veteran's Day!"*

 

[NozeMan]

It's amazing how a dinosaur can make everything funny.

 

[bubblehead]

too funny... The cartoon reminds me of something you'd see on Maddox's web site (thebestpageintheuniverse.com)

 

[Hozer]

I recognize that dinosaur. There's a similar one in VT-4's F-flight...

 

[HeloBubba]

The 2nd post in this thread was full of good advice. The only thing that was left out was some sort of exercises to build up mental toughness (not that I know of any). While being in good physical shape will help get you through many or SAR school's trials, you will need mental toughness for the rest of it. For example: hour number 12 on Hell Day with still a couple more to go. That's when mental toughness will see you through.

Also, since when can you DOR out of SAR school? That was NEVER an option back in the day. You could FAIL out, but you couldn't quit.

 

[H60Gunner]

It's a physically demanding school. The tricky part is you will attend a bunch of much less physical schools before reporting to ARSS (Aviation Rescue Swimmer School). Try to get some workouts in and keep your performance level up as high as you can without neglecting your studies. You should be fine though, because you will attend NACCS (Naval Aircrewman Candidate School) just prior to attending ARSS. During your training at NACCS you will PT everyday.

At this point all I can tell you (I am a graduate, Class 9318) is to listen to Hozer, highside, and riptide. They are right on. It's not easy but there's a reason for that!

MCraider09- You picked an excellent rating, it is an absolute BLAST!

Navy12- You are lacking seriously in the leadership department.

Also, since when can you DOR out of SAR school? That was NEVER an option back in the day. You could FAIL out, but you couldn't quit.

Since they killed that kid, DOR is now an option. High Risk Training.

 

[exo]

+1 for the hilarious dinosaurs

 

[Schnugg]

Dinosaurs.....most excellent!!!

 

[Stearmann4]

I'd like to help you out but chances are you will DOR, so I would just be wasting my time. If by chance you make it through SAR, AW school, SERE, FRAC, and every other school in the pipeline and then become a respected qualified Aircrew Rescue Swimmer you will not regret it, unless you mess up and get yourself killed (see the memorial board at AW A school). Just know that SAR school may seem hard but being an SAR AW at a deployed squadron will be a far greater test then the 5 weeks at ARSS. An AW3 gets more responsibility and respect than the average "Shoe" 0-3. You may find yourself all alone, left on station in a dark cold stormy ocean at 2am managing multiple survivors, some of which will be panicking and in shit condition and if at that moment you decide that you want to DOR, then you and everyone in the water will die... but on the bright side Crew Rest Rocks!!! SAR, like many other special programs are not for everyone, there were several stand up guys in my class who DOR'ed because it just wasn't for them, for the most part they went on to have good careers doing jobs they enjoyed, so don't worry if you don't fit in at SAR, just keep trying to find where you DO fit in, good luck!

Navy12, are you shi**ing me? Keep your "motivational" comments to yourself..and you're banned from any further mentoring. Chics are Rescue Swimmers for Pete's sake. While it's not an easy school, you're not screening to be a Jedi Knight either. Hell, I was a farm kid from Iowa who had never been in anything other than the family pool, much less the ocean and I made it, and that was 19 years ago!

Most guys (and gals) who make it through SAR school have no practical experience in the water beyond the local YMCA and boot camp. That said, I highly recommend adopting the Crossfit workout regimen or something similiar. Hal Higdon's half marathon workout will also put you in excellent shape for SAR school without putting your lower extremities at risk. Aircrew School will also give you an idea what to expect at ARSS.

Stay out of the ocean, there's no need. If you feel the need to expand your comfort level in the water go to your local pool and get some quality instruction in breast, side and freesytle strokes. Some mild pool conditioning will also help prepare you. I recommend at least three days a week of lap swimming using the three different strokes. In the latter stages of your training use some stiff fins to strengthen your ankles as well as a mask and snorkel to get used to swimming with the gear.

While a Rescue Swimmer is definitely a highly trained professional, it's not impossible. I just got back from reviewing the curriculum at Pensacola, pm me if you have more questions. The current Chief in charge of RSS was an E-3 with me when we checked into HC-5 as swimmers back in 1991.

Mike-