These will give you an idea of what the recruits will be doing.
CWS4 is the minimum to qualify or the easiest.
CWS1 is the hardest to qualify,
But it's a requirement to get into Recon.
Marine Combat Water Survival Training (MCWST)
Classifications
Combat Water Survival, Fourth Class (CWS4)
Emphasis is on personal survival without combat gear.
CWS4 training will include instruction.
On the Beginner's Swimmer Stroke (front and back)
Drown-proofing, and treading water.
Minimum skill level for all enlisted Marines.
Unless assigned MOS dictates otherwise.
Re-qualification will occur every year.
(1) Uniform for qualifying is utilities only (no boots).
(2) Enter shallow water (minimum 1m depth).
(3) Swim 25m in shallow water
Using either the beginner swimmer stroke(front or back)
Or demonstrating a basic knowledge of a survival stroke,
Or any combination thereof.
(4) Using the ease-in entry method while wearing utilities
Enter deep water and perform personal water survival skills
Using one, or a combination of, water survival techniques
Drown-proofing
Treading water
And/or trouser or blouse inflation
For a total of four minutes.
Touching the bottom or the side of the pool
Before the four minutes elapses will disqualify the Marine.
(5) Without exiting the water, from the side of the pool.
Swim 25m using either the beginner's swimming stroke
(back or front)
Or demonstrate working ability of any survival stroke
Or combination thereof.
Combat Water Survival, Third Class (CWS3)
Marine must have completed CWS4.
Emphasis is on personal survival under combat situations
And while on maneuvers in full combat gear.
Re-qualification will occur every two years.
(1) From minimum height of eight feet (maximum of 15 feet)
Using the abandon ship technique
And wearing utilities and boots only
Enter deep water and travel 25m
Using either a beginner swimming stroke (on front or back)
Or demonstrating a basic knowledge of any survival stroke
Or combination thereof.
(2) Enter shallow water (minimum 1m depth)
With rubberized training rifle at port arms
And wearing full combat gear.
(3) Walk 20m in shallow water (minimum 1m depth/waist deep)
With weapon at port arms and wearing full combat gear.
(4) Walk 20m in chest high water wearing full combat gear
With weapon slung around neck, muzzle down.
(5) Travel for 20m in chest deep water wearing full combat gear
With weapon slung around neck, muzzle down,
Using a modified breast stroke arm movement
And modified combat stroke leg movement (bicycle kick).
(6) Travel for 40m in deep water (over the head)
Wearing full combat gear with weapon slung around neck,
Muzzle down, using a modified breast stroke arm movement
And modified combat travel stroke leg movement (bicycle kick).
(7) From a height of five feet,
Using the abandon ship technique,
Enter deep water with full combat gear and weapon
Weapon inverted at sling arms
travel 10m, remove pack
And travel 15m transporting both pack and weapon.
Combat Water Survival, Second Class (CWS2)
Marine must have completed CWS3.
Emphasis is on the ability to assist
an exhausted/wounded Marine
To safety wearing full combat gear.
(1) Wearing full combat gear minus pack
Using one or a combination of survival strokes
Travel 50m in deep water
With weapon slung across back (muzzle down).
(2) Wearing full combat gear
Perform 25m collar-tow on wounded "victim"
Dressed identically,
While simultaneously towing two packs.
Weapons will be slung across the back (muzzle down).
Victim will hold on to the two packs
And will not assist in propulsion.
Combat Water Survival, First Class (CWS1)
Marine must have completed CWS2.
Emphasis is on developing the ability to rescue oneself
Assisting a victim/distressed swimmer to safety.
And surviving under adverse conditions.
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