WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:03.048 (giving instructions) 00:03.048 --> 00:04.270 - [Reporter] Soldiers from 00:04.270 --> 00:06.230 Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, 00:06.230 --> 00:09.330 completed elements of the combat water survival test, 00:09.330 --> 00:12.160 during their Soldier of the Year competition. 00:12.160 --> 00:14.900 U.S. Army Sgt.1st Class Jeremy Nugent 00:14.900 --> 00:17.030 from the Allison Aquatic training center 00:17.030 --> 00:19.870 explains some of the skills soldiers demonstrated 00:19.870 --> 00:22.490 and how the training enables readiness. 00:22.490 --> 00:23.850 - They're in the swim test today, 00:23.850 --> 00:25.740 we gotta get the folks familiar 00:25.740 --> 00:28.830 with some of the equipment that they might be deployed with. 00:28.830 --> 00:29.880 We also taught them 00:29.880 --> 00:32.470 how to maintain control of that equipment, 00:32.470 --> 00:35.330 should they end up in a in a water environment, 00:35.330 --> 00:37.660 flash floods, it could happen to anybody 00:37.660 --> 00:40.550 You see on the news, cars getting washed away, 00:40.550 --> 00:42.100 that can happen pretty much anywhere, 00:42.100 --> 00:44.099 especially the environments that we go to. 00:44.099 --> 00:46.090 Let's say they ended up in a situation 00:46.090 --> 00:48.140 where they had to fold a river 00:48.140 --> 00:50.710 or do some kind of water crossing, 00:50.710 --> 00:52.240 you want those guys familiar with the water 00:52.240 --> 00:53.720 and it's from a safe environment 00:53.720 --> 00:56.720 in order to make sure that they can handle that situation. 00:56.720 --> 01:01.020 Today, the first event was to go off from the platform. 01:01.020 --> 01:03.410 That's just to build the confidence in the soldier 01:03.410 --> 01:05.530 to know that if they were in a situation 01:05.530 --> 01:08.330 they could perform that task. 01:08.330 --> 01:09.260 Once they were in the water, 01:09.260 --> 01:11.080 they were taught three survival strokes. 01:11.080 --> 01:13.470 A survival stroke can be the breast stroke, 01:13.470 --> 01:15.360 side stroke or back stroke. 01:15.360 --> 01:17.180 No matter which stroke they chose, 01:17.180 --> 01:19.970 they swam approximately 75 meters, 01:19.970 --> 01:21.770 maintaining control of the rifle. 01:21.770 --> 01:22.870 So that's important, 01:22.870 --> 01:24.870 you don't want to end up from point A to point B 01:24.870 --> 01:25.710 and get out at point B 01:25.710 --> 01:28.110 and not have a weapon to defend yourself. 01:28.110 --> 01:29.830 The next event was drown proofing. 01:29.830 --> 01:33.690 In this event, you have to lose the rifle and your vest. 01:33.690 --> 01:36.660 So if you do end up in the water with body armor and a vest, 01:36.660 --> 01:38.170 it can drag you down pretty quick. 01:38.170 --> 01:40.640 So the goal was to get the vest off 01:40.640 --> 01:43.630 get your weapon removed from your body, 01:43.630 --> 01:45.600 as fast as possible so it doesn't drag you down 01:45.600 --> 01:46.580 because at that point, 01:46.580 --> 01:49.470 drown proofing is just that, you don't wanna to drown. 01:49.470 --> 01:51.560 We taught them how to use their air equipment, 01:51.560 --> 01:52.800 their actual pants, 01:52.800 --> 01:55.590 so they, they doffed their pants and actually created 01:55.590 --> 01:56.970 a flotation device out of it, 01:56.970 --> 01:58.539 a very effective flotation device. 01:58.539 --> 02:00.840 So if they did have to do a river crossing or something, 02:00.840 --> 02:02.700 and they're not the strongest swimmer, 02:02.700 --> 02:04.390 they know that they, they have that option, 02:04.390 --> 02:06.154 so, remove those pants and make 02:06.154 --> 02:08.720 a really good life vest out of it. 02:08.720 --> 02:09.870 The big thing is mentally, 02:09.870 --> 02:12.902 so most folks have been in the water at some point, 02:12.902 --> 02:14.610 you know, during their life, 02:14.610 --> 02:16.820 maybe not necessarily with the gear that, 02:16.820 --> 02:19.890 that they use wearing combat or wherever they may be. 02:19.890 --> 02:22.670 So, back to the safe environment, 02:22.670 --> 02:24.440 we want to get them in the water with that equipment 02:24.440 --> 02:27.760 and a safe environment and show them mentally, 02:27.760 --> 02:28.802 what the challenges are 02:28.802 --> 02:30.325 and how to overcome those challenges. 02:30.325 --> 02:32.550 - [Reporter] These training opportunities 02:32.550 --> 02:34.300 help soldiers gain the confidence 02:34.300 --> 02:35.793 and skills they'll need. 02:36.810 --> 02:39.650 - It was definitely challenging the first one 02:39.650 --> 02:42.220 or two times I did it, I've struggled quite a bit. 02:42.220 --> 02:44.180 I've been here couple times now 02:44.180 --> 02:46.160 and it gets easier with practice. 02:46.160 --> 02:49.200 It definitely builds confidence, doing all the training, 02:49.200 --> 02:53.326 I know that I can do it now and I go in with more of a 02:53.326 --> 02:56.440 I'm gonna to get this done kind of mentality now. 02:56.440 --> 02:59.140 - With my really qualified rescue swimmers. 02:59.140 --> 03:00.991 We can keep them safe, as they push that envelope 03:00.991 --> 03:03.320 and really push themselves to, 03:03.320 --> 03:04.530 to see what they're capable of 03:04.530 --> 03:06.290 and to build their confidence in the water. 03:06.290 --> 03:09.370 If we do have a pretty rigorous swim program 03:09.370 --> 03:10.630 that we adhere to, 03:10.630 --> 03:13.721 and once folks have signed up to do this, 03:13.721 --> 03:14.554 they're pretty much the, 03:14.554 --> 03:16.290 some of the best army folks in the water.