MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII -- At the start of a new day aboard Marine Corps Base
Hawaii, service members, dressed in cammies, boots, Kevlar helmets and flak
jackets sit strapped into seats, hovering over the cool water of the base pool.
Toward the nose of the large, gray Shallow Water Egress Trainer in which they
sat, two Marines wear the same gear in addition to carrying a rifle and wearing
sunglasses with the lenses painted a bright orange. Some sit calmly in their
seats, while others brace themselves.
Slowly, the simulated vehicle lowers itself into the deep
end of the pool, submerging the Marines and their instructors. The massive faux
aircraft peeks out of the water as it turns over, and sinks again, like a whale
tail. The water is silent, as personnel wait, watching. One by one, the Marines
poke their heads out of the water, and while wiping their faces, proceed to
cling to the SWET or venture over to the pool wall.
All Marines that travel over water, such as pilots, are
required to take the SWET Indoctrination Course. More than 30 service members
from Marine Aircraft Group 24 attended their course from Oct. 29 through 31,
2014.
Required every three years, the SWET course teaches
service members how to escape an aircraft during an emergency water landing and
how to use a Survival Egress Air LV2 breathing device. The MAG-24 participants
split into two groups, each group spending one day learning in classroom 7 of
building 222 and one day at the base pool. Service members must also take a
written quiz. At the base pool, each participant must undergo five dunks, or
“ditches,” in the SWET. During at least one of the dunks, the service members
must additionally wear blinders and carry a fake M16 rifle.
"(SWET training is) definitely a lifesaving tool,” said
Staff Sgt. David Boyle, the operations chief for MAG-24. “It’s good training
for the Marines because a lot of them don’t get to experience this on a day to
day (basis). When they’re flying over water, if the aircraft goes down, they
can be confident that they (are) able to get out safely.”
Boyle, of Ironton, Ohio, said challenges of the training
include confronting confusion, fear and disorientation. Participants must briefly
hold their breath, unbuckle themselves from their seats while upside down,
employ a breathing apparatus and find their way out of the SWET to the surface.
He mentioned that some students additionally have a more difficult time because
they can’t swim.
This was the first time for some of the Marines,
including Staff Sgt. Shiloh Linden, the MAG-24 environmental officer. The
native of Youngstown, Ohio, has already flown many times during his
19-and-a-half years in the Marine Corps, but SWET training had not been offered
in the past.
"I liked it!” Linden exclaimed. “It’s wonderful. I was
like, ‘wow, this is good training.’ (Service members) should do this in boot
camp before they go to their units. Let’s just start it there, because they’re
obviously going to have to fly in a helicopter some time. (The Marines) might
as well do training then.”
During his training, Linden said he was pushed into the
“cockpit” of the simulated helicopter, and needed to feel his way out. “I had
issues with (the flak jacket),” Linden said. “I thought I had it off but when I
(started) to go it was attached on my air line, so it was trying to pull my air
line out of my mouth, so that was a good experience, (to learn) this is what
can happen.”
Linden advises others who will take the training in the
future to stay calm. “Breathe air, you’ve got time,” Linden said, referring to
the SEA-LV2. “I actually got out and I think I had just over half a tank of air
left.”
Cpl. Ignacio Gomez, a data network specialist with
MAG-24, experienced his first SWET class, Oct. 29 and 30. The Addison, Ill.,
said the class was well organized, and felt that the training’s “crawl, walk,
run” method worked well.
"I like the way that they have every station set up,” he
said. “Honestly, it was all (about) just staying calm and doing what they
taught us. Hardest part for me was not sinking because I’m just a natural
sinker. Just relax and listen to the (trainers). Do exactly (what) they tell
you to do and you won’t have an issue.”