Recommended survival stroke for weak swimmers or non-swimmers.

Efficient survival stroke that allows good visibility, underwater maneuverability stealth, and conversation of energy.

Use this stroke to swim underwater through oil and debris. It provides good visibility and allows you to conserve energy.

Sometimes called front crawl or freestyle. Provides speed but is not the preferred stroke for survival as it is difficult for beginners and exhausting.

Four primary strokes that include: - Breast Stroke. Use to swim underwater through oil and debris. Provides good visibility and energy conservation. - Side Stroke. Efficient survival stroke that allows good visibility, underwater maneuverability stealth, and energy conservation. - Elementary Back Stroke. Recommended survival stroke for weak or non-swimmers. - Crawl Stroke. Provides speed. Not a preferred survival stroke as it is difficult for beginners and requires a lot of energy.

This skill is completed on deck. All the gear must be attached to the waterproofed pack prior to entering the water. The videos are part of a how-to series for completion of the exit skill events in each level of the Marine Corps Water Survival Program (MCWSP). Video 1 of 3.

Given an aquatic environment, using a properly waterproofed pack with a full combat load, while wearing combat uniform. If you are comfortable swimming on your side and want extra propulsion, hold the pack to hip with top arm, reach out with the lead arm under water collapsing your elbow to pull against the water with your hand. Utilize scissor kick. The videos are part of a how-to series for completion of the exit skill events in each level of the Marine Corps Water Survival Program (MCWSP). Video 2 of 5.

Given an aquatic environment, using a properly waterproofed pack with a full combat load, while wearing combat uniform. If you are more efficient or comfortable swimming on your back, hug the pack to chest, turn the back to the direction of travel. Keeping the boy horizontal and face up, utilize a kick that propels you best. Inverted breast-stroke is the preferred kick. If you find difficult to propel yourself with your boots on, you may use flutter kick or simulate a backward stepping action with your legs The videos are part of a how-to series for completion of the exit skill events in each level of the Marine Corps Water Survival Program (MCWSP). Video 2 of 5.

Given an aquatic environment, using a properly waterproofed pack with a full combat load, while wearing combat uniform. Swim 25 meters in deep water pushing or towing the gear maintaining contact with ger at all times. Pack retention methods: On the pack, under the pack, pack on the side and reverse pack travel.

Given an aquatic environment, using a properly waterproofed pack with a full combat load, while wearing combat uniform. Enter the water, gain control of pack walk 25 meters in shallow water pushing or towing the gear. The videos are part of a how-to series for completion of the exit skill events in each level of the Marine Corps Water Survival Program (MCWSP). Video 4 of 5.

Given an aquatic environment with deep water, while wearing a combat uniform. o Keep the sleeves buttoned and the top two front buttons unbuttoned. o Grasp the collars, press down with your thumbs where the rank insignia is normally pinned, and pull the collar down tight against your neck, creating a seal. o Hold the grasped fingers firmly against the chest. o Take a deep breath and bend forward no more than 45 degrees to prevent the air from escaping through the back of the blouse. o Turn your head to either side and break the seal of your collar. Bury your face as far in your armpit as possible and forcefully exhale a full lung of air into the blouse. o Immediately reseal the collar. Tilt your head back and raise your elbows to allow air to create a floating cushion around the back of the neck. Cross your ankles and stop moving.

o Keep the sleeves and the front of the blouse fully buttoned. o Turn the collar inside the blouse to create a seal. Tuck collar all the way around to help create a seal. Bring the top of the blouse over the mouth just under the nose, ensuring the blouse is high on the cheeks. o Pinch the blouse collar by the top two buttons in the front, and exhale air into the neck line. You can maintain flotation with this technique by inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth into the blouse. Exhale one-half to three quarters of a breath into the blouse o Use your free hand and feet to stroke and kick to the surface. o Gather and hold the blouse tightly at the collar and stomach level to prevent the blouse from losing air if it floats too high. o Splash water on the blouse periodically to prevent the material from drying; dry material allows air to escape.

Given an aquatic environment with deep water, while wearing a combat uniform . o Take a deep breath, bend over and remove boots o Retain your boots. Tie the boot laces together and suspend the boots from your blouse or hang them around your neck so that they rest on your chest. o Remove your trousers. Button the trousers’ fly closed. This allows to control airflow. o Tie the bottom of your trouser legs in a square knot. o Ensure that the front (fly) of the trousers faces you. o Hold the trousers at the water’s surface. Grasp both sides of the waistband and open with both hands. o Take a breath, drop 2 feet below the water’s surface, pulling the waistband underwater. o Hold the waistband open with both hands and blow air into the trousers. o To fill the trousers with air, surface while keeping the waistband underwater, breathe in again. Drop below the water’s surface, and blow into the trousers. o Repeat the steps until the trousers are filled sufficiently. o Once trousers filled, slipped the inflated legs over your head. Hold the waistband in toward your chest, the fly facing your body. To prevent the air from scaping from the trousers, seal the waistband by either folding it or twisting it. Lie back and relax, resting the back of your neck against the knot. Splash water to the trouser periodically.

Given an aquatic environment with deep water, while wearing a combat uniform. o Take a deep breath, bend over and remove boots o Retain your boots. Tie the boot laces together and suspend the boots from your blouse or hang them around your neck so that they rest on your chest. o Remove your trousers. Button the trousers’ fly closed. This allows to control airflow. o Tie the bottom of your trouser legs in a square knot. o Hold the trousers above the water’s surface and behind your head. Grasp both sides of the waistband and open with both hands o Kick strongly to stay on top of the water while slinging the trousers overhead in order to trap air into them. o Once the waistband is submerged in the water, air is trapped in the legs. o Hold and seal the waistband underwater. o Slip the inflated legs over the head and hold the waistband in towards the chest.

Given an aquatic environment with deep water, while wearing a combat uniform. o Take a deep breath, bend over and remove boots o Retain your boots. Tie the boot laces together and suspend the boots from your blouse or hang them around your neck so that they rest on your chest. o Remove your trousers. Button the trousers’ fly closed. This allows to control airflow. o Tie the bottom of your trouser legs in a square knot. o Ensure that the front (fly) of the trousers faces you. o Grasp the waistband at the surface with one hand. Insert your free hand into the waistband, palm down. o Hold the trousers at the water’s surface out in front of you by the waistband with the fly up. o Flutter your hand rapidly to create bubbles. This sends a mixture of water and air bubbles into the trousers. The water passes through the fabric and the air remains trapped in the legs. o Hold and seal the waistband underwater. Slip the inflated legs over your head. Hold the waistband in toward your chest, the fly facing your body. To prevent air from escaping from the trousers, seal the waistband either folding I or twisting it.

Combat uniform and combat load to perform gear shed includes: o Blouse o Boots o Trouser o Flak o Kevlar o Rifle

Given an aquatic environment with deep water, while wearing a combat uniform with full combat load. o Place hand on top of helmet and other hand securing riffle to body. o Step off the side with a smooth a 30 inch stride. o Once underwater remove the combat load. o Surface and exit the water.

Perform a slide-in entry. o Sit down at the edge facing the water. o Lower body into the water feet first. o Begin swimming approach.

Given an aquatic environment with deep water, while wearing a combat uniform with full combat load. Enter the water utilizing a modified abandon ship technique. Submerge, remove combat load, surface, exit the water.

Given an aquatic environment with deep water, while wearing a combat uniform with full combat load. o Take a deep breath, bend over and remove boots o Retain your boots. Tie the boot laces together and suspend the boots from your blouse or hang them around your neck so that they rest on your chest. o Remove your trousers. Button the trousers’ fly closed. This allows to control airflow. o Tie the bottom of your trouser legs in a square knot.

Marines must rescue a victim by: o Identify the victim – Activate the EAP and have someone call 911 o Enter the water. o Swim to the victim – use crawl or breast stroke approach. o Perform appropriate block technique. o Perform appropriate escape technique. o Perform appropriate level-off technique. o Perform appropriate tow technique. o Perform appropriate carry technique. o Perform distress swimmers assist if required. o Proceed to move the victim to safety and exit the water.

- Station 1. One hand block, front head hold escape, front surface level off and wrist tow. - Station 2. Rear head hold escape, double armpit level off, double armpit tow and cross chest carry. - Station 3. Rear head hold escape, single armpit level off, single armpit tow and collar tow. - Station 4. Two hand block, wrist grip escape, wrist grip alternate, distress swimmer’s assist.

The wrist-escape is used when a victim grabs the rescuer on the arm or wrist. Submerge the victim quickly by reaching across with the free hand, pushing down on the victim’s shoulder to submerge the victim and kicking to propel upward. While keeping the victim submerged with the hand on the victim’s shoulder, give three hard jerking pulls with the trapped hand in order to attempt to break free from the victim’s grasp. Once free, swim away of the victim.

The wrist-escape is used when a victim grabs the rescuer on the arm or wrist. Submerge the victim quickly by reaching across with the free hand, pushing down on the victim’s shoulder to submerge the victim and kicking to propel upward. While keeping the victim submerged with the hand on the victim’s shoulder, give three hard jerking pulls with the trapped hand in order to attempt to break free from the victim’s grasp. Once free, swim away of the victim.

The wrist-grip escape is used when a victim grabs your arm or wrist. Use your free hand to grab your trapped fist, rotate thumbs up, apply bone-on-bone contact with the victim’s arm, pry your hand out of his grasp, and quickly swim away from the victim.

The front head-hold escape allows you to escape when you are facing a victim who is gripping you around your head and neck. Take a quick breath and tuck your chin into your shoulder to protect your throat. Clap your hands above your head three times to submerge instantly. This drags the victim below the water, lifts the arms from around your neck, and typically, the victim releases their grasps in order to get back to the surface. If the victim doesn’t release their grasps, apply pressure to the victim’s brachial pressure points (located inside the upper arm, above the elbow). Thrust the victim’s arms up and away. Keep your chin tucked to protect your throat, and swim underwater away from the victim and return to the surface at the ready position. Stop -8 feet from the victim to reassess the situation. Determine an appropriate course of action.

Take a deep breath and tuck your chin down, turn your head to either side, and raise your shoulders to protect your throat. Take a strong stroke, clap your hands above your head three times and submerge instantly. This drags the victim below the water and typically releases the grasp from the rescuer in order to get back to the surface. If the victim does not release the grasp, apply pressure to the victim’s brachial pressure points (located inside of the upper arm, above the elbow). Swim underwater away from the victim.

One hand block prevents the victim from grabbing the rescuer when the approach is from the front. Place one or both open hands against the victim’s upper chest being careful to avoid the victim’s face, neck or abdomen. Lean backwards and submerge rapidly, keeping your blocking arm(s) extended. Swim underwater and away from the victim and return quickly to the surface.

Two hand block prevents the victim from grabbing the rescuer when the approach is from the front. Place both open hands against the victim’s upper chest being careful to avoid the victim’s face, neck or abdomen.

If the time allows, remove the helmet and gear before attempting the rescue. Approach the victim slowly and asses the situation. Grab the victim’s armpit with the hand, use the right hand for the victim’s right armpit or left hand for the victim’s left armpit victim. Position sideways to the victim and place elbow in the center of the victim’s back. Pull with the hand that is not in the victim’s armpit while pushing with the elbow that is in the victim’s back to place the victim horizontally on the water’s surface, face up. Towing arm should be straight and along the side. Use the lead arm (bottom arm) to execute short, vigorous pulls. Execute a scissor or inverted scissor kick in a continuous and vigorous manner. Use either free breathing or explosive breathing during the tow. During free breathing keep your head above the water’s surface and continuously reassure the victim. During explosive breathing, put the head under the water to plane off the rescuer’s body angle and reduce drag. Execute approximately two strokes, then lift the head up to breathe and reassure the victim. Return the head back underwater for the next few strokes.

The double armpit tow is performed after a victim has been properly leveled-off. - If the time allows, remove the helmet and gear before attempting the rescue. To execute the double armpit tow, place both hands under the victim’s armpits. Once the victim is horizontal and on the water’s surface, begin rearward momentum by slowly extending the arms into a fully locked-out position and executing a double armpit tow and inverted breast stroke kick. kick must be continuous and vigorous in order to keep the victim’s face above the water.

Use the wrist tow method to rescue a victim who is floating face down. DO NOT use the wrist tow on a struggling victim. If time allows, remove your helmet and gear before attempting the rescue. Approach the victim from the front and grasp the underside of the victim’s left wrist with the left hand or the victim’s right wrist with the right hand. Ensure that your thumb is on the underside of the victim’s wrist. Lean back, pulling and kicking strongly to move the victim into a horizontal position. Twist the victim’s wrist to rotate the victim into a face position. Swim towards safety using a lifesaving stroke. Keep a firm grip on the victim’s wrist ad keep your pulling arm fully extended and along side. This prevents drag. Ensure the victim’s head does not go underwater during the recovery.

The collar tow is performed after a victim has been properly level off. If the time allows, remove your helmet and gear before attempting the rescue. To perform a collar tow using the victim’s blouse. Maintain control of the victim by grasping his armpit with one hand and then with the free hand grasp either the combat gear or the blouse between the victim’s shoulder blades. If grasping the blouse, grasp the material with the palm up, then turn the hand over to tighten the material. Release the victim’s armpit once control is established and execute the lifesaving stroke to tow the victim to safety.

Front surface approach is performed when the victim is passive. Approach the victim, rescuer reaches out the arm and grabs the victim’s wrist across the body. Right hand to the victim’s right hand or left hand to the victim’s left hand with the palm facing inward and places the thumb on the bottom of the victim’s wrist with the fingers pointing outward. Close the fingers around the wrist, rescuer brings the arm in to about a 90 degree bend underwater. Extend the free hand out and start kicking. Rotate the victim’s body by turning fingers towards the bottom of the pool finishing with the thumb up.

Approach the victim slowly and grab the armpits with both hands. Place the elbows on the victim’s back. Pull with the hands that are in the victim’s armpits while pushing with the elbows that are in the victim’s back and use an inverted breast stroke kick to place the victim horizontal on the water’s surface (face up).

Use a level-off technique to place the victim in a horizontal face up position. The cross-chest carry to take the victim to safety if the victim is struggling or when moving through heavy surf. If the time allows, remove the helmet and gear before attempting the rescue. Swim toward the victim, use a level-off technique to place the victim in a horizontal, face-up position. Retain a grip on the victim with one hand. Reach over the victim with the free hand to encircle the victim’s chest. Place the free hand on the victim’s opposite to rib cage, just below armpit. Release the grip once a secure hold is on the victim’s chest. Swim toward safety using the lifesaving stroke while keeping a firm grip on the victim’s chest and rescuer’s hip on the victim’s back.

Given an aquatic environment with deep water, while wearing a combat utility uniform. - Enter the water from a platform. - Orient to surface. - Clear a breathing space while surfacing. - Orient to Safety. - Swim to safety utilizing one or a combination of the aquatic survival strokes. - Exit the water.

Given an aquatic environment with deep water, while wearing a combat uniform: o Enter from a platform using abandon ship technique – height 8-10’ above the water o Align toes at the edge of the platform and place hands on opposite shoulders performing a crisscross pattern. o Look up to ensure no other people is entering the water above you. o Look down to ensure that the landing area is clear. o Look straight ahead. o Step off taking a 30 inch step. During descend cross the legs o Stay in this position until descend in the water stops o Orient to the surface

Place both hands on the gutter or deck, push down to lift your upper body out of the water, place a knee or foot onto the gutter or deck and climb out.