Rescue swimmer is a qualification given to rescue specialists, most commonly in the service of the military. Rescue swimmers usually are charged with the rescue, assessment, and rendering of medical aid to persons in distress in the sea, on the land, or in the air. This highly specialized position is extremely challenging.
United States
U.S. Coast Guard
Arguably the most widely recognized team of rescue-swimmer operators, the United States Coast Guard Aviation Survival Technician (AST)/Helicopter Rescue Swimmer team is trained to respond in extreme rescue situations, such as medical evacuations, downed aviators, sinking vessels, and hurricanes. The Coast Guard's team of ASTs is composed of about 350 active-duty members, and just over 1000 members have passed the training to become Helicopter Rescue Swimmers since the mid-1980s. The training school has one of the highest attrition rates of any military school with about 80% of candidates failing to complete the program. For comparison, the attrition rate for United States Navy SEAL selection and training is about 75%.The entire list of graduates can be found here
AST School in Elizabeth City, North Carolina lasts for 24 weeks, and includes intense physical fitness, long hours of pool fitness and instruction, extreme water-confidence drills, and classroom instruction. The Coast Guard rescue swimmer training program is very challenging and is one of the toughest U.S. military training courses. Reportedly, only 75–100 Coast Guard personnel attend the school each year. The attrition rate in some years has been as high as 85%, although the 10-year average is just over 73%. Prospective U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmers are physically conditioned to meet high physical fitness standards. About half of prospective candidates make it to AST "A" School. Upon graduation, candidates must attend seven weeks of training at the Coast Guard's Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) school in Petaluma, California, where ASTs become EMT qualified. Rescue swimmers at Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, Alaska, must maintain the EMT-Intermediate level of proficiency due to the remoteness of their operational area and the number of medical evacuations performed by that unit each year. Once stationed at a Coast Guard Air Station, apprentice ASTs must complete 6 months of qualification on their respective airframe before moving on to finish their rescue swimmer syllabus and becoming journeymen.
The Coast Guard holds a one-week Advanced Helicopter Rescue School (AHRS, formerly known as Advanced Rescue Swimmer School) at Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment, Washington, which is host to Air Force pararescuemen (PJs), Navy rescue swimmers, and foreign rescue departments as well. There, students learn the challenges of vertical-surface rescue, cliff operations, sea-cave traversing, and extreme-high-seas rescue. AHRS is considered the premier helicopter-rescue training school of its kind by most military and civilian rescue operators.Official web page, National Motor Lifeboat School, US Coast Guard official website.
The Coast Guard also trains a basic form of life-saving swimmers known as Cutter Surface Swimmers. These swimmers deploy only from ships and boats, and are tethered to a line handler stationed on board the vessel.
Female rescue swimmers
Women must meet the same physical, endurance, and performance standards as men in order to earn a qualification as a Coast Guard rescue swimmer.
The first female Coast Guard rescue swimmer was Kelly Mogk Larson, who joined the Coast Guard in 1984 and later became the first woman to complete Navy Rescue Swimmer School, on .Pioneers in Aviation by Martha LaGuardia-KotiteU.S. Coast Guard History ProgramFirst female Coast Guard rescue swimmer retires. In May 2013, Karen Voorhees was the first woman to be advanced to chief petty officer in the rating of aviation survival technician since women were integrated into Coast Guard active duty service in 1973.LT Stephanie Young, First female rescue swimmer promoted to chief petty officer. Coast Guard Compass - Official blog of U.S. Coast Guard, Tuesday, May 28, 2013.
The first woman to graduate from the Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue School was Sara Faulkner. During Hurricane Katrina, Faulkner rescued 48 people during one 12-hour shift, along with many others during rescue operations on subsequent shifts. She was nominated by the International Maritime Organization for its “Exceptional Bravery at Sea” award for rescuing three people from a sailboat during a storm with 45-knot winds and 15-foot seas.
U.S. Navy
Aviation Rescue Swimmer
The U.S. Navy was the first branch to train aircrew for the specific purpose of being deployed via helicopters into the water to assist survivors to be hoisted into a helicopter. The program was started in the 1970s, approximately 15 years before the U.S. Coast Guard began their rescue swimmer program. In the 70s, Navy rescue swimmers were initially trained in First aid, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE), Jungle environmental survival training (JEST), Search and rescue (SAR), Combat search and rescue (CSAR). They were initially rated into an aviation related occupation like aviation anti-submarine warfare operator (AW) or mechanic (AD, AE), all of which required successful completion of a 6 week aircrew candidate school. The program has evolved since the 70s and is now part of the Naval Special Operations career field along with Navy SEALs, SWCC, EOD, SARC and Navy Diver.
Vetting Process
Before joining the United States Navy to become an Aviation Rescue Swimmer, you must first pass certain physical and mental tests.
To qualify for Rescue Swimmer Training, both men and women must:
Meet specific eyesight requirements: uncorrected vision no worse than 20/100; correctable to 20/20 in both eyes with normal depth and color perception Meet the minimum Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) score: VE+AR+MK+MC=210 or VE+AR+MK+AS=210 Pass a PST in DEP/Boot Camp Pass Class 1 Flight Physical Be 30 years of age or younger Must be a U.S. citizen and eligible for security clearance
Physical Screening Test (PST) Requirements - Swim 500 yards in 12 minutes or less Rest 10 minutes Perform at least 42 push-ups in 2 minutes Rest 2 minutes Perform at least 50 sit-ups in 2 minutes Rest 2 minutes Perform at least 4 pull-ups in 2 minutes Rest 10 minutes Run 1.5 miles in 12 minutes or less Elevated Physical Screening Test (EPST) Requirements -
Swim 500 yards in 10 minutes or less Rest 10 minutes Perform at least 65 push-ups in 2 minutes Rest 2 minutes Perform at least 65 sit-ups in 2 minutes Rest 2 minutes Perform at least 10 pull-ups in 2 minutes Rest 10 minutes Run 1.5 miles in 10:15
If you achieve the Elevated Physical Screening Test you are eligible to apply for the enlistment bonus for shipping.
While in the Navy United States Navy rescue swimmer candidates attend a four-week Aircrew School followed by the six-week-long Aviation Rescue Swimmer School (RSS) in Pensacola, Florida. After graduating from Rescue swimmer school (RSS), students go on to their respective 'A' School, also in Pensacola, Florida. Navy air rescue swimmers were recently split into two separate ratings; Naval Aircrewman Helicopter (AWS) and Naval Aircrewman Tactical Helicopter (AWR). Which rating a rescue swimmer attains depends on what type of helicopter they are to become qualified in. AWS will associate with MH-60S and AWR will associate with MH-60R. They are also known as "Romeos" and "Sierras" in their community. Until 'A' School, the training has been identical. Romeos and Sierras break apart during 'A' school and they begin to learn more specific parts of their jobs. Romeos also go through a longer 'A' school than Sierras.
Once Navy rescue swimmers have graduated 'A' School, they will go on to their respective Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS). There are two FRS's for AWS's. HSC-2 located in Norfolk, VA or HSC-3 located in San Diego, CA. Here crewman learn the various systems in the helicopter in which they will be flying. They are also expected to know various in-flight procedures, such as hoist-operating procedures and in-flight trouble-shooting. This syllabus can take from six to twelve months. Once they are NATOPS certified, and completed with the PQS and boards, they are eligible to wear Naval Aircrew wings.
The last stop for a Navy rescue swimmer is SERE School (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape). Upon graduation from the brutal two-week course, they will go to the fleet as operational rescue swimmers. They will only be considered qualified Aircrewmen once they complete an additional 18-month 'Utility" PQS in their new squadron. Although, to be considered "fully qualified", they will have to complete the Level II & III syllabus which can take another demanding 24 months.
After arriving to their respective squadrons, Aviation Rescue Swimmers are required annually to perform a SAR fitness test.
SAR test:
4 pull-ups (minimum) 20 pull-ups (maximum) 50 yard 50-pound dumbbell carry with 2 1-foot obstacle 1 mile litter walk in 16 minutes or less. 500-meter full gear swim, followed by a 400-meter buddy tow in 26 minutes or less Although an aviation Rescue Swimmer's primary job is to search for and recover downed pilots, there is a multitude of training for tactics. This is what makes a Rescue Swimmer a part of the Special Operations force of the United States Navy. The Level II and III syllabi that a Rescue Swimmer must complete involve training on specific missions such as Helicopter- Visit, board, search, and seizure (HVBSS), Combat search and rescue (CSAR), Special forces support, Close air support, Direct action, Aircrew survival equipmentman, and Surface warfare. All fully qualified AWS crewmen are also aerial/aviation gunners. They qualify on the M240D, GAU-21, M4 carbine(series), and M11 rifle. Each crewman must be a master of their weapons and be able to perform under pressure in order to complete their respective missions. AWS crewmen work with forces such as US Navy SEALs, US Army Rangers, Explosive ordnance disposal (United States Navy), US Marine Forces Special Operations Command, Maritime Security Response Team, BORTAC as well as other law enforcement, symmetric warfare and special warfare units.
Surface Rescue Swimmer
Navy Surface Rescue Swimmers attend a four-week Surface Rescue Swimmer School (SRSS) in Jacksonville, Florida. The school is a similar but simplified version of what US Navy Rescue Swimmers must undergo. To become a Surface Rescue Swimmer you must be able to perform physically.
Minimum Physical Requirements:
2 pull-ups in 2 min (2 min break) 50 sit-ups in 2 min (2 min break) 42 push-ups in 2 min (10 min break) 1.5 mile run in 12 min (10 min break) 400 meter swim in 11 min (Free style, Side Stroke, or Breast Stroke) A Surface Rescue Swimmer is typically attached to a United States Naval Vessel and serves as their Search and Rescue asset. The deploy from either the Rigid inflatable boat or the J-Bar in order to conduct a rescue. The primary job of a surface rescue swimmer is whatever they enlisted as. For example, a BM (Boatswain's mate (United States Navy)) can apply to attend Surface Rescue Swimmer School. If they pass, then their collateral duty is to be the Swimmer for their respective vessel.
Female rescue swimmers
In 1979 Cathy J. Lance was the first female pilot and associated water survival first class swimmer (qualifications completed in 1979) and served as the first Navy ships primary rescue swimmer. Lance had passed the SEAL physical entrance exam as well, however, in 1979 females were not accepted into a combat role.