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Yesterday, my Sgt told me I had to try to pass CWS-2, cause everyone else in the shop was going to qual there pathetic CWS-4's. My initial reaction was to tell my Sgt, that he could shove my CWS-2 up his ass, along with his CWS-4, but better common sense prevailed, and I just said Aye Sgt.

I swear to God the Marine Corps can take anything you love and make it into hell. Swim 50 meters in a bathing suit. OK, not bad. Now swim 50 meters in cammies, boots, a flak jacket, kevlar, and have a rifle slung.

That shit sucks.

Then you have to haul 2 packs, 2 rifles, and another "victim" Marine 25 meters to safety. This is SUPPOSED to be easy, because the victim is SUPPOSED to hold on to the two packs, and basically become a massive flotation device for you. But the female I was with, kept not holding the packs properly, I had to go back twice and grab packs for her, that she let go. But I went ahead and used her as a flotation device anyway, and got through the whole stupid thing. And then when she complained the Gunnery Sergeant, straight up told her she was a shitty victim.

Come to find out she was a Staff Sergeant. That was the thrill of my day. I got to half drown a Staff Sergeant, and she got yelled at for it.

Long story short, I passed, if by the skin of my teeth. I still say I can't swim for shit, but the Marine Corps says otherwise :lol:

Fun times. Fun times.

It brings a chuckle to me listening to someone recount their new experiences like this, especially when I can actually relate to them myself. One of our basic physical fitness tests requires that we tab 8 miles in full kit with approx 40lbs of weight in a bergan, then climb unassisted into a troop vehicle, and then carry another person 100 metres with all their kit and weapon, whilst carrying your own too. Finally, you are expected to complete parts 2 & 3 quickly and then perform your Annual Personal Weapons Test (and pass of course!).
Anyway, once whilst prepping for part two, someone exclaimed thyat I had it easy seeing as I only had to carry someone who was 9st. (one of the girls), you're supposed to select someone your own weight and height, and she HAD to choose me because I was the only guy under testing that weight/height and there were no other females either.
He complained to the PT staff, who commented to the OC, who asked me to re-perform the test instead of Part 3 (Climbing into the vehicle fully kitted w/o assistance). So, to help out in making the point I selected my own boss to carry with his kit - he was 6ft5in, 19.5 stone in weight plus kit, and I hauled ass all the way to the finish line. Jeez, thought I was going to explode!! :lol: Anyway, this staff sergeant laughs it all off suddenly and makes like it was just some fun poking. Until the OC told him he was going to do the same thing - 100 metres carrying the "equivalent" ratio of weight. Needless to say, he didn't quite make it. And as I headed across the firing range, the OC was heard to remark, "Next time you choose to ridicule one of my NCOs, just make sure you're a big enough man yourself!" I nearly pissed myself with laughter, especially seeing as he was one of these Marine/Para/ "Went for 'SELECTION'" wannabes. He could have picked anybodyt to take the piss oput of, but he chose me, and did it in earshot of the OC, who knew I no slouch. Infact he actually recommended me at one point for PT corps selection and I just had to turn that down, oh man - I couldn't do with PT 24/7 LOL!¬ :shock: :roll:

It's something I swear only military individuals can truly understand. I know civilians have somewhat of an understanding of it, as I have been in similar situations in my life, but with military where so many things MUST be done, even if you just don't want to, or even nothing depends on it, just because you tell yourself so, it just brings a whole new sensation to it.

Like I said, I am not a very good swimmer in the LEAST. I suck. My Cpl is a motivating mother f'er, who can more than double the max score for the Marine Corps Physical Fitness test. A total nut job. He came along to to support us, and give us some last minute tips. I told him, in two minutes, I would be drowned and out of the pool.

But you finally get to it, and something clicks. 10 meters in, I guess he and the instructors were shaking their heads, figuring there was no way in HELL, I was going to make it. Almost 20 minutes later him, and all the other instructors were at the side of the pool, screaming at me to not give up, I was almost there, rooting for me the whole rest of the way. I guess a couple instructors were in the pool watching me, getting ready, cause I was out there looking like I was going to drown. I felt like I was. But it's just something that just snaps in your head, from all that military training that just screams, "You will NOT give up! You MUST succeed! There is NO OTHER OPTION!"

I was working my ass off to stay afloat. And I was in my happy place thinking about one of the fattest, nastiest, most pimpled, not even worthy of being a marine, marines, floating in the pool, for CWS-4, like a fat turd, just a few moments before I went. And now I'm swallowing all this water, barely staying afloat, humoring myself that it might just be better to drown now than make it and have to worry about what I will come down with from him.

Anything to get by.

Fortunately CWS4 through CWS2 are purely 'survival', so there is no time limit, or need to make it pretty, as long as you succeed, and use the strokes you are permitted. CWS1, the instructor courses, and special shit, recon etc. do are the ones where they start getting timed, and have to start looking like they are competant swimmers.