Everyone at TBS needs to pass Basic Swim Qualification. If you are an Air Contract, you'll need to get your Intermediate Swim Qualification. If you want to go competitive air, you'll need to get it as well. I was able to get my Intermediate Swim Qualification just for the heck of it. I wanted to because swimming is something I'm actually decent at.
Swim Qualification is done in boots and camis. You'll need to wear skivvy shorts. In Intermediate, you learn how to make a floatation device out of your trousers. The instructor said, "Is everyone wearing shorts? I don't want to see anyone coming out in their tighty-whiteys. Believe me, it's happened." LOL!
Basic:
Jump from a high-platform, then swim a couple laps long-ways. I forget how many exactly. You can do front stroke, back stroke, and side stroke. I highly suggest side stroke. You get more power without having to slosh your soggy boots around. Plus you move your arms less in-and-out of the water. Take it from me, I used to be a swim instructor. During the practice lap, I did front stroke and was like...wow this is hard. Then during the later laps I switched to side and immediately knew I could do intermediate. Side stroke-lean on one side, and open and close your arms, like your constantly reaching your forward hand out to grab something. This also keeps your head above water compared to front stroke, and lets you see more, compared to back stroke.
Gear unload: Basically you stand in the shallow end with a flak, kevlar, and rubber rifle. Remove all the gear as quick as possible I forget if it's 10 or 30 seconds to dunk underwater and remove all the gear. take the kevlar off first (DUH) and instead of lifting the flak over you, hold it and climb from under it, so your head doesn't pop up. Just remember to come back up. Someone thought you had to be told to re-emerge!
Gear carry: You'll turn your assault pack into a floatation device, and swim up and down the pool with your pack, rifle, and flak. Make sure the flak is tight around the pack, with the rifle horizontal through the flak shoulder straps. I bear hugged through the flank and used the rifle as a handle bar. Do NOT let the gear come apart and sink. Then I just used it as a floaty and kicked my legs.
Treading water: I think you have to tread water for 2 minutes. This is my thing. Women have higher fat percentages and people that are in more shape will struggle more. It helps to deeply inhale and breath without deflated your chest all the way. move your arms and legs slowly. I forget if you had to inflate your blouse. They will teach you this and I wish I remembered if this was Basic or Intermediate. It all blurs together.
Intermediate: (This is all in the deep end)
Same platform jump, plus ten laps in the pool. I did this no sweat. Use side stroke! It was way easier for me, your arms and legs don't really come out of the pool, so there's less water to thrash around. I did this steadily and easily, and was faster than a couple people, even though I'm not a PT god.
Gear jump: Super simple. You'll jump into the deep end of the pool wearing your flak and holding a rifle, then have to remove everything. It's okay if it sinks to the bottom. Just get the kevlar off first, then climb out from under the flak, instead of trying to lift it off.
Buddy carry: I don't think you use the kevlar, rifle, or flak. Your buddy will be on the opposite side of the pool (short ways, you're both in the deep end). They will be "drowning." I forget if they are holding the assault pack floatation device or if you have it. Either way, you swim out to the, tell them to hold the pack, and then you pull them to the other side. They are allowed to kick. This event was easy.
Treading water/floatation device: I hope I'm remembering this right. You have to tread water for five minutes, and then you have until the tenth minute to demonstrate two floatation devices. You'll be taught how to inflate your blouse. You basically twist the buttons around the collar, blow into it, and then float. The instructors will tell you to stop kicking, in order to see if you did it correctly. You'll get to practice this beforehand. Then, while the clock is still ticking, you have to remove your boots and your trousers, make a floatation device out of your trousers, and then stop kicking to demonstrate that you did it correctly. I forget if you have to hang onto your boots, but when I took them off, I loosed the laces on both feet, then took of the boots, tied them together, and let them float besides me. The instructors will tell you the techniques to inflate your trousers. It was actually fascinating. Once your have your inflated trousers around your head, stop kicking. When the instructor gives the go-ahead, you're done!