Rescue Swimmer

Posted by Weldon Lewis Peveto on July 8, 2010 at 8:18pm

My daughter just signed with the Navy.  She is in the DEP program and has a ship date of OCT 25.  Last evening she was at the recruiters office and he talked her into trying out for the rescue swimmer.  I'm not sure if I am good with that.  Is this something that females should get into?  She is a college softball pitcher and is very athletic.  I don't know about her swimming skills.  The recruiter said that "they will teach her all she needs to know".  Should I be worried?

 

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  • Brad July 9, 2010 at 11:26am
    My son Garrett, graduated RSS in mid 2007 and there were a couple of women, 1 in the class before and 1 coming up right after his that completed that very difficult step. Then when he classed up in San Deigo and I went out to pin his wings as Aircrew in Nov 2007, there was one woman in his class of only 10 to make it. Between the two squadrons (Garrett's HS-14 Chargers and HSC51 Warlords) stationed at Atsugi Naval Airbase in Japan I saw two women while I was visiting and they had a party honoring the SAR's on base.

    Obviously it can be done, and if she is a good athelte and student that works hard to learn all the skills, she will do fine. Glad she is getting a swim coach to help her be the best she can before she goes in. She will need to work that hard if she has no previous swim team type training. My son was not on a swim team previously, but got heavy into the training for the 4 months before going in on Memorial Day 2007. Good luck to her, and keep us updated on the general wall comments as she progresses through the stages. All of us parents here will try to help you with questions and pointers for the many steps she will have along the way. Fly Navy!!

    Weldon Lewis Peveto said:
    Thanks for the reply. Anna graduated a semester early from high school and went to college on a softball scholarship and earned the starting job. She actually pitched over 200 innings her freshman year. She is very strong in her mind as well as body. I know I shouldn't worry but we have always been very close (15 years of softball does that with father and daughter). She has actually found a college swim coach to work with her over the next few months. She actually stated to her recruiter that women should have to cross the same hurdles as men to get into the military. I know she will do what it takes to make the grade. Can anyone tell me how many women are in the rescue swimmer program?

    Michael Gabby said:
    Weldon welcome to Navy Dads,
    My son Paul has been a SAR for some time now. They will teach your daughter all she is able to learn. I say this because not everyone who enters into the program qualifies. The instructors of SAR are highly trained and they they won't let anyone pass the certification process thats not qualified. The lives of down servicemen either in water or land depend on a highly qualified SAR members. With that being said, I would support her in what ever she chooses and I would make sure it's her choice and your support of that choice. Worried is an burden placed on parents and there is no getting out of it.
    I perfer to do all my worring the first five minutes of my day and if I don't get it all done in that five minutes I don't worry about it. The rest of the day I spend feeling proud of my children.
    The most important thing to tell your Daughter is: follow all rules and stay out of trouble. The Sailors who become SARs are highly respected by all branches of the Military.
    Michael
  • Weldon Lewis Peveto July 9, 2010 at 9:40am
    Thanks Jim for the encouragement. My son is a SSG in the AF and his MOS is ECM, electronic counter measures, on C-17's. He told Anna that she should have joined the AF and she stated, "Naw, I don't wanna take the easy way". He is realy proud of her. The reason that she wants this is to save lives, thats what she has always been about. She has always put others first.

    Jim Bruder said:
    Weldon,

    First of all, thanks to your daughter for her service to the country. In relation to being a rescue swimmer she should do fine. She would be part of the Special Forces Team in the Navy. The physical part is very demanding but it sounds like she is in good physical shape and should handle it quite well.
    My son Jeff has completed all his Rescue Swimmer training and his ground school flight training at Pensacola. He just got his orders for San Diego to complete the training process. He is very excited, and has said "At last I get to start flying" He will get his Aviation Wings in February.
    Good luck to your daughter, and GO NAVY.....
  • Weldon Lewis Peveto July 9, 2010 at 9:36am
    Thanks for the reply. Anna graduated a semester early from high school and went to college on a softball scholarship and earned the starting job. She actually pitched over 200 innings her freshman year. She is very strong in her mind as well as body. I know I shouldn't worry but we have always been very close (15 years of softball does that with father and daughter). She has actually found a college swim coach to work with her over the next few months. She actually stated to her recruiter that women should have to cross the same hurdles as men to get into the military. I know she will do what it takes to make the grade. Can anyone tell me how many women are in the rescue swimmer program?

    Michael Gabby said:
    Weldon welcome to Navy Dads,
    My son Paul has been a SAR for some time now. They will teach your daughter all she is able to learn. I say this because not everyone who enters into the program qualifies. The instructors of SAR are highly trained and they they won't let anyone pass the certification process thats not qualified. The lives of down servicemen either in water or land depend on a highly qualified SAR members. With that being said, I would support her in what ever she chooses and I would make sure it's her choice and your support of that choice. Worried is an burden placed on parents and there is no getting out of it.
    I perfer to do all my worring the first five minutes of my day and if I don't get it all done in that five minutes I don't worry about it. The rest of the day I spend feeling proud of my children.
    The most important thing to tell your Daughter is: follow all rules and stay out of trouble. The Sailors who become SARs are highly respected by all branches of the Military.
    Michael
  • Michael Gabby July 9, 2010 at 8:43am
    Weldon welcome to Navy Dads,
    My son Paul has been a SAR for some time now. They will teach your daughter all she is able to learn. I say this because not everyone who enters into the program qualifies. The instructors of SAR are highly trained and they they won't let anyone pass the certification process thats not qualified. The lives of down servicemen either in water or land depend on a highly qualified SAR members. With that being said, I would support her in what ever she chooses and I would make sure it's her choice and your support of that choice. Worried is an burden placed on parents and there is no getting out of it.
    I perfer to do all my worring the first five minutes of my day and if I don't get it all done in that five minutes I don't worry about it. The rest of the day I spend feeling proud of my children.
    The most important thing to tell your Daughter is: follow all rules and stay out of trouble. The Sailors who become SARs are highly respected by all branches of the Military.
    Michael
This reply was deleted.