Even jumping is done en masse in the Navy.

 

This photograph shows abandon ship drill at an armed guard center.

SWIMMING IS A SPORT THAT MAY SAVE A MAN’S LIFE

“Tt is impossible to be too good a swimmer,” hence in the
Navy physical fitness program swimming is given paramount
consideration. To be able to swim may be to be able to live,
and the Navy is continually giving increased attention to this
important phase of the bluejacket’s training. Aside from
being a possible means of saving one’s life, swimming is an
excellent body-building activity. It develops endurance and
coordination, and at the same time gives relaxation and is
recreational activity.

There are four general areas in swimming as related to
use in the Navy. These are (a) fundamental swimming
skills; (b) functional swimming drills; (c) abandoning ship
drills; and (d) rescue drills. Form and speed swimming are
not emphasized because of their relative unimportance and
time limitations in training. In the Navy it is more im-
portant that a man have a feeling of being at home in the
water, and be familiar with several means of keeping afloat,
rather than that he be able to execute strokes in perfect
form.

Navy Standard Swimming Tests have been developed in
order to classify men as to their swimming abilities during

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their training period. These tests also serve as a guide in
formulating swimming programs at training stations and
other naval activities. If a man is able to “enter the water,
feet first, from a minimum height of five feet, and swim
50 yards,” he is classified as a swimmer-third class. This is
the basic Navy swimming test and the means used for de-
termining whether a man is a swimmer or non-swimmer.
Approximately 28 percent of the recruits at Naval Training
Stations are unable to qualify as swimmers-third class when
they begin their training. When they leave, this number is
reduced to less than six percent. Those just barely able to
pass this test are also indicated as “swimmers who need
help.’ To be a swimmer-second class a man must be able
to “take care of himself” in the water. The successful com-
pletion of this test necessitates his sustaining himself for a
longer period in the water (10 minutes) and use of varied
strokes. A swimmer-first class is one able “to help others.”
He must be an expert swimmer and to pass successfully this
test must demonstrate his aquatic ability by rescue drills,
underwater swimming, removal of clothing in the water,
and limited distance swimming.