page_title: Rescue swimmer
section_title: U.S. Navy/Marine Corps
hierarchical_section_title: Rescue swimmer / United States of America / U.S. Navy/Marine Corps
caption_attribution_description: English: Atlantic Ocean (June 9, 2004) – Midshipmen from the guided missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) conduct Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) Training during a Coordinated Training Exercise for Midshipmen (CORTRAMID) off the coast of Virginia. Laboon and five other surface force ships participated in the training exercise. U.S. Navy photo by Yeoman 2nd Class Anthony J. Larkin (RELEASED)
context_page_description: Rescue swimmer is a designation 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.
context_section_description: United States Navy and Marine Corps rescue swimmer candidates attend a four-week Aircrew School followed by the five-week-long Aviation Rescue Swimmer School in Pensacola, Florida. After graduating rescue swimmer school, students go on to their respective 'A' School, also in Pensacola, Florida. Navy air rescue swimmers were recently split into two separate ratings. Which rating a rescue swimmer attains depends on what type of helicopter they are to become qualified in.
  Once Navy rescue swimmers have graduated 'A' School, they will go on to their respective Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS). 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.
  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 PQS in their new squadron. Once they are qualified, they are eligible to wear Naval Aircrew wings.
  Navy Surface Rescue Swimmers attend the four-week Surface Rescue Swimmer School in Jacksonville, Florida. 160th SOAR(A) has had personnel complete the course.
caption: Surface Search and Rescue Swimmer assisting in the transfer of midshipmen
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