MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- This training was the hardest thing I've ever done before," said Sgt. Cary Cole, cannoneer, Bravo Battery, 1 st Battalion 12 th Marine Regiment. "I figure though if I can do this, then I can do anything."
Cole, along with 12 other Marines have successfully completed the last Marine Combat Instructor Water Survival (MCIWS) course. The class began with 21 Marines, and finished with 12.
During the three week long duration, the Marines had to swim 1,500 meters in 33 minutes or less, do a series of full-gear rescues, take a variety of difficult tests, beach rescues and a 3,600 meter swim in full combat gear, stripping one piece of gear every 600 meters, which seems to be the defining moment of the course, said Sgt. Ben Spahr, marine combat instructor trainer of water survival, Regimental Schools.
"There are a lot of benefits to completing the course though," said the Ventura, Calif. native. "Plus it helps out the MCIWS instructors if every unit has at least one to qualify their own Marines for swim qualifications."
After successfully completing the course, the Marines will have a secondary Marine Occupational Specialty of 8563, or Water Safety/Survival Instructor. They will be able to run fourth-class swim qualification, up to Combat Water Safety Swimmer two-week school. They will also gain a variety of other qualifications, said Spahr.
The toughest part that usually hits the Marines the hardest is the full gear rescue practices, said Spahr.
"They aren't allowed to touch the sides of the pool for roughly two and a half hours with the gear on and must keep moving at all times to stay afloat," said Spahr. "I've actually seen guys cry at that point of the training."
The reason for the high level of difficulty is because it is such a different kind of training as well, said Spahr.
"It's not like taking a PFT [Physical Fitness Test]," he said. "It's very different then what most are used to, and I can say that it's probably the most difficult thing I've ever completed as well. I have nothing but respect for all of the Marines who come out to do this. The ones who are still here, deserve to be here. The ones that didn't make it this time but will come back, deserve just as much respect."
Spahr recommends that every units send people to the next MCIWS course that is taking place in September, as it may be the last one for a long time.
"We need two instructors to teach the course, and we aren't going to have enough people after September," he said. "I want to encourage any unit on base to send whoever they possibly can."
Each unit should have someone who has been through the course to help quall their own Marines, said Spahr.
"A lot of times when units deploy, they wait until the last couple of weeks before sending Marines who need to quall. That leaves us jumping though hoops to get everyone qualified on time. If each unit has their own, it would be a big help."
For the Marines who are completing the course, it was an accomplishment, but something that does not want to be done again, said Cole.
"In a way it's kind of like boot camp where you just go day to day, getting by," said the Phoenix, Ariz. native. "You try and think about something else. And then you realized you've earned the tan shorts, and it makes it all worth it."