News

U.S. Marine Corps Instructors of Water Survival and graduates of the Water Survival Advanced course pose for a group photo on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, July 22, 2022. WSA is the highest swim qualification that Marines can obtain before becoming Marine Corps Instructors of Water Survival. Throughout the course, students endured aquatic conditioning, endurance swimming, and underwater rescue training. - U.S. Marine Corps Instructors of Water Survival and graduates of the Water Survival Advanced course pose for a group photo on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, July 22, 2022. WSA is the highest swim qualification that Marines can obtain before becoming Marine Corps Instructors of Water Survival. Throughout the course, students endured aquatic conditioning, endurance swimming, and underwater rescue training.

Marine credits triathlons for making him a better warfighter - Maj. Ken Parisi, a logistics specialist at Marine Corps Systems Command, crosses the finish line at the Ironman World Championship at Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, in September. He placed in the top 25 percent of 4,500 competitors and said his passion for triathlons gave him confidence and made him a better Marine. (Courtesy photo)

Cpl. Kira R. Lavine with Marine Air Support Squadron 3, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, breaks two Warrior Games’ records including both the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle swim events. The Warrior Games took place June 1-9 at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. Competitors ranged from a Paralympic-style competition for wounded to injured service members from all U.S. branches of service, and this year includes teams from the United Kingdom Armed Forces, Australian Defence Force and Canadian Armed Forces. Armed Forces. - Cpl. Kira R. Lavine with Marine Air Support Squadron 3, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, breaks two Warrior Games’ records including both the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle swim events. The Warrior Games took place June 1-9 at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. Competitors ranged from a Paralympic-style competition for wounded to injured service members from all U.S. branches of service, and this year includes teams from the United Kingdom Armed Forces, Australian Defence Force and Canadian Armed Forces. Armed Forces.

Gunnery Sgt. Scott Michael Dahn, left, and Ching-Yi Sze, left, come together after Dahn rescued Ching-Yi while scuba diving May 20, 2018 at Maeda Point, Okinawa, Japan. Dahn brought Ching Yi, a Hong Kong native, to safety after she nearly drowned while scuba diving and supplied oxygen and care to her until paramedics came. Dahn, a native of Herron, Michigan, is the training chief for 3rd Maintenance Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Gunnery Sgt. Scott Michael Dahn, left, and Ching-Yi Sze, left, come together after Dahn rescued Ching-Yi while scuba diving May 20, 2018 at Maeda Point, Okinawa, Japan. Dahn brought Ching Yi, a Hong Kong native, to safety after she nearly drowned while scuba diving and supplied oxygen and care to her until paramedics came. Dahn, a native of Herron, Michigan, is the training chief for 3rd Maintenance Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Team Georgia moves to center stage during the 2018 Marine Corps Trials opening ceremony on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 17, 2018. The Marine Corps Trials promotes recovery and rehabilitation through adaptive sport participation and develops camaraderie among recovering service members and veterans. It is as an opportunity for RSMs to demonstrate their achievements and serves as the primary venue to select Marine Corps participants for the DoD Warrior Games. - Team Georgia moves to center stage during the 2018 Marine Corps Trials opening ceremony on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 17, 2018. The Marine Corps Trials promotes recovery and rehabilitation through adaptive sport participation and develops camaraderie among recovering service members and veterans. It is as an opportunity for RSMs to demonstrate their achievements and serves as the primary venue to select Marine Corps participants for the DoD Warrior Games.

A Marine prepares for a 600 meter conditioning swim during Water Survival-Advanced training at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 4, 2017. WSA is a week-long course that tests Marines on rescues, strokes and distance swimming. The Marine is a student in the course, which is run by 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion. - A Marine prepares for a 600 meter conditioning swim during Water Survival-Advanced training at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 4, 2017. WSA is a week-long course that tests Marines on rescues, strokes and distance swimming. The Marine is a student in the course, which is run by 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion.

Cpl. Aaron Rayburn speaks to Marines during a water survival advanced course at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Oct. 25, 2016. Rayburn, originally an air framer with Marine Transport Squadron 1, volunteered to become a search and rescue swimmer with the squadron. After the search and rescue mission for VMR-1 ended, he took his aquatic skills and applied them as a Marine Combat Instructor of Water Survival. Rayburn is a MCIWS with VMR-1. - Cpl. Aaron Rayburn speaks to Marines during a water survival advanced course at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Oct. 25, 2016. Rayburn, originally an air framer with Marine Transport Squadron 1, volunteered to become a search and rescue swimmer with the squadron. After the search and rescue mission for VMR-1 ended, he took his aquatic skills and applied them as a Marine Combat Instructor of Water Survival. Rayburn is a MCIWS with VMR-1.

Marines watch Sgt. Sasha McFadden as he explains a buddy rescue drill during an advanced water survival course at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Nov. 8, 2016. The course was aimed toward qualifying Marines as advanced swimmers, the highest level in the Marine Corps Water Survival Training Program. - Marines watch Sgt. Sasha McFadden as he explains a buddy rescue drill during an advanced water survival course at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Nov. 8, 2016. The course was aimed toward qualifying Marines as advanced swimmers, the highest level in the Marine Corps Water Survival Training Program.

Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264 prepare to enter the helo dunker during water survival training at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Apr. 28, 2016. The Marines used a simulated helicopter body while training for different underwater escape scenarios as qualification to be attached to a Marine Expeditionary Unit. - Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264 prepare to enter the helo dunker during water survival training at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Apr. 28, 2016. The Marines used a simulated helicopter body while training for different underwater escape scenarios as qualification to be attached to a Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Cpl. Kody Biggs, a rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, makes his down river, around a trail that is known to have notional improvised explosive devices during an attack evolution at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 20, 2016. The Marines conducted patrols, ambushes and assaults to prepare of their upcoming Integrated Training Exercise. - Cpl. Kody Biggs, a rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, makes his down river, around a trail that is known to have notional improvised explosive devices during an attack evolution at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 20, 2016. The Marines conducted patrols, ambushes and assaults to prepare of their upcoming Integrated Training Exercise.

Sgt. Gerry Pratama, from Anahuac, Texas, climbs up the latter after performing the helocasting practical application Nov. 4 during the scout swimmers course at White Beach Naval Facility. Marines rehearsed the procedures they will be doing on the aircraft on pier beforehand hand to ensure readiness. Pratama is a student of the course with Expeditionary Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF. - Sgt. Gerry Pratama, from Anahuac, Texas, climbs up the latter after performing the helocasting practical application Nov. 4 during the scout swimmers course at White Beach Naval Facility. Marines rehearsed the procedures they will be doing on the aircraft on pier beforehand hand to ensure readiness. Pratama is a student of the course with Expeditionary Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF.