Tom... I went through that same school when I was in the Navy.
Thought I would share this link. It is about water survival. I went thru land, air and sea survival school whilst I was in the Navy near 60 years ago. This stuff stiff works. You can use about anything that will trap air so to assist in floating. These demo's left out some skills, but it is basic. Not too many folks know about survival s
at sea.
Also, if you wear a long sleeve loose fitting shirt, you can button it up and blow air thru the mouth into the shirt. Keep the shirt or pants wet by splashing water on them. This will hold air longer in clothing. Try it out when the water gets warm. You will be surprised how well this works. I survived the parachute drop in water, the rocket eject seat, and the dip sty dumpster.
Squid Tom
Troop 317 Wiki [licensed for non-commercial use only] / Inflate Shirt and Pants
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Tom... I went through that same school when I was in the Navy.
I have spent most my life fishing........the rest I wasted.
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Cane Pole- I did survival training in Panama, with the Navy. I hope you are well, thanks for the post/course.
Signed, Scott Greaves B34-14-78
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That brings back memories. Did you go thru damage control school too? I especially remember the one where they put you in a compartment with the one above it flooded. Then the hatch in the overhead was opened and you had to go up thru the water pouring down to get out.
Fair Winds and Following Seas
Bill H. PTC USN Ret
Chesapeake, Va
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We did the pants thing in Lifeguard training back in the day. We had to float for 10 minutes and then swim a mile.
Thanks for flaring my PTSD Tom. Oh what memories including the etc., such as Smokin' Joe and the shot gauntlet too. As a note for those who didn't get to go through these experiences, "Smokin' Joe" was 50 yard long steel building with fire smoldering inside of it along the full length of it. The purpose of the exercise was to imprint it on your brain that you could not and (likely) would not survive going into a smoke fill compartment without the proper breathing apparatus. Our drill instructor was a bit on the sadistic side (I thought) because once he put you in there... he made you recite your general orders before he let you out. Believe me... it is almost impossible to remember anything let alone recite anything while choking your guts out in a smoke filled confined area. I will admit however the exercise was extremely effective to let you know exactly what was in store if you did decide to go into a smoke filled compartment without your breathing apparatus.
Do you ex-Navy guys remember the shot gauntlet??? Can you explain to the brethren what it was???
"Just Like Iron Sharpens Iron... So it is that One Man Sharpens Another Man." Proverbs 27:17
Yes, March to a grinder with several other company’s. Then when it came your co’s turn get in single file, dungaree shirt removed sleeves tied around waist, t shirt sleeves rolled up, single file March through a gauntlet of hospital corps men trainees with needles and shot-guns. Getting al inoculated up. Made that pass 3-4 times. Then form up March to chow hall. Standing on grinder and watch guys start passing out. This was back in the days when the first started using those guns. If you flinched or he slipped you got a slice on the arm along with the shot. Making me sick thinking about it.
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Charlie Weaver USN/ENC 1965-1979