The Army Divers Program It has a long history of excellence, and a number of challenging programs ranging from Army Hard Hat/Salvage Divers to Army Special Forces Divers training. It also has a Phase 1 portion, which eliminates most candidates before ever heading to Panama City, Florida, for the Dive School or Key West, Florida, for the Saxon Challenge School.
This is the question of the camp engineer preparing standards for acceptance into the program and through Phases 1 and 2;
Hey Stew, I’m getting ready for the Saxon Army School, I’m coming to you from Fort Leonard Wood. Do you have any recommendations for Engineer Diver tryouts? I work as a fitness instructor but they know that pool skills also need work. What suggestions? Count
Dude, that’s a great opportunity to become a military diver. But a lot of school attrition happens long before you ever put a pool on your back. Here is my step-by-step guide to prepare you for this multi-faceted challenge:
1. Crush the body screening Test
This course has the same testing opportunities the Navy SEAL/Diver program has: a 500 yard swim, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups and a 1.5 mile untimed run. Get started on the PST training plan and learn how to take the test. Your workouts should look like PST, and activities other than upper body calisthenics, running and swimming should complete those test results. Additional exercises such as squats, lunges, and bicycling workouts can prepare the legs and lungs for the challenge of running without an impact if needed a day or two after each week of running.
See the Navy PST Workoutand complete with your PST prep, plus the immersion/footing drills needed for Phase 1.
2.Daily Pool Training
It is recommended to swim every day of the week, but swim at least five days a week to be able to go from “OK” to the water. Start every swim workout with 10 minutes of treading water. Then do the swimming workouts that I’ve helped you break into a 100 yard swim (test like ” 50-50 workout). To cool off from your swim workout, add submerged drills and complete swimming by floating, swimming, underwater (which you should never do alone) and heavy treading (with 5-10 pounds of hand). Swimming and kicking with fins also require some ankle mobility and strength, which can only be obtained by practicing swimming with fins, such as fin swimming on leg days.
3. Add Mobility
Many people have a difficult time swimming and walking largely due to a lack of shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle mobility. In a more streamlined body position, you need good shoulder mobility so that both hands can go over your head and squeeze your ears with your biceps.
This will help you look and feel like a torpedo and add speed. Kicking also requires hip, knee, and ankle mobility, especially if you’re trying to use an egg beater or scissor kick. Therefore, mix in mobility and stretching in the swimming pool if you feel it is difficult in your joints to get into the proper place of stepping or sliding.
4. Land Training, Too
Although the most difficult events take place in pools and indoor pools (swim PT), you can practice many events on land, such as floating with kicks in an endless pool of water. You can do running, upper body training and even log exercise.
The purpose of Phase 1 training is to ensure that you can handle the rigors and discomforts of being underwater in dark and dark non-pool environments. There is a level of confidence in the water that will be tested on the road, and you will be happy to experience the challenges of both division 1 and 2 of different disciplines in all types of warfare. Many people often comment that the hardest part of the physical training is in Phase 1, but the hardest part of the military and professional training will be in Phase Two. Both are equally challenging and well worth the preparation. Goodbye and get after it.
Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL and a certified fitness instructor strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. visit them Opportunity eBook store if you want to start a workout program to create a healthy lifestyle. Send your fitness questions to stew@stewsmith.com.
Want to learn more about military life?
Whether you’re thinking about joining the military, looking for fitness and basic training tips, or maintaining military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to get military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox.
Show the full article
