Navy Rescue Swimmer Dads

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Comment by Mike M on April 3, 2013 at 11:22am

Thanks for any and all information...My son is on the track team too. He's heard stories of the mental side of the Navy.... His brother is in the Navy as AVO. He wanted to go into Navy but in a different field then his brother and started talking about rescue swimming. Just wanted to support him and guide him..he has two years before he goes in.

Comment by Danny Maxwell on April 3, 2013 at 11:13am

sorry Mike, hit the button too quick, my son was NOT excellent in any of the PT events, just good at them all

Comment by Danny Maxwell on April 3, 2013 at 11:11am

Hi Mike, a totally agree with Thomas and Logph, swim champs won't cut it.  My son was not a swimmer at all, he was excellent in anything, he just made sure he got good at everything.  It's the whole package physically and then there's the mental stuff which is probably more important, good luck to your son!

Comment by Thomas Baum on April 3, 2013 at 11:08am

Mike, Sounds a lot like my story. My son has been swimming competitvely since age 12. There is SO much more than swimming to be a rescue swimmer. There are many websites that give all of their job descriptions but being a good swimmer is definetly a huge plus. Running and Push ups are huge. They must make certain standards to even qualify for AIRR contracts. My son was doing 1000 push ups a day before he went to BC

Comment by Logph Aguirre on April 3, 2013 at 11:04am

Mike, there are many strong swimmers who fail. It helps to be a strong swimmer but you need to be mentally strong as well. They will physically wear him down on land and water. And then they will start to mess with his head. He has to want this more than anything in the world. And you must be ready to travel the same path. It is very doable but he must stay focused. This site was very encouraging to me and helped me as I encouraged my son. Good luck.

Comment by Thomas Baum on April 3, 2013 at 10:59am

Logph, Just left there last week. did you stay at the Lodge on the Beach ? What a great place. So glad to hear your son made it. Please thank him for his service. I got to see the Nimitz while out there. That is one BIG vessel. I know how proud you must be. your son will be in our prayers

Comment by Logph Aguirre on April 3, 2013 at 10:50am

Hi fellow dads..I am currently at NAS North Island getting ready to watch my son Robert leave for his first deployment with HSC-6 on board the Nimitz. Yes its been a long journey for him and all of us. Family support is so important. There were many times when I thought that it was over but he pulled through. I have seen him grow up an become a man. Although he is headed for troubled waters, our faith and confidence are strong. For those of you who's child is about to enter this long journey, I want to encourage you to keep them focused. Remind them about what the prize that awaits them is all about. It is indeed the greatest job in the Navy for those who persevere. They only choose the best.

Comment by Mike M on April 3, 2013 at 10:48am

My son is in high school and has been a competitive swimmer since he was 9 years old. He's almost 6 feet tall, swims 5000 yards a day and is thinking of enlisting as a rescue swimmer......any advise for him as he starts the process??

Comment by Thomas Baum on April 3, 2013 at 10:25am

Hello Dads,
744 days ago, let me say that again..... 744 days ago my son left home a 19 year old 5ft. 11in. 137lb boy and headed to Great Lakes in hopes to become a Avation Rescue Swimmer. I'm so proud and honered to say that he just graduated FRAC out in San Diego. The "pipeline" is a long and diffucult one. My son is a "Romeo" in which the training is a little longer.Briefly, when he entered NACCS in P-Cola their were 47 canadites. At graduation last week 3- thats right- 3 had made it. RSS gets alot of them. (Congrats Brad on Garretts promotion, AWESOME). That is one of the most physical demanding schools in the Navy. You better learn how to do pull ups and push ups in your sleep !!! "A" school (for Romeos dont know about sierras) is also very demanding mentally. your tested and re tested again and again. Then FRAC had him for 264 days, he learned that Helio from nose to tail. over and over and over again !
By no means do i mean to scare you new dads but WHEN your son/daughter graduates, knowing what they went through to get that diploma that will rank as one of your proudest moments. It did for me and Im sure many other Dads. He has made many life long friends that I have also met (Beach party the night of Grad.) and as I watched all of them together, one word came to mind , "Brothers" Those guys would do anything for each other including giving their lives, no doubt in my mind.
744 days of praying,worring,looking for those encouraging words to give him when he called,wanting to help him on his tests,wanting to take away his aches and pains and so on and so on. It is all SO worth it in the end. My son is now 22 and is 6'1" and 165 with less than 4% body fat and a fine young man ! He has the upmost respect for every one of his instructors since now he realizes why they do what they do. His "motto" has always been..."Tell me I cant, I will SHOW you I can". Hoo-Yah NAVY for helping me turn my son into such a fine young man. I will be praying for your children through this process. If I can help any one in any way please feel free to ask. That is what us Dads are here for....

Comment by C. R. Dean on March 31, 2013 at 5:26pm

Well my son just went through PIR on Friday.  It was very amazing ceremony.  However, he has to stay behind on a medical hold for a small sinus infection.  He said he is consider a scruff until he is cleared medically.  There are several Spec Ops with him that have the same condition.  His rack mate is a Seal candidate and seems pretty cool. He goes to the doctor on Monday for check up if all us clear he gets to leave next weekend.  I am keeping my fingers crossed.   

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