issued items

omnipsi

USMA 2015 Appointee
5-Year Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Messages
55
Are we issued shower shoes and swim-wear? Or should we bring one/both of these items?
 
Are we issued shower shoes and swim-wear? Or should we bring one/both of these items?

Both have been issued for the past 5 years at least, I don't see them stopping now. It would be on the packing list otherwise since you need them for the swim test and general hygene (communal showers).
 
Both have been issued for the past 5 years at least, I don't see them stopping now. It would be on the packing list otherwise since you need them for the swim test and general hygene (communal showers).

Regarding the swim test. How far do you have to swim and in what amount of time. The test is to validate the swimming class right? I heard about while talking to a cadet.
 
Regarding the swim test. How far do you have to swim and in what amount of time. The test is to validate the swimming class right? I heard about while talking to a cadet.

150 yds in under 3 minutes to pass/validate
 
Still, regardless of how well you can swim, you will not validate PE350 (Survival Swimming). If you do well enough, you will simply be placed in a more advanced section. If you`re like me and cant swim, you will be placed into PE150 (Intro to Aquatics) immediately followed by PE320, which means that you will simply take the class as a plebe as opposed to a cow.
 
Also realize that you will not be able to wear goggles while swimming, so swimming blind or with your head out of the water may affect your time. Still imminently doable for swimmers, it can just be a bit of a shock if you're used to wearing goggles ordinarily.
 
Is the test conducted in a swimming pool? Or is it administered out in the field in a lake or something?
 
Is 150 yards in 3 minutes really fast?

By West Point standards, that's the speed of an average swimmer. In swim class, the maximum distance you can swim (and score points) in 10 minutes in a bathing suit/swim trunks is 800 yards, which is about 200 yards every 2 minutes, 30 seconds minutes, give or take.

Granted, they don't expect you to be some beast swimmer. If you're not quite up to the standard, don't sweat it, they'll teach you more efficient techniques of moving across water with minimal effort (trust me, I know from experience!).
 
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