Strong swimmer?

gocubsgo

5-Year Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2011
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How strong of a swimmer do you need to be for USMA?
I can swim but I am not a strong swimmer. Is this something I should work on?
 
What if you can't swim at all? I plan on learning, but say someone doesn't have the means to learn by the time they get in.
 
this is back in early 90's but I am reasonabl that things have not change too much

Plebe swiming, also known as plebe drowning. We did an assessment swim test, and placed into beginner, intermediate, and advance. Your course grade was based on your swiming skills, not how much pool water you drank. For us, jumping off of 10 meter diving board was a requirement.

So, if you have time become better or stronger swimmer.

"Plebe drowning" class is not conducive to learning how to swim. Another factor about learning swiming is overcoming your fear of water.
 
What if you can't swim at all? I plan on learning, but say someone doesn't have the means to learn by the time they get in.

How much time do you have? Try taking Swimming Classes. Or start going to any pool with shallow and deep water to get any probable fear of water out of the way. Learning how to float on your back/back strokes = Relax mode.
 
this is back in early 90's but I am reasonabl that things have not change too much

Plebe swiming, also known as plebe drowning. We did an assessment swim test, and placed into beginner, intermediate, and advance.

"Plebe drowning" is now "cow drowning". AKA "Survival Swimming"

They do the assessment during CBT (beast), but you don't take the course until later.

Failure to meet basic aquatic screening standards requires a cadet to complete PE 109 (Fundamentals of Aquatics) during Term I. Some of DS's friends are doing this. I think they may take it in leau of boxing. Which puts them a bit out of sync. So it's worth trying to pass it if possible.

If you can swim at all you are probably OK. Most of the stories about taking remedial swimming are about non-swimmers. But if not, you will learn! :smile:

Word to the wise: If you are a strong swimmer, try extra hard in the CBT swimming test.... there is a cutoff to validate cow drowning. DS missed it by a second or two, and regrets it. But they did not tell you until afterward it could be validated.

In case you are interested, as a plebe you will normally take the following DPE courses:

Cadet Basic Training (CBT)
- Combatives I

Academic year:
PE 115 – Fundamentals of Combatives (Women) Fall half semester
PE 116 – Boxing (Men) Fall half semester
PE 117 – Military Movement Fall half semester
PE 150 – Fundamentals of Personal Fitness (Spring)
APFT (Fall and Spring)
Competitive Sport

PE 109 Fundamentals of Aquatics as needed

At the end of Military Movement you will take (and hopefully pass) the IOCT.

Word from plebes I know is they either love or hate boxing. Not much middle ground. And the intent is not to learn about boxing, it's what the process teaches the cadet about themselves. Boxing is just to tool used to do so.
 
Thank you!

None of the links are working for me. What search words should I use to find the IOCT on youtube?
 
Search 'IOCT' on youtube
The title of the first one is 'IOCT'.
The second one is, 'Wounded Warrior Indoor Obstacle Course Test (IOCT)'

Sorry you can't open the links! :frown:
 
You'll get a taste of IOCT at beast. But it's an annual test for all cadets, I believe, and is quite challenging for some.

Your IOCT & APFT scores are a component of your physical score, along with your PDE coursework and athletics score. Your Physical score is itself a component of your overall cadet score along with academics and your military grade.

Pretty much everything you do is scored in some form.

This is all well documented, Physical in the "White Book", Academic in the "Red Book", and Military in the "Green Book" (only accessible to the USMA network)
 
The IOCT has changed some over the years with regards to who had to take it and and whether it was a graduation requirement. Currently, plebes take it nearly every class for military movement, but it is the cows who actually have to run it for an official grade. If they don't pass they keep retesting until either they meet the standard or don't graduate.
 
Thank you

2 Buff81:
There was never any doubt in my mind that i wanted to go to a SA but after watching the videos to the links you posted, if possible I want it that much more!

Gobuff81Go! Thank you!
 
The IOCT has changed some over the years with regards to who had to take it and and whether it was a graduation requirement. Currently, plebes take it nearly every class for military movement, but it is the cows who actually have to run it for an official grade. If they don't pass they keep retesting until either they meet the standard or don't graduate.

The Corps has. We took it every year as a graded event.
 
I agree with you. Learning how to swim is to learn how to overcome your fear of drowning....
 
WAIT!!!! West Point has a WAVE POOL!?!?! :eek:

Yup. Now they try to drown 'em hardcore. In my day they just weighed you with equipment until you sank and literally hauled you back up with a safety line hooked to your kit.

I think it has a weather system in there, too, similar to a Dunker/HEEDS facility.
 
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