Jump off Diving Board in BCT

mikewazowski

5-Year Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2014
Messages
4
So I am not a good swimmer at all... I can barely even tread water. Does anyone know anything about the blindfolded diving board jump during basic that I could find useful? I'm trying to hit the pool while I am on summer break. Thank you, guys.
 
Honestly, I can't tell what will happen in BCT, but I can tell you what I do know about the platform jump.

I went to a USMA camp and we were able to jump off of the 30 meter platform. The trick is to stay stiff and hit feet first... the hardest part is taking the step off, then it's over relatively quickly. Chances are that you will touch the bottom of the pool (which is good, because you'll be able to kick yourself up to the surface quicker).

I think we have to do it in gear, which is something I have never experienced off the platform, but from what I do know regarding swim team/life guarding, it will make it much more difficult.
 
Unless something has radically changed in the last two years, you will not be jumping off the tower during BCT. You will probably not even see the pool during BCT. There is a class later on either Freshman or Sophomore year, I can't remember when my DD did it, that you will be required to jump off the platform.
 
Is this something new? I never had to so much as look at a pool when I was in BCT.
 
You probably won't have anything to do with the water during basic, but I would definitely get a head start on teaching yourself how to swim when you can so you can perform well in the swim classes. It's really tough to teach yourself during freshman year (I did, but out of necessity for my team, and I had designated practices to go to) but if you go down to the pool regularly, especially on weekends, it can be done.

just remember, it's really hard to cram for any kind of fitness test...
 
DS is a 2016er. He had no pool based activities during BCT. First semester sophmore year he had a Basic Swim course. Second semester sophmore year he had Survival Swimming which is the course that requires jumping off the 10 meter platform in ABU's and swimming under water a distance. He validated out of both as he was a competitive swimmer. But I have heard him say multiple times that for some cadets the swimming is the most physically challenging activity at USAFA.
 
Last edited:
Gosh, DS hopes its the 10M Platform. He's never heard of the 30M Platform.

--The diving platform used by women and men at the Olympics is a flat, non-flexible. ... The diving board is elevated 10 meters, or approximately 32 feet, 9 l/2 inches ...
 
Gosh, DS hopes its the 10M Platform. He's never heard of the 30M Platform.

--The diving platform used by women and men at the Olympics is a flat, non-flexible. ... The diving board is elevated 10 meters, or approximately 32 feet, 9 l/2 inches ...

Nice. Of course 10M not 30M. And it's not even Monday! I corrected my post.
 
Yes, that was my mistake. It's still a hell of a jump!
 
There is absolutely no swimming or jumping off diving boards during BCT. You will not even see a pool.
 
So no jump during basic probably? I will still keep working on swimming either way.


Sent using the Service Academy Forums® mobile app
 
No jump during BCT definitely. You won't jump odd the platform until sophomore year if things continue as they have been. And if you can't swim they will put you in a class that teaches you to swim.


Sent using the Service Academy Forums® mobile app
 
No jump during BCT. Never a blindfolded jump. You will jump off the 10m (30 m would kill you -- totally learned that from The Guardian) probably during your sophomore year.
Haven't done water haze yet (oh wait, I meant to say water survival...), but a LOT of people hate it. Being a halfway decent swimmer sounds like a great idea. :)
 
Why would anyone hate water survival....hanging out in the ocean off the coast of Florida for a week is much better than being in the woods in Washington for three weeks.
 
Why would anyone hate water survival....hanging out in the ocean off the coast of Florida for a week is much better than being in the woods in Washington for three weeks.

Because of drowning? :biggrin:
 
Thank you all for your advice! I know I have work to do. Thanks for the insight.


Sent using the Service Academy Forums® mobile app
 
So I am not a good swimmer at all... I can barely even tread water. Does anyone know anything about the blindfolded diving board jump during basic that I could find useful? I'm trying to hit the pool while I am on summer break. Thank you, guys.

mikewazowski -- This is not mean to discourage you at all from trying to increase your swimming proficiency, but there are always several cadets (more than you'd think) who do not swim, and they are put in separate classes and taught to swim properly. my cadet grew up at the beach, has taken swimming lessons since she was 18 months and had regular PE swimming classes throughout grade school and high school and she still did not ace swimming and thought it, and water survival, were the hardest things she's done at USAFA. It is a very hard PE requirement for sophomores. Not sure whether hitting the pool between now and I-Day is really going to move the bar for you if you are as inexperienced as you seem to say. Use your precious little time in other ways...run in your boots, do some situps, get a tan, relax and eat alot before I-Day!
If you are not part of the class of 2018 and are just prepping for the future, then of course it's a great idea to enroll in some swimming classes, learn to swim properly and possibly even take a water safety class. Good luck!
 
Back
Top