WORRIED SOON TO BE PLEBE!

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USNAprepster2023

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Hello all,
I was accepted into the USNA c/o 2023 and I go in for plebe summer in just over a week! After reading all these helpful threads, I know what to expect! However, I am not a very strong swimmer. Does anyone know what the swim PT is like? This is one of the few things I find myself stressing about. I know there’s remedial swim PT but I’d like to know what we are expected to do. Thank you so much!

Blessings
 
You will be fine. You will find Plebes who range from not able to swim to college level swimmers. Swim class in Plebe Summer is actually kind of nice. It’s cool, the detailers are sort off to the side, the water feels good on your body. It’s really more a focus on swim strokes, basics of water survival stuff, and swim conditioning. If you can swim you will be fine.

There is also swim PEP for those with injuries like shin splits and other impact injuries. It is no joke. The goal is To keep those with impact injuries in shape and those who are wimping out on PEP to go back to regular PEP. It’s a combo of swimming laps, treading water, and dry land work like push ups. If you end up here, you will be fine. Just get healthy and get back to it. They aren’t going to put you in danger. If your company decides to do some extra swim PT during company officer time, this is rare. Pools are a commodity around USNA. Once again, they won’t do anything that would put you in danger.
 
NavyHoops said:
You will be fine. You will find Plebes who range from not able to swim to college level swimmers. Swim class in Plebe Summer is actually kind of nice. It’s cool, the detailers are sort off to the side, the water feels good on your body. It’s really more a focus on swim strokes, basics of water survival stuff, and swim conditioning. If you can swim you will be fine.

There is also swim PEP for those with injuries like shin splits and other impact injuries. It is no joke. The goal is To keep those with impact injuries in shape and those who are wimping out on PEP to go back to regular PEP. It’s a combo of swimming laps, treading water, and dry land work like push ups. If you end up here, you will be fine. Just get healthy and get back to it. They aren’t going to put you in danger. If your company decides to do some extra swim PT during company officer time, this is rare. Pools are a commodity around USNA. Once again, they won’t do anything that would put you in danger.
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Thank you! I know, a person going to the Naval Academy who doesn’t know how to swim! This made me feel better!

Blessings
 
There are more than you think. Then there are aqua rocks. Those who can barely swim and sink more than swim. The good news, you can always get better at swimming. Focus on when the ac years starts. It’s one of those things that more time in the pool can definitely help. Learn the fundamentals, then build. You don’t have to be Michael Phelps to meet this swim requirements.
 
+1 to @NavyHoops. By the tome you graduate, you’ll be a very competent and confident swimmer. And avoid pool PEP during plebe summer at all cost. It’s not fun. (DD suffered a stress fracture midway through plebe summer. She probably healed in half the typical time, just to get out of pool PEP and back to regular PEP.)
 
Do NOT worry about swimming. If it were something that you had to be proficient at to be a Plebe, it would be a consideration on the application.

DS was an aqua rock. And he is doing fine. Passed his swimming class. There are all levels of swimmers there. You will not be the only one at your level. You will do fine!

Not sure I have ever heard of anyone not passing actually.
 
It’s rare, I can’t recall any, but am sure it has happened. Aqua rock swim class is a thing. Every year after basketball season ended those who needed to pass our swim PE tests would knock them out a week or so after the season. The men’s team would be with us. Most of us after a week in the pool just getting familiar with swimming again could pass with no issue. There were always 1-4 Mids between the women’s and men’s team who had a few extra weeks of training.
 
We had a sponsor son who was a varsity sprinter (attended Olympic Trials!), weak swimmer. That low body fat and dense leg muscle made him a natural sinker. One of the SEAL officers on staff volunteered to work with him to show him how to use his excellent lung power to manage buoyancy. He passed.

There is plenty of help. Once you’re at USNA, everyone is invested in helping you succeed.
 
Yah don’t sweat Swim. You already know how. You’ll be fine. Only good swimmers place out if they get an A during testing. If they get B some opt to take a class to get an A. If you cannot place out with a B or better than you can take the swim class for a grade. I believe there is different type of Swim test each year. You’ll enjoy Plebe Summer Swim to cool down. But the pool was not so clean last summer. I suppose due to water training with gears. Congrats and stay ready for I-Day and time with your family.
 
During Plebe Summer you will have 7, hour-long swim lessons. These lessons are pretty basic. They will consist of doing bobs in the pool, floating, jumping off the 10m, and doing short swims. There are many people who struggle with swimming during Plebe Summer and are given extra help to compensate.
There is also something called swim PEP. People go to swim PEP if they have some sort of injury that prevents them from doing normal PT but doesn't keep them out of all physical activity. I can't speak to the specifics of swim PEP but in all likelihood, you will never go to it.
During the plebe academic year, you will have a 16-week swim class. This class isn't easy but you can seek extra help before school if you feel the need to catch up.
 
Swimming is certainly not a prerequisite to success at USNA , but being a competent swimmer and comfortable in the water makes life easier. Swimming is part of PE most (if not every) years, and can be validated if you are a strong swimmer. As a Plebe, that extra hour or two can be very nice !

That said, take full advantage of the swimming program , and become a strong swimmer if you aren't, particularly if you plan on going aviation. The first few weeks in Pensacola are filled with wonderful water adventure rides, like dunkers and dragging through the water in full flight gear, and being comfortable in the water makes the training fun instead of something to be feared.
 
My DS is (or rather, was) an aqua rock. He had enough drown-proofing his first year there, that he's fine now.

I still don't think he enjoys swimming, but he does it.
 
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I was a mediocre swimmer and I wish I was a better swimmer but it all worked out. I had teammates that could not swim at all.
 
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