Afloat Training Group (ATG) Pacific Northwest (PACNORWEST) held search and rescue (SAR) swimmer training at the Naval Station Everett, Wash., Tsunami Pool Feb. 11.

The weekly training combines pool conditioning with SAR specific skills training, such as parachute disentanglement, first aid and placing survivors in litters.

“SAR swimmers are the guys going in the water in the event of a man overboard,” said Lt. Mike McComb, topside warfare department head at ATG PACNORWEST. “They may be entering water which is cold, dark and choppy and may do it in the dead of night if the situation calls for it, and this after working a full duty day.”

McComb said SAR swimmers must be prepared to swim some distance to recover a survivor, pull him or her back to the boat or ship, and administer first aid if necessary.

“SAR swimmers have to be in peak physical shape and be technically proficient to be able to accomplish all these tasks under demanding conditions,” he said. “Their motto is ‘So Others May Live.’”

McComb said all ships must have at least two SAR swimmers on board when underway.

Chief Cryptologic Technician Technical (SW/AW) Brett Wilson, who evaluates electronic warfare, intelligence and SAR for ATG PACNORWEST, helped the command become qualified for the first time as a type commander SAR evaluator in December 2009.

“We can perform the required training and evaluating,” said Wilson. “We couldn’t do that before. We had to have evaluators come up from San Diego.”

SAR swimmers from USS Ford (FFG 54) and USS Shoup (DDG 86) practiced an ejected-pilot rescue in the deep end of the pool during the training session.

“There are set procedures we follow,” said Wilson, regarding the training session.

The swimmer must disentangle the parachute and strap the survivor into a medical evacuation litter while performing first aid and safety checks.

“Swimmers have to perform daytime and nighttime rescues, and we have a darkened mask to simulate night,” said Wilson.

The training not only keeps swimmers in shape and proficient in skills, it provides camaraderie for Sailors in a difficult job.

Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class (SW) Andrew Smith of USS Ford (FFG 54), who has been a SAR swimmer for a year and a half, admits that being a SAR swimmer is a lot of hard work.

“It’s very stressful knowing that if it really goes down, I’m there to save someone’s life,” said Smith.

Wilson said the training is not just for qualified SAR swimmers. Sailors interested in becoming SAR swimmers are encouraged to attend and prepare for school.