SAR corpsman

[DanM]

Originally Posted by Andros

It sucks that I won't be able to jump out and save lives,but being there to help sounds exciting just as much.

What makes you think that Quad 0's don't save lives every day?

[dvldocjoe]

Just because an ambulance isn't as big ar as grandiose as a helicopter doesn't mean it wasn't just as rewarding or important to save lives. HMs still get to saves lives whether its in the field, O.R. , or on the ward of a hospital ship or out to sea.

Regular blue side quad zeroes still get to save lives by assisting other ships and their crews when called for a mayday on the high seas. No two days are the same as a corpsman no matter where you are stationed.

[Andros]

I think I was misunderstood,what I meant by that comment is that would have been nice to be a Rescue Swimmer,that's all.I'm glad that I have an opportunity to impact somebody's life and help those in need,I see that as an honor.

And Poolzer,thanks once again,your information is giving me a clearer vision of 8401.I also have an aim,so I will contact you to get more info.Thanks for all of your advice.

[Andros]

Also,Poolzer,what is the training like to become an 8401 HM?I'm really interested in knowing like that.

[Poolzer]

I gave you the pipeline

Aerospace Medical Tech (AVT-8406)-teaches you how to take care of your squadron, medical readiness, physical exams etc.

Naval Aircrew Candidate School-teaches you survival skills and you work out all day for 2 weeks, running and calisthenics for 1/2 day and in the pool the other half. Get issued your tom cruise starter kit.

Flight Medic Ft Rucker Alabama-The Army's 'c school' for flight medicine. Hands on care under fire and in a helicopter, army style.

SERE school. The best beating you'll ever receive and never want again.

Fleet Replenishment Squadron-Learn about the helicopters systems and components and how to be an aircrewman. Flight portion, class room portions and computer lab portion.

Go to your station SAR or operational squadron and hit the ground running. As I said, station SAR is the way to go for a 1st timer, you will get plenty of training time without the stress of shipboard deployments and build your experience up around qualified knowledgeable SAR HMs. You will dive into all aspects of emergency medicine and have the opportunity to go as high as you want with your studies though may not get the certifications to back it up on the civilian side.

Did that answer your question?

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/gr...id=54250245204 the SAR HM facebook page. Couple vids at the bottom, one by me and another by a friend.

[Andros]

My apologies,it looks like a asked the same question again.What I meant to ask was:What is the physical training like??For example,SEALs give a few specifics about BUD/s,I was just curious as to what I might be expecting.knowing a few of such things pumps me up.And thanks for that link,watching that video made me really want to do 8401.

[Poolzer]

The job of SAR is the ONLY job in the Navy that has a required physical fitness test annually. Yes, that is right, no other special ops, special programs, tip of the spear guys in the Navy have an annual fitness program like SAR. Its not hard, but its there to maintain across the board continuity of fitness and there are no changes between age groups or gender groups.

Naval Aircrew Candidate School is all about physical fitness. You need to be able to run 5-7 miles at a decent 10 min mile pace. You need to be able to swim a mile in something like 80 minutes and be comfortable in the water and know your strokes such as breast stroke, side and reverse side stroke, elementary backstroke (breast stroke on your back basically) and of course crawl stroke. Dont need to be competitive swimming capable, just comfortable and capable of swimming those strokes well.

Oher than that, the other schools are all academic (with physical fitness incorporated).

You will train 2-4 times a week with your rescue swimmers at a station SAR command. All have dedicated programs that last 2-3 hours and incorporate rescue swimmer and HM activities ie scenarios, specific training requirements, etc. Sea duty is somewhat different and revolves around the deployment schedule. Great thing about a 7 month deployment is that it gives you ample time to work out and train.

So..for a new kid looking to get ready to start the pipeline. Start running and build on it. When you can do 5-7 miles, add calisthenics into it, after every mile stop and do pushups, pull ups, sit ups, etc then continue on.

Pull ups are what get the majority of the SAR HM community. Its imperative you can do at least 4 palm forwards pull ups WITHOUT kipping. The only and best way to get better at pull ups, is doing them multiple times a day, every day. Even if its just one. Do one pull up 2-5 times throughout a day and in a couple days you will be able to do 2. Once you can do 4-5, do them in pyramids; 1, rest, 2, rest, 3, rest, 2, rest, 1 stop.

The rest of the test isnt that hard. Condition your calves for a strong fast walk pace and spee walk down a track or street for a mile - mile 1/2.

To get the respect from your swimmers, be a strong swimmer. I sucked at running even from the beginning, but I beat every rescue swimmer candidate in aircrew school at the mile, was done a full 5 minutes before the 2nd guy even got out and always gave my AWs a challenge in the water, most of them area only used to swimming with fins, so when it came time to race without them, it wasnt hard to beat them. Should be able to swim 500 yards, which is a Navy PRT distance without to much exertion.

Im not going to say all SAR HMs are strong in all these areas, most arent because they dont have the dedicated time the swimmers do, to work out. HMs are known for the medical skills and aircraft knowledge where they're known for their water and physical skills. SAR HMs should run all the moulage and medical scenarios for the swimmers and constantly be teaching and evaluating them on their basic medical knowledge.

Better insight and answer?

[Andros]

Thanks,all of the information that you have given me has answered every question I have asked.and those videos you told me to watch were great.Thank you very much,I have my plan set up now.I plan to enter the pipeline after a year as a quad-zero.that way I can have some extra time to prepare myself.Once again,thanks for all of your information and help.

[Poolzer]

no problem, if you have further questions you know how to get a hold of me.