Stupid question about the navy?

Question

This is really stupid, but does one have to know how to swim prior to entering boot camp for the navy?

Answer 1

I believe there is a minimal swimming requirement (at least there was 45 years ago)... but I honestly can't remember what it was. I cold swim reasonably well so it was kind of a walk in the park for me. Want to find out what the requirement is today, follow the link http://www.navy.com/about/during/bootcamp/
down at the bottom of the page are the swimming requirements.

As I recall they put us all in deep water and :showed those of us who didn't know, how to make flotation devices out of parts of our uniforms.

And, unfortunately, I can't tell you what happens if you don't meet the swimming requirements. You might be "recycled"--do boot camp over a second time so you can get more training, or you might just get washed out of the Navy.

I don't believe there was any time during boot camp for swimming lessons for those who didn't pass... but I don't recall any who didn't... at least not in our company.

Answer 2

Not a stupid question at all. Way back in the days of wooden ships and iron men when I went through boot camp, 1959, almost half the company could not swim. They taught us enough to pass the swim test. I am sure things have changed since then. You will learn what you need or you will not graduate boot camp.
Our swim test was not that bad. You had to jump into the Olympic sized pool at the deep end and swim half the length of the pool, still deep enough you could not get a foot on the bottom. There you had to tread water for a few minutes then swim across the pool and tread water again and finally swim back to the deep end and get out. They let you use any stroke you wanted to make it. For me that was an my back as it was easy to float and pull myself through through water. I was most terrified of the prospect of going up on the tower and jumping 20 ft. into the pool. As my Irish luck would have it our company was cut two weeks short of training so we did not have to do that.
When I hit the fleet, after two years in San Diego and White Sands Missile Range, and we had swim call needless to say I did not partake. It was enough to be in the middle of the ocean with no land in sight much less jumping in, fat chance. To this day I can barley swim, I like shallow pools.

Answer 3

No, and it's not a stupid question. The Navy will try to teach you in boot camp. Some never learn.

Answer 4

No, but it is a good idea to know how to swim before you get there. You must pass a swim test in order to graduate. If you can not pass it they will work with you until you can. But you will not graduate boot camp until you do.

Answer 5

N O, but YOU WILL KNOW how to swim before you graduate from Basic Training!! The US Navy will teach you how to swim and give you safety classes!!

Answer 6

No its not a stupid question and no u dont have to know how. My bunkmate in bootcamp was nicknamed Titanic cause he sunk when he hit the pool. So during service week they taught him to swim . after bootcamp a bunch of us would go to the ocean and swim even Titanic

Answer 7

well, welcome, no question is sailor proof.
I was a Navy guy, and had guys in training who couldnt swim. They had to drown proof and learn to swim a little.
Dont know about rules now, but you might invest in some pool time if it bothers you

Answer 8

No but if your joining the NAVY and they have SHIPs that float on WATER and you could get knocked OVERBOARD . Swimming classes might be a worthwhile investment.

Answer 9

It would be a good idea. You have to pass a swimming test to graduate boot camp.

Answer 10

no, you will be given remedial lessons . However, it is better for you if you already have the basics down before shipping.