thedrifter
11-17-07, 06:08 AM
A Day in the Life
Pfc. Achilles Tsantarliotis
MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII(Nov. 16, 2007) -- Editor’s note: A Day in the Life is the Hawaii Marine’s newest standing column. The column will be a unique perspective into the hundreds of military occupational specialties and Department of Defense occupations throughout the Marine Corps. The series gives appreciation to the thousands of service members, DoD employees and civilians who make Marine Corps Base Hawaii an installation of excellence.
In a state surrounded by ocean, it’s safe to say aquatic safety is a priority, creating a need for highly trained specialists.
“Our role is to prevent and educate patrons on any water hazards,” said Dino Leonard, assistant manager of water safety here. “We have high-profile beaches, and things are going to happen. That’s how we train our lifeguards though, using common scenarios like capsized boats, distressed swimmers or missing divers.”
The lifeguards’ level of qualification is the deciding factor for whether they work at the beaches or pool. An entry-level lifeguard only requires a basic lifeguard certification, while other levels require additional training, experience and proven proficiency.
“The first level of lifeguards are called NAF-1 [Non-Appropriated Fund] and that means they have the basic knowledge of life guarding,” said Sherri Roberts, lifeguard. “Once you get some experience and take a water safety instruction course, you can move up to NAF-2, meaning you can guard pools, as well as beaches.”
The lifeguards guarding the base beaches have years of experience and are usually NAF-3, Roberts said.
“I give those guys a lot of credit,” said Roberts, a NAF-2 qualified lifeguard. “I’ve been swimming for a little over 10 years, and I don’t know if I’d want to leave the pool to go to the beach. It gets rough out there.”
Whether pool or beach, there’s a tremendous amount of pressure to ensure patrons’ safety and remain responsive to any hazardous situation.
“When it comes down to saving someone, you just have to do what we’re trained to do,” Roberts said. “You have to save them.”
“Our lifeguards give [patrons] the same kind of safety warning,” Leonard said. “They’ll warn people just coming out with beach chairs and coolers the same way they warn people with swim fins or surfboards. It’s part of our preventive safety measures.”
Roberts has been a part of the base aquatics community for about 10 years, since her father was stationed here, taking swim lessons that eventually led to her being a swim instructor and lifeguard.
“I’ve grown up with a lot of these people, and it’s like my second family,” Roberts said. “It feels good to be out there keeping people safe and doing my part to prevent any accidents.”
Work consumes the most of her time and she will eventually cut back on her role as a lifeguard to pursue a degree, Roberts said.
“I love my job, and the role I play is a big part of life out here,” she said. “I wouldn’t want any other job and don’t regret all the time I’ve spent growing with the [pool] community.”
Ellie
Pfc. Achilles Tsantarliotis
MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII(Nov. 16, 2007) -- Editor’s note: A Day in the Life is the Hawaii Marine’s newest standing column. The column will be a unique perspective into the hundreds of military occupational specialties and Department of Defense occupations throughout the Marine Corps. The series gives appreciation to the thousands of service members, DoD employees and civilians who make Marine Corps Base Hawaii an installation of excellence.
In a state surrounded by ocean, it’s safe to say aquatic safety is a priority, creating a need for highly trained specialists.
“Our role is to prevent and educate patrons on any water hazards,” said Dino Leonard, assistant manager of water safety here. “We have high-profile beaches, and things are going to happen. That’s how we train our lifeguards though, using common scenarios like capsized boats, distressed swimmers or missing divers.”
The lifeguards’ level of qualification is the deciding factor for whether they work at the beaches or pool. An entry-level lifeguard only requires a basic lifeguard certification, while other levels require additional training, experience and proven proficiency.
“The first level of lifeguards are called NAF-1 [Non-Appropriated Fund] and that means they have the basic knowledge of life guarding,” said Sherri Roberts, lifeguard. “Once you get some experience and take a water safety instruction course, you can move up to NAF-2, meaning you can guard pools, as well as beaches.”
The lifeguards guarding the base beaches have years of experience and are usually NAF-3, Roberts said.
“I give those guys a lot of credit,” said Roberts, a NAF-2 qualified lifeguard. “I’ve been swimming for a little over 10 years, and I don’t know if I’d want to leave the pool to go to the beach. It gets rough out there.”
Whether pool or beach, there’s a tremendous amount of pressure to ensure patrons’ safety and remain responsive to any hazardous situation.
“When it comes down to saving someone, you just have to do what we’re trained to do,” Roberts said. “You have to save them.”
“Our lifeguards give [patrons] the same kind of safety warning,” Leonard said. “They’ll warn people just coming out with beach chairs and coolers the same way they warn people with swim fins or surfboards. It’s part of our preventive safety measures.”
Roberts has been a part of the base aquatics community for about 10 years, since her father was stationed here, taking swim lessons that eventually led to her being a swim instructor and lifeguard.
“I’ve grown up with a lot of these people, and it’s like my second family,” Roberts said. “It feels good to be out there keeping people safe and doing my part to prevent any accidents.”
Work consumes the most of her time and she will eventually cut back on her role as a lifeguard to pursue a degree, Roberts said.
“I love my job, and the role I play is a big part of life out here,” she said. “I wouldn’t want any other job and don’t regret all the time I’ve spent growing with the [pool] community.”
Ellie