thedrifter
07-09-06, 06:07 AM
Marines stretch limits during aquatic drills
BY ANDREW NYNKA
DAILY RECORD
HANOVER -- Lance Cpl. Egbert Fields was one of 75 Marines who spent hours in the Morris Center YMCA pool Saturday, working hard to meet the Marine Corps swimming requirements. He faced an extra challenge.
Fields, 26, of Newark, can barely swim.
He was expected to meet the requirements, as he had in the past, with encouragement from others in his unit.
"It's the mental challenge of becoming comfortable in the water," said Maj. Tim Shanahan, 36, of Washington in Warren County.
Shanahan is the commanding officer of the unit, Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines, a reserve unit based out of Dover.
Civilians and staff at the YMCA in the Cedar Knolls section of Hanover looked on as Marines, dressed in combat fatigues, swam the length of the 25-meter pool.
Though they are allowed to swim barefoot, the wet uniforms are cumbersome in the water -- but are designed to retain air so Marines can tie knots in the arm or leg holes, inflate portions of the material with their breath, and use the clothing as a type of buoyancy device.
Marines were required to demonstrate mastery of this technique, among others, while treading water in order to qualify under the Marines' water safety standards.
Carol Armour, president of the Morris Center YMCA, said her organization allowed the Marines to use the pool as a way to give something back to military personnel who have sacrificed for the country.
"This is the least we can do for the Marines," she said.
The minimum standard required of every Marine includes the ability to tread water for four minutes while wearing fatigues, and to use the sidestroke, breaststroke and backstroke each to swim 25 meters.
Some Marines, such as Fields, have a difficult time because they rarely get into a pool. Fields spent hours either treading water or holding on to the side of the pool Saturday. His fellow Marines said he previously passed swimming requirements because of his determination.
"The fact of the matter is that some guys just can't swim," said Sgt. Kenneth Bowes, 30, of Jersey City. Bowes, like other Marines on Saturday, looked after weaker swimmers and often offered them advice.
Helping Marines
"Marines help other Marines," Bowes said. "It's what we do."
The group has grown close, with nearly all of its members having served at least one tour overseas. In three years the unit has been deployed three times, including a trip to Kosovo.
"A large portion of the Marines here have been in Iraq. Several have been there twice," Bowes said, who himself has served twice in Iraq. "A third of the company is there now."
Andrew Nynka can be reached at (973) 428-6621 or anynka@gannett.com.
Ellie
BY ANDREW NYNKA
DAILY RECORD
HANOVER -- Lance Cpl. Egbert Fields was one of 75 Marines who spent hours in the Morris Center YMCA pool Saturday, working hard to meet the Marine Corps swimming requirements. He faced an extra challenge.
Fields, 26, of Newark, can barely swim.
He was expected to meet the requirements, as he had in the past, with encouragement from others in his unit.
"It's the mental challenge of becoming comfortable in the water," said Maj. Tim Shanahan, 36, of Washington in Warren County.
Shanahan is the commanding officer of the unit, Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines, a reserve unit based out of Dover.
Civilians and staff at the YMCA in the Cedar Knolls section of Hanover looked on as Marines, dressed in combat fatigues, swam the length of the 25-meter pool.
Though they are allowed to swim barefoot, the wet uniforms are cumbersome in the water -- but are designed to retain air so Marines can tie knots in the arm or leg holes, inflate portions of the material with their breath, and use the clothing as a type of buoyancy device.
Marines were required to demonstrate mastery of this technique, among others, while treading water in order to qualify under the Marines' water safety standards.
Carol Armour, president of the Morris Center YMCA, said her organization allowed the Marines to use the pool as a way to give something back to military personnel who have sacrificed for the country.
"This is the least we can do for the Marines," she said.
The minimum standard required of every Marine includes the ability to tread water for four minutes while wearing fatigues, and to use the sidestroke, breaststroke and backstroke each to swim 25 meters.
Some Marines, such as Fields, have a difficult time because they rarely get into a pool. Fields spent hours either treading water or holding on to the side of the pool Saturday. His fellow Marines said he previously passed swimming requirements because of his determination.
"The fact of the matter is that some guys just can't swim," said Sgt. Kenneth Bowes, 30, of Jersey City. Bowes, like other Marines on Saturday, looked after weaker swimmers and often offered them advice.
Helping Marines
"Marines help other Marines," Bowes said. "It's what we do."
The group has grown close, with nearly all of its members having served at least one tour overseas. In three years the unit has been deployed three times, including a trip to Kosovo.
"A large portion of the Marines here have been in Iraq. Several have been there twice," Bowes said, who himself has served twice in Iraq. "A third of the company is there now."
Andrew Nynka can be reached at (973) 428-6621 or anynka@gannett.com.
Ellie