Basics of survival

Tomorrow the Utah State University Army ROTC cadets will be tested in Combat Water Survival Training.

Each cadet must pass CWST in preparation for the confidence course they will run while attending the Leadership Development and Assessment Course. Cadets attend LDAC the summer prior to their senior year.

The CWST test will take place at the pool located in the USU Health, Physical Education and Recreation building.

CWST is not based on being a great swimmer, but the ability to stay afloat in a survival situation. The test consists of five stations. Each one has a different situation the cadet may be faced with in the future.

The combat drop is designed to build trust in fellow cadets and self confidence. The cadet goes to the top of the five-meter platform. Another cadet waits at the top to serve as a guide. The cadet is blindfolded and led to the end of the platform. Upon reaching the end, the cadets steps off and into the water.

Cadet Ryan Allen, a senior, has been through the training in previous years and will walk the junior cadets through the course. If a cadet fails an event they must repeat it until they have passed.

“A lot of people are really apprehensive about the combat drop. Wearing the blindfold gets to them,” Allen said.

The next event requires the cadet to remove their gear while under water. Wearing a load-bearing vest and holding a rifle, the cadet submerges themselves completely. Cadets are instructed to place the rifle between their knees and then take off the vest.

“This is an easy event,” Allen said. “Just snap the vest off and pop your head back up.”

Cadet Zack Walker, a junior, has done the course once before and will be tested again tomorrow.

“I hate it. However, it does prepare us for the case of an aircraft going down or a ship sinking and we're in need of staying alive. It teaches us how to survive in the water.” Walker said.

Cadets will next swim for 10 consecutive minutes and end by treading water. The distance of the swim is not measured. It is only important that they swim for the entire time.

“I’m short and muscular so I sink like a rock,” Walker said. “That makes the 10-minute swim the hardest.”

Another event that Walker struggles with is the 25-meter rifle swim. The swim consists of the cadet swimming the width of the pool, while keeping their rifle out of the water.

The final event teaches the cadets to turn their pants into a life preserver.

The cadet swims out into the water and removes their pants while treading water. After removing the pants, the end of the legs are tied together. Once secure, a splashing technique is used to fill the pants with enough air to remain buoyant and support the weight of a person.

“Turning your pants into a life vest is a great skill to learn,” Allen said. 


Though the US Army does not specialize in water operations, cadets may one day find themselves patrolling through rivers or on a helicopter operation across bodies of water. Cadet Nick Celeya, a senior, agreed with Walker.


"It prepares us for the worst," Celeya said. "If they ever end up in the water, they will know what to do and how to ditch their gear, instead of freaking out."