photos by Pfc. Casey A. Collier/22nd MPAD?Spc. Terrance Foxworth, 28th Combat Support Battalion, 44th Medical Command, uses his Army combat uniform trousers to stay afloat at Tucker Indoor Pool May 13.

Medical Soldiers stay afloat
by Pfc. Casey A. Collier
22nd MPAD

The 28th Combat Support Hospital Battalion, 44th Medical Command Brigade conducted a semiannual drown-proofing exercise May 13 at the Tucker Indoor Pool on Tullidge Way.
Before even entering the pool facility, the lifeguard staff instructed the members of the 28th CSH to empty their pockets and remove all patches and badges.
The attendees, while still in their Army combat uniforms, were then hosed down in the unseasonably crisp morning air.
Once inside, they lined the edge of the pool where they were instructed to tighten their cuffs around their wrists; and seal the bottom halves of their faces, (up to the nose) into the collars of their ACU tops.
They used their hands to hold out the bottoms of the ACU tops, forming a canopy; and as if stepping off a ledge, walked into the pool.
The desired effect was to produce and trap an air bubble between the swimmer and the water beneath. It worked.
After that, the 28th CSH removed their ACU pants, (everyone wearing PT shorts underneath) and tied the legs around their necks with the remainder of the pants in front of them.
Sealing the waistlines, they had effectively done with the pants what had been done with the tops.
Their ACU’s became floatation devices — and that is drown-proofing.
“I think everybody in the military should learn drown-proofing because you never know when you will be in a situation like a hurricane or a flood. It’s something that’s good to know to keep you afloat,” said Pfc. Tim Joyner, Alpha Company, 28th CSH, 44th MEDCOM.
Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Haines, Company A, 28th CSH, 44th MEDCOM, also attended the class.
“This training was extremely valuable because you never know what situation may arise at any moment. Many Soldiers think they may never be in water to need this training; but in reality, a known situation can become unknown in seconds. Soldiers must be able to react, perform and assist other battle buddies in need,” said Haines.
The drown-proofing class is one of several instructional exercises Tucker Indoor Pool provides the Soldiers.
Among others are: combat survival water training and Humvee Egress training, complete with underwater simulator.
Steve Keys works as a lifeguard at Tucker Indoor Pool and is also the principal instructor of the drown-proofing class.
Keys said that he and the other lifeguards at Tucker Indoor Pool have been working there for about a month and in that period of time, have seen four or five iterations of the drown-proofing class.
The 28th CSH has taken part in semiannual training like this many times, but this particular class is the last of its kind the 28th CSH will attend before deploying to Iraq between September and October in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Among those in the pool was Pfc. Adrian Alvarez, a combat medic who has been with Co. A, 28th CSH, for five months.
“If you’re in a combat situation and you’re stuck in the water somewhere, this training will help you stay afloat long enough to get someone to you. It’ll help you stay alive,” said Alvarez.