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Haasino · 08-01-2013, 03:09 PM

Most of the info there is accurate for when I went though, but they've recently changed NACCS and AW(A1) A School... NACCS has started to drop people faster than they used to; they don't roll people back or put them in PT/Swim hold once they start class. AWF's also go through their own school within the AW schoolhouse, not AE A School. AWV's still go through AT A School... for now. Also, AWS is both a "dry" and "wet" rating... rescue swimmers go on MH-60S helos, and non rescue swimmers go on MH-53E helos.

As for the day-to-day of class at NACCS, here's what I went through;

Thursday was "Shock & Awe" day - we did 2 stress-sets, followed by a 3mi formation run, followed by a 3rd stress-set... all the while there were about 15 instructors ranging from PO2s to Marine SSgts and Senior Chiefs screaming at you and telling you you're a piece of shit, that you should just DOR, that they're not gonna let you graduate anyway, etc. They're just trying to weed out the weak ones, and it worked on 2 candidates. This is also the day they make their judgments on whether or not they want to see you graduate in 3 weeks... if they don't like you, you'll become their Pvt. Pyle and they'll do what they can to make sure you don't make it to graduation. The key is to show determination... watch the instructor leading the PT and, when one walks past you, look at them and sound off loud and proud... they seemed to swarm the ones who were quiet, struggling, or afraid to make eye-contact.

Friday was a 5mi formation run at about an 8min/mi pace... then, after lunch, we went to the pool and did our WS-3 and WS-4, which was 2min tread/7min float in swimsuit, then again in flightsuit and boots. After that we did a 15min endurance swim in flightsuit and boots.

Monday we went down to the seawall and did the equivalent of 3 stress-sets, with 200m sprints between... then the WS-5 after lunch, which was 2min tread/8min float in flightsuit, boots, gloves, and vest. After that we did a 20min endurance swim in flightsuit and boots.

Tuesday we went to the Aircrew track and did 3 stress-sets, with 2 laps in-between which were timed... then the WS-6 after lunch, which was 2min tread/9min float in flightsuit, boots, gloves, vest, and helmet. After that we did a 25min endurance swim in flightsuit and boots.

Wednesday we did another 2 stress-sets, followed by a slightly slower 4mi formation run... then the WS-7 after lunch, which was jumping off the tower in flightsuit and boots, and swimming submerged for ~15m without any part of your body breaking the surface. Then we did some synchronized swimming where they taught us how to flail our arms and swim through burning surface oil/debris.

Thursday we watched a few episodes of "The Pacific" with the graduating class, while everyone shock & awed the new class outside... then the WS-8 after lunch, which was a 75m swim in flightsuit, boots, gloves, vest, and helmet... followed by demonstration of the 4 ways to use your clothes as a flotation device.

Friday wrapped-up Hell Week with the 1mi confidence swim in the morning, followed by liberty at 1100... easy day. Most annoying part of the mile swim was fighting boredom, and getting kicked by other people in your lane.

The easiest way to get through Hell Week is to only do it once! Remember that when you're struggling on your Water Survival evolutions and want to grab the wall.

08-01-2013, 03:09 PM	#2
Haasino Active Duty Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 1,439 Rep Power: 286	Most of the info there is accurate for when I went though, but they've recently changed NACCS and AW(A1) A School... NACCS has started to drop people faster than they used to; they don't roll people back or put them in PT/Swim hold once they start class. AWF's also go through their own school within the AW schoolhouse, not AE A School. AWV's still go through AT A School... for now. Also, AWS is both a "dry" and "wet" rating... rescue swimmers go on MH-60S helos, and non rescue swimmers go on MH-53E helos. As for the day-to-day of class at NACCS, here's what I went through; Thursday was "Shock & Awe" day - we did 2 stress-sets, followed by a 3mi formation run, followed by a 3rd stress-set... all the while there were about 15 instructors ranging from PO2s to Marine SSgts and Senior Chiefs screaming at you and telling you you're a piece of shit, that you should just DOR, that they're not gonna let you graduate anyway, etc. They're just trying to weed out the weak ones, and it worked on 2 candidates. This is also the day they make their judgments on whether or not they want to see you graduate in 3 weeks... if they don't like you, you'll become their Pvt. Pyle and they'll do what they can to make sure you don't make it to graduation. The key is to show determination... watch the instructor leading the PT and, when one walks past you, look at them and sound off loud and proud... they seemed to swarm the ones who were quiet, struggling, or afraid to make eye-contact. Friday was a 5mi formation run at about an 8min/mi pace... then, after lunch, we went to the pool and did our WS-3 and WS-4, which was 2min tread/7min float in swimsuit, then again in flightsuit and boots. After that we did a 15min endurance swim in flightsuit and boots. Monday we went down to the seawall and did the equivalent of 3 stress-sets, with 200m sprints between... then the WS-5 after lunch, which was 2min tread/8min float in flightsuit, boots, gloves, and vest. After that we did a 20min endurance swim in flightsuit and boots. Tuesday we went to the Aircrew track and did 3 stress-sets, with 2 laps in-between which were timed... then the WS-6 after lunch, which was 2min tread/9min float in flightsuit, boots, gloves, vest, and helmet. After that we did a 25min endurance swim in flightsuit and boots. Wednesday we did another 2 stress-sets, followed by a slightly slower 4mi formation run... then the WS-7 after lunch, which was jumping off the tower in flightsuit and boots, and swimming submerged for ~15m without any part of your body breaking the surface. Then we did some synchronized swimming where they taught us how to flail our arms and swim through burning surface oil/debris. Thursday we watched a few episodes of "The Pacific" with the graduating class, while everyone shock & awed the new class outside... then the WS-8 after lunch, which was a 75m swim in flightsuit, boots, gloves, vest, and helmet... followed by demonstration of the 4 ways to use your clothes as a flotation device. Friday wrapped-up Hell Week with the 1mi confidence swim in the morning, followed by liberty at 1100... easy day. Most annoying part of the mile swim was fighting boredom, and getting kicked by other people in your lane. The easiest way to get through Hell Week is to only do it once! Remember that when you're struggling on your Water Survival evolutions and want to grab the wall. __________________ "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!"