U.S. Navy Diver
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
U.S. Navy Diver Requirements, Training and Rate Information for Navy Diver (ND) Updated: May 2016 Job Description: Navy Diver’s (ND) conduct and supervise diving operations using all types of underwater breathing apparatus which include open circuit SCUBA, closed and semiclosed mixed gas underwater breathing apparatus, surface supplied air and mixed gas diving systems and equipment and saturation diving systems. Their duties include use of explosive demolitions, small arms proficiency and (command specific) parachute operations. The NAVY DIVER (ND) rating performs multiple missions depending on the command a member is assigned. Salvage Operations: Navy Divers perform open ocean, harbor and combat/expeditionary salvage operations. These operations are conducted in water up to 300 feet deep and range from salvaging entire ships and aircraft to recovering debris spread over miles of ocean floor using state of the art mixedgas diving systems, hightech ROV equipment and explosives for clearing channels and waterways. Battle Damage and Ship Repair Operations: Highly complex underwater repairs to surface ships and submarines is a mainstay of the Navy Diver. Ships damaged in battle or requiring maintenance must be fixed to keep the fleet operational. From placing cofferdams for flood prevention during repairs to replacing 80 ton ship propellers, if it's under the waterline, Navy Divers are called to complete the job. Battle Damage and Ship repair operations require the use of state of the art diving equipment, underwater cutting and welding, NonDestructive testing, digital video equipment, complex rigging operations, hydraulic tool systems and precision demolition materials. Special Warfare Supporting Operations: A growing area of the Navy Diving field is supporting the underwater operations of the SO and EOD communities. Navy Divers are the recognized experts in all underwater work, divers life support systems and certifications. In this capacity they operate Seal Delivery Vehicle Shelters, launch and recover swimmer delivery vehicles from submarines, perform underwater limpet and bottom mine searches, maintain all certified systems and subsystems for these communities and provide emergency Hyperbaric Chamber support for underwater operations. Harbor and Port Security: Navy Divers are tasked with performing underwater port/harbor security operations worldwide in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Submarine Rescue and Saturation: Navy Divers perform saturation diving operations in support of deep ocean recovery and submarine rescue to a depth of 850 feet. Research and Development: Navy Divers perform research and development of new diving techniques, procedures and equipment. All new equipment and procedures are rigorously tested at the Navy’s Experimental Diving Unit located in Panama City, Florida. Hyperbaric Chamber Operations: Navy Divers are trained in the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of all diving related illnesses. They provide emergency treatment of diving related illnesses and injuries as well as performing clinical hyperbaric treatments for various nondiving related illnesses and injuries. Navy Divers also provide assistance and training to all military, federal, state, and local civilian law enforcement agencies in diving equipment, operations and procedures. ND Program Requirements: Must be a U.S. citizen eligible for a security clearance Must be 30 years of age or less at time of accession Must have vision no less than 20/200 in each eye and correctable to 20/25 Must have normal color perception Must complete pressure test Must complete a dive physical (by a Diving Medical Officer) ASVAB: AR+VE= 103 and MC= 51 Physical Standards: When you join the Navy and are classified into a Warrior Challenge Program, you shall be aware that these programs involve strenuous conditioning and requires you to successfully pass the Navy Challenge Physical Standards Test (PST) prior to classification into your specific rating.The PST will be successfully completed by Future Sailors in the Warrior Challenge Program every 45 days while in the Delayed Entry Program to remain qualified and a 14day PST prior to leaving for Basic Training. Navy Diver/EOD Physical Standards Test Minimum Scores Competitive Scores 500 yard swim:(see Note) 12:30 Min. 09:15 Min. 10 Min. Rest Pushups (2 min) 50 80100 2 Min. Rest Situps (2 min) 50 80100 2 Min. Rest Pullups (2 min) 6 1015 10 Min. Rest 1.5 mile run: 12:30 Min. 09:00 Min. *Note: For the 500yard swim the sidestroke, breaststroke or a combination shall be used. Computerized Special Operations Resilience Test (CSORT): The CSORT is required for applicants seeking enlistment into the Navy Diver (ND) rating. This test takes approximately one hour to complete. The CSORT and PST must be administered to all ND applicants prior to being classified/contracted. The candidate must meet the basic PST requirements, program requirements and the combined CSORT/PST band score. If a candidate does not meet all requirements, he/she should be encouraged to improve their PST Score. *Note: The CSORT cannot be retaken.* Navy Diver (ND) Training Pipeline: Basic Training: Future Sailors will be required to attend Recruit Training (Boot Camp) in Great Lakes, Ill. This 79 week course will help transform you from a civilian to a Sailor, both mentally and physically. Be prepared to receive a great amount of information and undergo intense physical exercise in a short period of time. Some specific aspects of Recruit Training that you will undergo include: ● Physical training (PT), Physical Readiness Test (PRT) and a Personal Fitness Assessment (PFA) ● Classroom instruction and tests on military bearing, protocol, customs and courtesies ● Chemical, Biological and Radiological Defense (CBRD) Exercises ● Basic Shipboard Seamanship and Firefighting ● Navy ThirdClass Swim Test (ask about the SecondClass Test. *Recruits with a Warrior Challenge Contract will be assigned to an 800 Division to accommodate the increased PT schedule and class up dates. Diver Preparation Course (7 weeks) at Naval Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. For training in basic electrical and engineering courses, water adaptability and physical fitness. Second Class Dive School (15 weeks) at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC) in Panama City, Fla., for training in all of the following: Air, mixedgas, rebreather Recompression chamber operations Underwater cutting and welding Underwater tools and their use Demolition Underwater search and Salvage Advanced Diver Training: ● First Class Dive School ● Advanced Underwater Welding and NDT Inspector ● Saturation Dive Training ● Small Arms Instructor ● Survival, Escape, Resistance and Evade (SERE) School ● Expeditionary Combat Skills Training Duty Type and Location: *Individuals will receive followon (36 month) orders to their perspective Duty Stations du ring the 14th week of Dive school. New Divers normally receive orders to larger commands with a higher operational tempo. Those commands are as follows: Command Location Type MDSU1 Pearl Harbor Hi. Salvage/Sea MDSU2 Virginia Beach Salvage/Sea Va SDV1 Pearl Harbor Hi. Specwar/Sea SDV2 Virginia Beach Specwar/Sea Va EOD ESU1 San Diego Ca. Specwar/Shore EOD ESU2 Virginia Beach Specwar/Shore Va NNSY Norfolk Va. Husbandry/Sh ore CDU San Diego Ca. Husbandry/Sh ore Standard Daily Routine: 0700 Liberty Expires 07000900 PT 09001100 Plan of the Day 11001200 Lunch 12001700 Plan of the Day 16301700 End of Workday *Plan of the day consists of training, gear upkeep and maintenance, administration or diving operations. Daily activity is also affected by the teams current deployment schedule. Training Tips: RUN(36 miles 34 times a week on and off road) SWIM(5002000 meters 5 days a week with and without fins) COMFORTABILITY IN THE WATER IS A MUST!!!! Mask, Fin, Snorkel: 1. Candidate should be able to fill mask with water while wearing it and breathing comfortably through mouth. Practice should include speaking/singing with mask flooded. Additional practice includes doing flutter kicks or pushups on pool side while mask is flooded with water while counting cadence. 2. Candidate should be comfortable breathing through snorkel on water surface. 3. Candidate should be comfortable filling mask with water while submerged and then forcefully exhaling in order to clear mask. 4. Candidate should be comfortable filling mask and snorkel with water while submerged and then forcefully exhaling in order to clear mask and snorkel without breaking the surface of the water with face and then continuing to breathe comfortably. 5. Candidate should be comfortable swimming with mask and fins while breathing through a snorkel. Practice should consist of swimming at a comfortable pace while intermittently flooding snorkel with water (i.e., submerging 2 to 3 feet),then surfacing, without face breaking the surface of the water, forcefully exhaling water out of the snorkel and then continuing to breathe normally from snorkel. This exercise should be continued for several minutes without signs of panic or inability to continue clearing snorkel. 6. Candidate should be comfortable retrieving mask and snorkel on bottom of pool (12 feet), donning (putting on) mask and snorkel on bottom, clearing mask, ascending to surface, then clearing snorkel via forceful exhale. Drown Proofing: 1. Candidate should be comfortable floating on surface with hands held together behind back with ankles crossed for 5 minutes (at a minimum). 2. The goal is to rest comfortably on the surface exerting minimal effort. Focus should be placed on utilizing lungs for buoyancy and gently rolling head to side to take breaths when necessary. 3. Practice should consist of fully inflating lungs on the water surface and attempting to relax and float for as long as possible. When necessary, roll back or to the side by utilizing a gentle leg thrust to breach the surface and take a deep breath; relax and wait for the buoyancy of your lungs to return you to the surface. Repeat steps as necessary until at least five minutes have elapsed.