I was pretty young, I don't remember learning how so I always thought people just knew how to swim. The first time someone told be they couldn't swim I literally thought they had some kind of disability.
very young ,I come from a long line of fishermen / 3rd Generation Coast Guardsmen they believed in making sure you could swim very young not only swim but how to free yourself from a line or waders Aka hip boots in the event you were ever wearing them and fell ,they can drown you if you panic so how not to panic was the key, then I had more advanced survival and rescue techniques in service I am thankful ,,when I was lost as sea with no life jacket all of it saved my life, and my ability to swim allowed me to save lots of other peoples lives too who could not
@girlsmoke1975 thank you, it was my pleasure it was a life time of experience in a few years (4) that set the standard for the rest of my life (and since I had dropped out of school to work ,it actually saved my life ,lots of people prefer to hire Vets ,no one but family hires drop outs ) We saved lives ,but we also lost some too ,so amlot of joy ,but lots of deep sorry as well ,and kicking yourself too . Had we only been just a little faster ,had we not taken the time to do this or that ,but as they say you win some you loose some ,but loosing at this job haunts you . We learned to face our fears and do whatever had to be done to save lives and when possible the vessel too . But I learned I still don't know my limits are ,we have way more in us then most know ,and so far ,I have never found a point where I just said I can't . Some used to say I had a death wish ,but the ones we lost ,they pushed me more and more not to let it happen again ,if there was anything we could do better or faster ,we needed to do it (we were treated like gods of search and rescue ,we were very good at our jobs )many of the men who trained me we Vietnam Vets ,,they were the ones who took the risks and did the impossible ,never willing to give up I owe a lot to them ,beyond anything you could learn in boot camp and in many instances even just doing the job ,they taught me no one gets left behind ,and we are capable of so much more then we think ,Do the damn job ,I am not writing you an invitation ,I can still hear one coxswain say today ,He was awesome . So now when I am complimented ,they knew if there was a way ,I would find it its from that experience ,we were it ,often no one else was coming 3 of us made the difference many times between people dying or living ,and they nor we had anywhere else to go ,it was do or die or burn up or drown . We also fought a lot of fires ,vessels trying to sink while we were on them ,fuels and other sources for fire that not only could burn you,, but stick to you ,burn on the water as well ,often we had to do what you would never believe was possible ,but we did ,and most of the time ,We saved the day .sometimes ,our best was not enough ,I have found very few really do know about all the Coast Guard does ,It really is a huge job ,for such a small service . By 21 I had a very good job before I was discharged with a major railroad ,I used the last vacation (Leave ) to make sure I could get a good job ,and I did But I have often regretted getting out ,but my wife was tired of all the time I was gone ,so she threatened to leave me if I stayed in ,but 3 yrs later her father passed away and her Mom wanted me to quit a railroad to be a farmer and run her small farm ,I refused ,,I was not a farmer so my wife left me ,,it added insult to injury ,working with civilians is hard enough when you are used to the teamwork of Shipmates ,but now I loose my family too ,it was a huge blow as to who I was ,I spent many years after trying to define who I was again . I was offered a major bonus to stay in a job I loved ,,my choice of duty stations and I gave it up for a marriage that was about to end I love my kids and could not imagine life without them but if I had my life to live over I would have listened to Grandpa ,retired CWO4 I would have went in single ,and did as he did , He retired the highest non com rank ,,36 yrs in service I was able to learn and do more in that 4 yrs ,then most get to do in a life time I am the one who is still grateful for the chance to serve on one of the greatest team's of men and women on planet earth ,The United States Coast Guard So fellow Brothers and Sisters ,Semper paratus ,always prepared,ready for any emergency.
I don't remember, I don't remember a time when I wasn't playing in the water and I have always been able to not drown. But I don't think I ever paid attention to any type of technique until I had to do rescue swimming in the military.
@ScarlettBlue I used to teach rescue and survival swimming and that is the biggest one. I always started by teaching people how water works and how to float, Once people understand that they can relax and focus on enjoying the experience.
@girlsmoke1975 I had lessons when I was younger, but an incident where I nearly drowned kind of made me more fearful of the water. Now that I have a personal pool I'm getting more comfortable in the water, so maybe one day those lessons will come.
@BizSuitStacy My parents felt the same way only I learned in a public pool. I don't even remember not knowing how to swim. We moved to a house with a pool when I was quite young.
