Thank you in advance for your advice. My son has joined the Air Force, though he has not gone to Basic yet. He was approved for a very challenging career known as a TACP (Please see Link - www.globalsecurity.org/.../tacp.htm )
One of the criteria for getting into this particular specialty was to pass the NON-SWIMMING portions of the PAST (Physical Ability Stamina Test - www.afsoc.af.mil/.../pastcriteria.asp ). He was approached today and told that an even more critical need for the USAF was for Combat Controllers, but he would need to also pass the 2 swimming portions of the PAST (see link above, please). Now, he's in great shape, and he can swim like a regular person can swim, but he's NEVER been a swimmer, per se. The question I have is, what should he do in order to prepare to pass the 2 swimming tests:
1) 2 x 20 Meter Underwater Swim: Provide the member 3-minutes of rest between underwaters. If members surface or break the water surface during any portion of the swim, the test will be stopped and considered a failure.
2) 500 Meter Surface Swim (max. time limit 14 minutes for CCT/SOWT; max. time limit 11 minutes 30 seconds for PJ): This swim is conducted using the freestyle, breaststroke or sidestroke. The swim is continuous (non-stop). If a member stops any time during the swim, the test will be stopped and considered a failure for the entire PAST.
Sorry for the long message. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Parents
Former Member
Mr. Tyson (call me billy), I agree with the basic survival course and so forth given in all armed forces of the world. As a basic training and making you over all fit and getting you ready for a crash into jungle or sea, whatever. I just was wondering about the specifics once you get out of basic training and start specialization. Am I missing something or aren't these controllers, just "controllers". I mean, okay, you might have an advanced tower in jungle or bad conditions, but water? Here is my theory: you might lose some good material by eliminating some good prospects by a physical test which will not be needed in their function later on. Sorry to argue this longer, I have many friends in all areas of the Brazilian Air Force, including controllers, just curious. billy fanstone
P.S. The guy next to me in my avatar is the one and only Chuck Yeager, at a Sun and Fun in Florida sometime around 1996.
Mr. Tyson (call me billy), I agree with the basic survival course and so forth given in all armed forces of the world. As a basic training and making you over all fit and getting you ready for a crash into jungle or sea, whatever. I just was wondering about the specifics once you get out of basic training and start specialization. Am I missing something or aren't these controllers, just "controllers". I mean, okay, you might have an advanced tower in jungle or bad conditions, but water? Here is my theory: you might lose some good material by eliminating some good prospects by a physical test which will not be needed in their function later on. Sorry to argue this longer, I have many friends in all areas of the Brazilian Air Force, including controllers, just curious. billy fanstone
P.S. The guy next to me in my avatar is the one and only Chuck Yeager, at a Sun and Fun in Florida sometime around 1996.
