One of the requirements for Army ROTC cadets wishing to commission as a 2nd LT. is passing the CWST(Combat Water Survival Test). This test is done every year for all cadets, regardless of whether they passed already. The CWST is a gentle reminder that the Army’s mission is indeed for “providing prompt, sustained, land dominance…” not water dominance.

Penn State Army ROTC Cadets participate in the Combat Water Survival Test in State College, Pa Nov. 28, 2018. (Photo by Haley Brown)

Before the cadet’s can take the actual CWST, they must take a diagnostic swim test. This swim of 50 meters with treading for 30 seconds then swimming back is not as undemanding as it sounds. The 50 meter swim does not feel like your typical casual, freestyle swim, solely because of the OCP uniform that seems to feel like sandbags attached to your body. After passing the diagnostic part of the test, cadets then do the remaining three graded parts of the combat water survival test. Those parts being the rifle-arm carry, don and ditch, and the 3-meter rifle jump.

The rifle-arm carry seems like a piece of cake from a viewing point, however, this debatedly one of the more dreaded tests in the CWST. Cadets have to swim for 15 meters holding a rifle over their head, to pass successfully the rifle must not touch the water. To make everything even more splendid cadets have to wear a FLC vest(ammo vest). Many cadets practically drown themselves for 15 meters in order to keep the rifle up but the sacrifice makes up by passing the event.

The next event in the CWST the don and ditch, this event is where cadets have to jump in the water with a FLC vest and rifle. However, cadets must return to the top with all the equipment off/away from their body, hence the “ditch”. For smaller cadets like me this event is a struggle because of how fast a lighter-weight floats up. To suceed in this event it entails speedily removing the equipment in an efficient manner before gravity does its job.

There are cadets that have done airborne which means they conquered jumping out of either a C-130 or C-17 aircraft at 1,250, however, there are many cadets that dread this 3-meter rifle jump. Cadets walk over to the pool with the 3-meter diving board with cadre members ready to push them blindly into the water. Cadets may trust their cadre but getting pushed into a pool by them is a tad scary. This event has cadets holding a rifle while they jump, the jump feels like a belly flop to the arms.
If all three events of the CWST are passed, cadets have met the commissioning requirement which is quite a relief. Until they realize they have to do this every year regardless.