ROTC members undergo in Combat Water Survival Test and 12-mile march
CHADRON – Army Reserve Officer Cadets from the Mount Rushmore Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Battalion participated in the Combat Water Survival Test at Evans Plunge in Hot Springs, South Dakota, Feb. 28.
Nineteen cadets from Chadron State College participated along with cadets from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and Black Hills State University.
Passing the Water Survival Test is mandatory for a cadet to be commissioned as a 2nd Lt. The four components of the test, a 100-meter swim, an equipment ditch where cadets remove their combat vests under water, treading water for five minutes and a 25-meter swim with a “dummy” rifle and combat vest, were conducted in full uniform to simulate the rigors of combat water emergencies.
Following completion of the Water Survival Test, cadets prepared for a march around the Cold Brook Reservoir near Hot Springs. The course was chosen for its steep grades, combining both on and off road routes. Cadets are required to complete the 12-mile march with 35-pound packs in less than three hours to meet the fitness proficiency goal of all Army units. Eighteen cadets finished within the time limit.
“We are nearing the completion of a very successful year at Chadron State College,” said Army ROTC Lt. Col. Lynna Speier. "I’m looking forward to seeing the hard work pay-off during their upcoming summer training events at Fort Knox, Kentucky."
- CSC College Relations with Capt. Jonathon Davis, assistant professor of military science, Mount Rushmore Battalion
Category: Campus News