Petty Officer 3rd Class Isaac Mensah, Navy Operational Support Center Avoca, Pennsylvania Coastal Riverine Squadron quartermaster, performs a backstroke while swimming at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Aug. 24, 2017. Mensah was training to earn his Second Class Swim Qualification (SCSQ). The SCSQ determines if a person can stay afloat and survive without the use of a personal floatation device. It is used as an entry-level requirement for small boat operators, naval aircrew, and rescue swimmers. The SCSQ consists of a deep water jump, 100-yard swim demonstrating the crawl stroke, breast stroke, side stroke, and elementary backstroke. Immediately after the completion of the swim, students are required to prone float for five minutes and transition to a back float before exiting the water.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Mark Patterson, Navy Operational Support Center Atlanta Coastal Riverine Squadron personnel specialist, forces air into his Naval Work Uniform (NWU) pants to act as a temporary personal floatation device (PFD) at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Aug. 24, 2017. Patterson was training to earn his Second Class Swim Qualification (SCSQ). The SCSQ determines if a person can stay afloat and survive without the use of a PFD. It is used as an entry-level requirement for small boat operators, naval aircrew, and rescue swimmers. The SCSQ consists of a deep water jump, 100-yard swim demonstrating the crawl stroke, breast stroke, side stroke, and elementary backstroke. Immediately after the completion of the swim, students are required to prone float for five minutes and transition to a back float before exiting the water.

Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan Wilkins, 628th Security Forces Squadron Harbor Patrol Unit master at arms, left, demonstrates a proper kicking technique to Petty Officer 3rd Class Mark Patterson, Navy Operational Support Center Atlanta Coastal Riverine Squadron personnel specialist, at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Aug. 24, 2017. Patterson was training to earn his Second Class Swim Qualification (SCSQ). The SCSQ determines if a person can stay afloat and survive without the use of a personal floatation device. It is used as an entry-level requirement for small boat operators, naval aircrew, and rescue swimmers. The SCSQ consists of a deep water jump, 100-yard swim demonstrating the crawl stroke, breast stroke, side stroke, and elementary backstroke. Immediately after the completion of the swim, students are required to prone float for five minutes and transition to a back float before exiting the water.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Miller, Navy Information Operations Command Georgia cryptologic technician, performs a freestyle stroke at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Aug. 24, 2017. Miller was training to earn his Second Class Swim Qualification (SCSQ). The SCSQ determines if a person can stay afloat and survive without the use of a personal floatation device. It is used as an entry-level requirement for small boat operators, naval aircrew, and rescue swimmers. The SCSQ consists of a deep water jump, 100-yard swim demonstrating the crawl stroke, breast stroke, side stroke, and elementary backstroke. Immediately after the completion of the swim, students are required to prone float for five minutes and transition to a back float before exiting the water.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Mark Patterson, Navy Operational Support Center Atlanta Coastal Riverine Squadron personnel specialist, demonstrates that his temporary personal floatation device (PFD) retains enough air to keep him afloat at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Aug. 24, 2017. Patterson was training to earn his Second Class Swim Qualification (SCSQ). The SCSQ determines if a person can stay afloat and survive without the use of a PFD. It is used as an entry-level requirement for small boat operators, naval aircrew, and rescue swimmers. The SCSQ consists of a deep water jump, 100-yard swim demonstrating the crawl stroke, breast stroke, side stroke, and elementary backstroke. Immediately after the completion of the swim, students are required to prone float for five minutes and transition to a back float before exiting the water.