While doing my "homework" regarding joining the Airforce, I came across an Officer's Training handout [yes, it's official because I obtained it from the official airforce site]. Amongst one of the physical requirements I had to meet to pass OT was a 200m swim.

Ugh!

I wonder why? I didn't think there would be much chance I would be near water?

(PS: I can't swim very well. Looks like I'll have to take swimming lessons this coming summer. Sigh.)

You never know......what happens if you become a pilot and you have to eject over the Atlantic?

I'm a decent swimmer, but I suck at treading water.

Considering that 70% of the world is covered in water, there is a good chance you will be flying over water at some time. Don't worry though, if you take swimming lessons you should be able to swim better.

Thanks both for your replies...it's given me some clarification about the issue. Although it still begs the question: if your plane is shot down over ocean, wouldn't there be a higher chance of me dying first, before crashing into the water?

http://www.holylemon.com/HarrierCrash.html

take a look at this video

Originally Posted by Ramjet

Thanks both for your replies...it's given me some clarification about the issue. Although it still begs the question: if your plane is shot down over ocean, wouldn't there be a higher chance of me dying first, before crashing into the water?

Well, let's say you live...It'd be rather ironic to have your butt saved once from dying in a plane, only to drown moments later.

@FDD: Wow!

@CDT: Point taken. I guess the military have to prepare its people for any worst-case scenarios, no matter its actual likelihood.

By the way, I have the opposite problem with you. I can tread water but I swim terribly. When I was still in high school my PE teacher couldn't understand why, as I was a good runner. According to her, good runners also make good swimmers...yet there I was floundering like a half-drowned cat in the pool.

-Ramet

I was the same way. I blieve it is psycological. ....just gotta try it...drown a little, try again, drown a little less...until you only drown occasionally

Originally Posted by migidarra

I was the same way. I blieve it is psycological. ....just gotta try it...drown a little, try again, drown a little less...until you only drown occasionally

I think you should keep swimming until you never drown

its fear thats stopping you. go join a local swimming club or smth, they will get you so you can swim till you dont drown!

when you do swim, keep your body as horizontal in the water as possible, dont let your legs drop down. this means you are less streamlined so you have to do more work to move, and also, instead of just pushing across the water, you are actually pushing up and out, so you are wasting energy