Military personnel (Navy, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard) around the world often are required to perform a swimming fitness test as part of their recruitment or regular assessment. It may be just an alternative for the endurance component of their fitness assessment, or an assessment of their swimming skill and water safty knowledge, as required for military that may be required to work in or near the water.
Examples
- BMSS TEST (Basic Military Swim Standard) - the test comprises a swimming knowledge test, Abandon Ship Drill (jump into pool with lifejacket, swim 50m) and Rudimentary Swimming Skills test (tread water and swim 20m clothed). (Canadian Armed Froces)
- PRT 500yd / 450m Swim Test — swim 500 yards or 450 meters in the fastest time possible using any swim stroke and turn technique. Performed by US Navy personnel every six months.
- Australian Navy Swim Test - includes 3 meter safety jump from a platform, 10m underwater frontscull swim, 50m swim using survival strokes, 15 minutes treading water.
- US Navy Seals - there are vaious swimming tests as part of being a US Navy Seal, including a 50-meter underwater swim, and for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALs training they need to swim 100 meters with bound hands and feet.
Similar Tests
- 500yd / 450m Swim Test — part of the PRT, swim 500 yards as fast as you can.
- Swim 12-minute test — swim for maximum distance in 12 minutes
- 1 km Swim Test — swim 1km as fast as you can.
Related Pages
- Defence Force Testing
- List of Fitness Tests involving Swimming
- About swimming endurance tests
- US Navy Seals Testing
- Fitness Testing for swimmers