The Navy SEAL Physical Fitness Guide - Uniformed Services ...

Chapter 5Swimming forFitnessAs a SEAL you are required to be a swimmer. Swimmingis an excellent exercise for overall fitness; aerobic endurance, power, strength, andflexibility are all enhanced by swim training. It is generally gentle on the joints andprovides excellent cross training for running and other gravity-intensive forms of exerciseby providing load-bearing joint rest. However, training must be specific for the anticipatedoperational environment, including cold water acclimatization. This section will give youthe tools to improve your swimming skills, thus enhancing your fitness for combatswimmer missions.You must primarily train for endurance while preserving the significant power andstrength required by other phases of SEAL operations. This section includes informationon competitive swimming strokes and pool training, but it is important to emphasize thatmost training for SEAL combat swimmer operations should consist of open water swimswith fins. Open water training is essential for SEALs as a part of a comprehensive trainingprogram under the general principle of “specificity of training”. Surf and high sea stateswimming provides specific training for potential operational situations by increasing yoursense of timing and confidence.Swim training should focus primarily onopen water swims with fins.Swim training is best accomplished with others for a variety of safety reasons.There should always be a guard or buddy available to you, even if you swim in a pool. Youcertainly should not train alone in open water.The Navy SEAL Physical Fitness Guide 71