MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. (AFPN) -- A water-survival class normally held for aircrew members here was turned into a day of cross-training for American Hockey League players Sept. 23.
The Philadelphia Phantoms participated in an all-day Air Force water-survival training exercise in hopes to build core strength and a “little mental toughness,” said Jim McCrossin, Phantoms medical trainer since 1984.
“We wanted to see how ‘the other side’ trains,” Mr. McCrossin said. “Airmen and hockey players are both athletes; we just train in very different ways.”
The day started with a hot five-mile run through the north tip of Long Beach Island, N.J., followed by instruction on what the actual water training would involve.
“I wasn’t really sure what to expect once we got in the water,” said Ben Eager, left-winger for the Phantoms. “I thought it was pretty intense once we got out there.”
The players and a few aircrew members here divided onto three rafts and spent two hours practicing water survival, evasion, resistance and escape tactics.
“This training is done with the idea that (crewmembers) hopefully will never have to use these survival principles,” said Staff Sgt. Bobby Pickel, 305th Operations Support Squadron aircrew life support and survival training instructor. “But, if (they) found themselves in a ditching situation in the ocean, or other body of water, they would be more than prepared to survive the worst possible conditions and be (rescued).”
Without this training, anyone stranded in the water would be clueless on how to survive, said Staff Sgt. James Goyet, 305th OSS water-survival instructor.
“We wanted the players to learn that it would be difficult to be stranded in a life raft, but (they could survive). A few of them were in the fetal position on the bottom of the raft at all times,” Sergeant Goyet said.
The water training ended with an Atlantic City Coast Guard helicopter hoisting people out of the water one by one.
“I never expected to get as close as we were to the helicopter,” said Freddy Meyer, a defenseman for the Phantoms. “I couldn’t believe how powerful it was.”
The day was not over yet for the Phantom players. A two-and-a-half-mile “raft race” to the docks proved to be one of the more difficult parts of the day.
“The water got cold at times, and the wind was uncomfortable, but the raft race was really tough,” said Stephen Wood, a Phantoms defenseman.
The race consisted of two teams running two miles while holding a fully inflated raft and equipment above their heads. If the raft dropped, the runners had to do push-ups.
“The day proved to be pretty tough,” Mr. Meyer said. “I think it was a great opportunity to break up our workout routine and learn something in the process.”
Sergeant Pickel said his mission was to teach the players that “whatever survival situation you are in, if everyone works together like a team, they can prevail with honor.”