RSTC Swim Test and US Navy Swim Test Questions

[TravelGas]

... in open water, starting with a run from shore and into the surf. I'm not sure a pool swim of 2-3 times the distance is a reasonable substitute, but I can see why one would want to make it a bit... more taxing.

Generally hiring is done in May. In May the Ocean water in many places is cold. Jones Beach NY State Park does give a hiring test in May that does include an event that includes a times 400 yard run swim run in the Ocean, their re hire is a 100 yard swim in the pool. Of the above agencies I mentioned, no else gives an Ocean swim in May. Now if you go to California or Hawaii, they do give an Ocean swim, of course their Ocean temps are a lot warmer than on the East Coast in mid May. Hawaii is a run swim run and California is a times distance swim in the Ocean.

 

[Trace Malinowski]

Trace do you have a link for USLA Chapters ? Maybe you can be a Chapter, but not a certified agency ? If you can't be a chapter unless you are a cert' Agency, then there is some false advertising going on in N.Y..

Here is the link to chapters in which NY is represented: https://www.usla.org/page/CHAPTERSNEW?

And the bylaws outlining what it means to be a chapter on page 10: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.usla.org/resource/resmgr/docs/bylaws_usla_revisions_12_07_.pdf

Use of USLA logo by agencies and chapters also page 10: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.usla.org/resource/resmgr/docs/usla__p&previsions_04_23_22.pdf

I looked up what the test is to be a lifeguard on Jones Beach. The NYSP - Long Island website lists the following:

Lifeguard Qualifying Procedure

100 yard timed swim- Suffolk County Community College- Applicant must finish swim in 75 seconds or less to continue.

50 yard Cross Chest Carry- Suffolk County Community College- 25 yard swim; 25 yard applicant carries manikin in cross-chest position in 70 seconds or less.

¾ mile (1,320yards) Timed Endurance Run- Suffolk Community College- Applicant must complete the ¾ mile (1,320 yards) run in six minutes or less. (Sneakers recommended).

Timed Ocean Swim – Jones Beach West Bathhouse Ocean Front- Applicant must complete the approximately 350-400 yard swim on prescribed open water, run-swim-run course to continue. Stopping will result in disqualification.
NOTE: All elements must be successfully completed to be considered qualified for hiring. (Not necessarily performed in this order.)

 

[John C. Ratliff]

For the U.S. Air Force Pararescue training, to qualify a candidate must:

To complete the PAST and qualify for further PJ training the enlisted Pararescue pipeline member must:

1. Swim 50 meters underwater without coming up for a breath of air
2. Swim 500 meters non-stop using a combination of breast, side, and freestyle swimming strokes in less than 10 minutes and 17 seconds
3. Briskly run 1.5 miles in less than 9 minutes and 47 seconds
4. Do 10 pull-ups in less than 1 minute
5. Do 58 sit-ups in less than two minutes
6. Do 54 push-ups in less than 2 minutes
   Items 5, 6, and 7 will be done in succession with only a two-minute break in-between each activity. (I think the writer really means items 4, 5 and 6.). Air Force Pararescue (PJ's): 2022 Career Detail - Operation Military Kids

 

[TravelGas]

Here is the link to chapters in which NY is represented: https://www.usla.org/page/CHAPTERSNEW?

And the bylaws outlining what it means to be a chapter on page 10: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.usla.org/resource/resmgr/docs/bylaws_usla_revisions_12_07_.pdf

Use of USLA logo by agencies and chapters also page 10: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.usla.org/resource/resmgr/docs/usla__p&previsions_04_23_22.pdf

I looked up what the test is to be a lifeguard on Jones Beach. The NYSP - Long Island website lists the following:

Lifeguard Qualifying Procedure

100 yard timed swim- Suffolk County Community College- Applicant must finish swim in 75 seconds or less to continue.

50 yard Cross Chest Carry- Suffolk County Community College- 25 yard swim; 25 yard applicant carries manikin in cross-chest position in 70 seconds or less.

¾ mile (1,320yards) Timed Endurance Run- Suffolk Community College- Applicant must complete the ¾ mile (1,320 yards) run in six minutes or less. (Sneakers recommended).

Timed Ocean Swim – Jones Beach West Bathhouse Ocean Front- Applicant must complete the approximately 350-400 yard swim on prescribed open water, run-swim-run course to continue. Stopping will result in disqualification.
NOTE: All elements must be successfully completed to be considered qualified for hiring. (Not necessarily performed in this order.)

The above hiring quals for J.B. are accurate.
The annual Re-Hire is 100 yard pool swim 75 seconds.
a 1/4 mile run. I believe the time is 2:00. The run only became a re-hire requirement about 4-5 years ago.

 

[Trace Malinowski]

The above hiring quals for J.B. are accurate.
The annual Re-Hire is 100 yard pool swim 75 seconds.
a 1/4 mile run. I believe the time is 2:00. The run only became a re-hire requirement about 4-5 years ago.

A .25 mile/400-meter run in 2 minutes is probably correct. That would be an 8-minute mile or 12-minute 1.5 mile which is the standard Cooper fitness test goal for many military schools.

 

[TravelGas]

The Long Beach Lifeguard Hire and Annual Re-Hire run used to be 2 miles under 18:00. That was watered down about 5 years ago to 1 mile under 9:00 for Hire and Re-Hire.

A 1/4 mile at an 8:00 mile pace is far easier than 1 Mile at an 8:00 mile pace.

NYC Lifeguards don't run at all, nor do Town of Hempstead LG. I am not sure about Federal LG at Parks like Jacob Reis Park/Beach.

 

[Trace Malinowski]

Yeah. Today, my mile pace was 10:20 on the road then I stepped it up to 8:02 for the last 350 meters. I'm working my way back after being bedridden for nearly 3 years. The heavy weight lifting and the water speed came faster than the land speed. I used to be a faster runner and a slower swimmer, and I preferred 3 to 4 sets of 10 - 15 reps with weights. As I got older, I preferred 5 x 5 reps or 3 x 5 reps heavy because I'm old, tired, and lazy.

 

[Russjstewart]

While looking through the links in some of the posts, I came across an article in the 2000 summer edition of the American Lifeguard magazine. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.usla.org/resource/resmgr/american_lifeguard_magazine/2000_summer.pdf

it seemed to say that the main problem with attracting lifeguards was the pay.

 

[lowwall]

Lifeguard Qualifying Procedure

100 yard timed swim- Suffolk County Community College- Applicant must finish swim in 75 seconds or less to continue.

1:15 is a quick 100. I doubt many people who weren't part of a competitive swimming program at some point could beat that. I guess they wanted to weed people out fast.

I did my Red Cross Advanced Lifesaving in 1984 and WSI in '85, so had the 500 yards in 10 minute max swim. It was easy for me at the time as a HS swimmer and water polo player.

I thought about trying for an LA County ocean lifeguard spot, but they had an uncorrected vision requirement I couldn't make. But I still remember being impressed by how hard the swimming pre-test was back then. Something like a 1 mile ocean swim during February or March (so 60F/16C water temp) with no wetsuit allowed with either a tight time limit or they only took the first however many finishers they needed.

 

[TravelGas]

Yeah. Today, my mile pace was 10:20 on the road then I stepped it up to 8:02 for the last 350 meters. I'm working my way back after being bedridden for nearly 3 years. The heavy weight lifting and the water speed came faster than the land speed. I used to be a faster runner and a slower swimmer, and I preferred 3 to 4 sets of 10 - 15 reps with weights. As I got older, I preferred 5 x 5 reps or 3 x 5 reps heavy because I'm old, tired, and lazy.

Based on my observations of these tests, as guys get older they struggle more with the run than the swim. Guys start to have issues with hips, knees, ankles as they age and all these joint issues make it harder for them to make the run time.