HOST - Swim Test and Dunker

As a weak swimmer, one of my greatest concerns prior to coming to BOLC was passing Helicopter Over-water Survival Training (HOST) or dunker training. I was unable to find much information online concerning what was required so hopefully I will be able to provide some here. Searching YouTube for HOST Dunker provides some videos of the training being conducted. Some are great for learning what to expect, others are not so helpful. At this time, the way the program is set up is as follows.  Students in-processing to Fort Rucker for flight school are encouraged to begin working on completing their swim test and dunker training prior to entering BOLC, however, new regulations require a flight physical before these blocks of training can be completed. If you have enough time to get the physical and still make it to the swim test and dunker you are golden. The swim test is required prior to dunker. It consists of swimming around the perimeter of the pool, treading water, doing a drown-proofing drill, and inflating a PFD while in the water. The instructors will work with students to make sure they are comfortable with the exercises and performing them correctly. Ironically, stronger swimmers often have more trouble with this as the dunker school uses proprietary strokes and will not permit the use of more traditional strokes students may already know. Those who fail to pass the swim test after a reasonable amount of coaching will be brought back on a future day to work one on one with an instructor to perfect their technique. Once the swim test is completed, students are authorized to return for the dunker portion of the training. The morning is spent in a classrooom to cover water survival techniques and learn the use of the emergency breathing device (EBD) carried on helicopters. The second portion of the day is devoted to the water portion of the dunker training. Students begin by learning to use a regulator, both while right side up and while upside down under water. If you have never used a regulator before get a snorkel and try it at a pool, it may save you from getting dropped from the class before it has even started. Also, it is highly important that you be comfortable having your nasal passages flooded with water. If you are uncomfortable in the water this is one of the key things you should probably work on. The next interation is conducted using a stationary device in the shallow end of the pool. Students are strapped to a chair and flipped upside down and then required a conduct a number of exercises including day and night exercises and breath hold and supplemental oxygen exercises. When everyone has completed this stage, the helicopter simulator is used to repeat the same exercises in the deep end of the pool Students are given three strikes in the shallow end and then have three chances in the deep end training. Failing to correctly complete any three events in either the shallow or deep water portion will result in remedial training and redoing dunker at a later date. If the remedial is taken more than 30 days from the time of the initial dunker training the entire classroom portion must be retaken as well. The dunker remedial training is conducted soley using the shallow water trainer. Students may come back as many times as necessary (other training permitting) to work on their comfort in the water and their technique. Students who know they are weak swimmers may also come in before they have had their dunker classroom exercises in order to complete comfortability training, though they will not be permitted to use the oxygen or conduct all the exercises that are required for dunker. A very small number of students do fail out of the aviation course because of the swim test and dunker, but the personnel at the HOST school will do everything in their power to make sure students become comfortable and are able to pass the training. Anyone with the dedication to keep trying will pass.