Special Operations.Com
Marine Corps Combatant
Diver Course
For further information, stop by the
official MCCDC page.
The Marine Corps Combatant Diver
Course is a course of instruction approved by
and under the cognizance of the Chief of Naval Education
and Training and the Commanding General, Marine Corps
Combat Development Command. The course is taught by
U.S. Marines at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training
Center, Panama City, Florida.
Class Convening Dates
|
Class
Number
|
Convene
Date
|
Graduation
Date
|
|
2000-10-MCD
|
25
OCT 1999
|
14
DEC1999
|
|
2000-20-MCD
|
31
JAN 2000
|
20
MAR 2000
|
|
2000-30-MCD
|
24
MAR 2000
|
11
MAY 2000
|
|
2000-40-MCD
|
24
MAY 2000
|
13
JUL 2000
|
|
2000-50-MCD
|
2
AUG 2000
|
20
SEP 2000
|
|
2000-60-MCD
|
21 SEP 2000
|
9 NOV 2000
|
SECTION I
FOREWORD
The reconnaissance mission of a United States Marine
brings him to hostile areas throughout the world.
Areas where he is expected to infiltrate and exfiltrate
undetected, recurrently, to conduct reconnaissance
or other combat action missions. Often the Reconnaissance
Marine must enter his objective area underwater in
order to achieve a clandestine approach and increase
the chances for mission success.
The U.S. Marine Corps Combatant Diver Course was
designed at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training
Center, Panama City, Florida, in conjunction with
the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico,
Virginia. The course is designed by Marines, for Marines.
The purpose of the course is to provide the Marines
with the best possible combat underwater tactical
swimming training available. The results of the training
are to maintain the tradition of the best trained
combat force, a force in readiness throughout the
world.
The Combatant Diver Course develops a highly confident
and capable combat diver. The students are trained
using the most current tactical doctrines and equipment.
Emphasis is placed on developing in the student the
skills required to successfully conduct an underwater
infiltration and exfiltration, as well as providing
the student with the entry level diving supervisory
skills required by applicable Marine Corps Orders.
SECTION II
THE COMBATANT DIVER COURSE
1. General: Amphibious Reconnaissance is an amphibious
landing conducted by reconnaissance elements for the
purpose of securing information. It normally requires
stealth rather than force of arms, and is usually
followed by a planned withdrawal. When conducted underwater,
the success of this insertion or extraction depends
greatly on the individual Marine and the reconnaissance
team abilities to negotiate long distances in the
water with the equipment organic to their respective
commands and the Marine Corps Expeditionary Units
(SOC). Reconnaissance unit leaders, who operate in
small teams with minimum support for extended periods
of time, recognize the importance of having a well-trained,
fully capable unit. The Combatant Diver Course provides
diver training through classroom instruction, extensive
physical training, pool familiarization dives, open
water surface swims, and underwater infiltration swims
with approximately 60% of the open water diving conducted
at night. At the end of the course the students are
assigned mission profiles where they are required
to infiltrate underwater into their objective areas.
These missions may include MEU(SOC) Maritime Special
Purpose Force (MSPF) type reconnaissance or direct
action missions.
2. Purpose: The course is designed to meet the needs
of the Marine Corps in accordance with current Mission
Performance and Training Standards. It is designed
to provide qualified non-diving enlisted and officer
personnel with the specialized training necessary
to effectively operate as reconnaissance dive team
members during underwater infiltration swims. Marines
must arrive undetected, on target, while keeping team
integrity and maintaining the ability to execute their
assigned tasks on respective shore-based objectives.
3. Scope: The Combatant Diver Course is 35 training
days in length. It is divided into four modules of
training: Physical Conditioning, Combat Diver Principles
and Fundamentals, USMC Open Circuit Diving Equipment
and Operations, and USMC Closed Circuit Diving Equipment
and Operations. Upon successful completion of the
training, the student is certified by the U.S. Navy
and Marine Corps as a USMC Combatant Diver.
A. Physical Conditioning: Physical training is conducted
twice daily. Morning P.T. consists of a 110 minute
period of calisthenics, running and/or swimming, with
increasing difficulty imposed as the weeks progress.
The students participate in three to seven mile timed
runs. Tactical surface swims are conducted with increasing
distances from 500 yards to 10,000 yards. Surface
swims are conducted with combat equipment (rifles,
load bearing vests, and simulated ammunition.)
B. MCD Fundamentals and Principles: The Combat Diver
Fundamentals module provides the student with instruction
on diver-related principles and basic medical instruction
(diving casualty self-aid and buddy-aid).
C. USMC Open Circuit Diving Equipment and Operations:
This phase of training includes classroom instruction,
pool training, ascent training, lost equipment searches,
submarine operations training, and day and night compass
swims. The student functions as dive team members
both topside and as USMC SCUBA divers in the water.
PMS of all Open Circuit SCUBA equipment and related
underwater accessories, as well as SCUBA charging
procedures, are conducted during this module of training.
D. USMC Closed Circuit Diving Equipment and Operations:
This phase of training includes classroom instruction,
pool training, compass swims, advanced navigation
techniques and underwater infiltration and exfiltration
dives. The student functions as combatant diver team
member during underwater infiltration and exfiltration
swims with combat equipment. Using a combat rubber
raiding craft (CRRC) as the delivery vehicle, the
students are trained to perform an over the horizon
(OTH) turtle-back swim immediately followed by a closed
circuit underwater infiltration. During this phase
of training the students conduct oxygen charging procedures
with the USMC Oxygen Transfer Pump System (OTPS).
The end of training is marked with the class, in four
to eight man reconnaissance teams, executing a field
exercise that requires them to infiltrate surface
and sub-surface, move to and conduct assigned missions
on land, and exfiltrate from their assigned objective
area.
4. Summary: With the proven ability to overcome the
rigorous mental and physical challenges imposed on
the individual during an underwater infiltration in
amphibious operations, the end result of the course
is a Marine who is an effective and capable Combatant
Diver. The Landing Force Commander can be confident
that he has competent, well-trained, physically capable
Reconnaissance Marines who are prepared to execute
any mission requiring an underwater projection of
power into an operational or tactical area of operations.
SECTION III
STUDENT ORIENTATION
A. PURPOSE: The following is
provided to answer typical questions and allow for
preparation of the student candidate prior to attending
the U.S. Marine Corps Combatant Diver Course:
1. The Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center trains
students from all branches of the United States Armed
Forces and many allied countries.
2. Throughout the course, the "buddy system"
is utilized for safety and to instill a spirit of
teamwork and cooperation. Each student is responsible
for knowing his buddy's location and is responsible
for assuring his buddy's welfare at all times.
3. Enlisted Marines graduating from the course receive
the 8653 MOS, Reconnaissance Marine Combatant Diver
qualified. Officer graduates are assigned the MOS
9952.
4. The course is open to Officer and
Enlisted personnel.
B. PREREQUISITES. There
are a number of pre-requisite qualifications for Marines
attending the Combatant Diver Course. The program
of instruction is designed from the premise that students
will report on board with certain fundamental infantry
and reconnaissance skills. The current prerequisites
may be obtained by accessing the USMC By Name Assignment
(BNA) as modified by the most recent Training Quota
Memorandum (TQM). Waivers to the course prerequisites
must be obtained prior to class convening date
from the Director, Marine Corps Combat Development
Command, Training and Education Division (C462G2).
The specific course pre-requisite qualifications
include:
1. Individuals must be volunteers. (The Marine
Corps Combatant Diver Course includes High-Risk training
and DOR procedures are used.)
2. Marines must be graduates of the Basic Reconnaissance
Course, (or DOD equivalent course)and have the 0321
MOS.
3. Candidates must successful complete a physical
fitness entry level test within 30 days of
reporting to the course, which includes:
a. Swimming 500 yards non-stop, utilizing the breast
or sidestroke. The swim is conducted in UDT swim trunks,
maximum time is 12 minutes and 30 seconds. The swim
is followed with a 10 minute standing rest.
b. Push-Ups: The candidate will have two minutes
to properly execute a minimum of 42 push-ups. A two-minute
rest follows.
c. Sit-Ups: A minimum of 50 Marine Corps sit-ups
must be executed in two minutes. A two-minute rest
follows.
d. Pull-Ups: A minimum of 8 Marine Corps pull-ups.
No time limit. A 10-minute rest follows.
e. Run: 1.5 miles: maximum time 11 minutes and 30
seconds.
Note: A must-pass Initial Physical Fitness Test (IPFT)
is conducted on training day (2). Students who
fail any event of the physical fitness test will be
considered not physically fit to safely continue with
training, and will be returned to their parent commands
on this training day. Students must be within height
and weight standards.
4. All personnel must posses an up to date diving
physical examination. (See manual Medicine Department
P-117 NAVMED Chapter 15-66, page 15-49 of change 107,
and MCO 3500.20 for all physical qualifying criteria.)
5. Age limit for the course: 35 years.
6. ASVB GT Score: 110.
7. Have a minimum service of 12 months remaining
upon completion of the course.
NOTE: No security clearance is required.
3.POC for special request quotas:
Director, Training and Education Division
Code C462G2
2034 Barnett Ave.
Suite 201
Quantico, VA 22134-5012
DSN: 278-4024
FAX: 278-3729
COMM: (703) 784-XXXX
Internet: fitzgibbonsb@quantico.usmc.mil
4. COMMANDING OFFICER'S CHECK LIST:
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Ensure that Students
report on board with the following: Service
Record Book (SRB), most current MCTFS Record
(BIR, BTR, RED, Sores and Schools Record Page),
Medical Record, Dental Record, and when waivers
are required the waiver must be accompany the
Marine's Commanding Officers Checklist. A Commanding
Officer Checklist is provided in the back of
this pamphlet as Enclosure (1).
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C. SPECIAL INFORMATION
1. .All students attending the course must ensure
that they are in top physical condition when reporting
for the course.
2. It is highly recommended that all
students attend an organized unit level Pre-SCUBA
course conducted by previous graduates of the course.
The following subjects should be covered during the
Pre-SCUBA training:
a. Physical Training:
1) Runs: 3-7 miles: 7 minute pace.
2) Calisthenics.
3) Swimming:
Pool lap swimming without equipment (aerobic).
Open water surface swimming with fins, full utilities,
LBV, rifle, and pack (employ 6 lbs. to simulate
ammunition weight as a minimum.) Swimming speed
1 knot utilizing the combat side stroke.
Treading water: In the pool, with SCUBA equipment
(5 minutes). Upon completion of treading water drill,
the students must inflate their buoyancy compensators
orally and swim to the shallow end of the pool.
Mask/Snorkel clearing to include recovery and clear
from 12' pool on one breath hold.
Drown proofing
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Basic Survival Stroke
(5 min)
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Tread Water Ankles Tied
(5 min)
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Tread Water Hands Tied
(5 min)
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Academics: Diver
Principles: It is recommended that prospective students
read the U.S. Navy Diving Manual chapters pertaining
to diving physics, and medicine during their Pre-SCUBA
training. Students who are pre-exposed to this information
have a proven higher completion rate.
D. STUDENT EVALUATION SYSTEM
1. Students are evaluated through written
exams and practical application performance evolutions.
Written exams are administered after every module
of instruction. Test questions are in the form of
essay answering technique to allow students to express
the information in relation to diving operations.
All modules of instruction are progressive and comprehensive.
Practical exercises are performed throughout the course.
The students must obtain a score of 80 in each written
test and practical performance exercise to receive
a SAT passing grade and continue on in the course
of instruction. Students failing to obtain a passing
grade will be remediated and re-tested. A Board is
convened for students failing a re-test after remediation,
or who fail to maintain an overall course grade of
80.
E. HONOR GRADUATE and MOTIVATION and LEADERSHIP AWARD
The graduate with the highest test grades and practical
application scores and who displayed the most outstanding
performance in each Combatant Diver Class is designated
as the HONOR GRADUATE (Officer or Enlisted).
The Motivation and Leadership Award is selected by
the student body. It is presented to the most motivated
student in the class. It is presented in recognition
of leadership by example and is based on physical
performance, motivation, and overall diving excellence
(Officer or Enlisted).
F. REQUIRED UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT
1. The camouflage uniform is the prescribed uniform
for Marines for day to day training. All Marines must
wear Service C for convening day and the graduation
ceremony.
2. The following uniforms and equipment are required
for all students:
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Camouflage Utility Uniform
- 4 sets minimum.
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Boots - 2 pairs of boots,
combat
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Socks, cushion sole (green)
- 6 pairs minimum
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Waist belt with buckle
- 2 each
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Dive watch
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Green T-shirt - 6 each
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White T-Shirt: 1 each
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Black leather shell,
Flight, or Dive gloves
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Padlocks (combination):
3 each
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Students who wear eyeglasses
must have two military issue pairs (contact
lenses are not allowed during diving operations)
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Watch cap, black: 1 each
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Field jacket: 1 each
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Rain gear, complete (Gore-Tex
recommended)
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Running shoes: 1 pair
(good condition)
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UDT swimming trunks:
2 pair minimum
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Sweats, top and bottom,
must be gray: 1 pair
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Towel, green: 2 each
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Notebook, pens, pencils,
high-liter, calculator, index cards
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Modified low profile
black subdued facemask (recommended only
for Marines requiring glasses, Have lens insert
prior to arrival).
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I.D. tags: 1 set
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Wooly Pully (optional
for winter class)
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Green running shorts:
2 pair
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Bush cover, Lensatic
compass, Red lens flashlight (diving), Butt
pack, Poncho, and Water proof bags: Optional.
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Dress Blues or Alpha
uniform for students attending the course during
the USMC birthday Ball.
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3. All other required
uniforms and diving equipment not listed above will
be issued to the student by the Combatant Diver Course.
It is not necessary for the students to purchase equipment
on his own.
4. All combat equipment (LBV / Pack / Rifle) will
be issued by the school.
5.Students will perform all diving operations
with school equipment with the exception of those
men with lens inserts on a black subdued facemask.
The school is not responsible for damaged or lost
equipment that the student brings from his unit and
uses during diving operations.
G. REPORTING
1. All incoming students must report to the Administration
Office Student Control, Naval Diving and Salvage Training
Center, building 350 no later than 0900 on the last
day prior to the class convening date. Classes convening
on Mondays will require the students to report on
the preceding Friday by 0900. Students arriving after
duty hours must report to the NDSTC quarterdeck for
official command endorsement and will be directed
to the BEQ/BOQ.
2. Incoming students will have in their possession:
Service record Book, MCTFS Record (BIR, BTR, RED),
Health and Dental records; five copies of their original
orders; a signed Commanding Officers checklist with
applicable waivers of entry prerequisites as required.
3. Students can check-in to the command in the utility
uniform, but need to be in the Service C uniform on
the convening day. A welcome aboard packet will be
on the quarterdeck for the students to utilize to
help them in their check in process.
H. TRANSPORTATION & FACILITIES
1. Panama City, Florida is served by several major
airlines. Students arriving in Panama City by plane
may travel to the Navy Base by taxi.
2. Panama City has no inter-city bus service.
3. Parking facilities on base are limited. Students
are encouraged to car-pool when attending the course.
Privately owned vehicles must have current DOD sticker
displayed.
4. Recommend commands designate the senior Marine
attending the course with the authorization for a
rental van. Prior authorization reduces the need for
modifications.
I. QUARTERS
1. Government quarters are normally available. Enlisted
personnel can report to bldg. 484 for BEQ assignments
and Officers quarters are located at bldg. 149. Maid
service is provided and reimbursable for each room
a student is assigned. Cost is approximately $8.00
daily.
2. Government family quarters are not
available for students. Students TAD to the Naval
Diving and Salvage Training Center are encouraged
not to bring dependents.
J. DINING FACILITIES
1. Government messing is available on base. Meal
cards will be assigned upon arrival. Comrats rates
for each meal are in accordance with current regulations.
Time is normally provided for students to eat three
meals a day. However, during night operations, students
will be given box/bag meals.
K. PAY and ID
1. There are no U.S. Marine Corps administrative
or disbursing facilities aboard the base. Disbursing
facilities aboard the base are limited. The U.S. Navy
Personnel Support Detachment (PSD) does not support
Reserve Marines. All Fleet Marine Force Reserve
Marines must be administratively joined by their units
on their active duty rolls to ensure they receive
pay and allowances. To facilitate pay matters,
students are strongly encouraged to establish Direct
Deposit of their paychecks to a bank account prior
to reporting for the course.
2. Limited military ID cards are available.
Students should posses a serviceable ID card prior
to attendance.
L. MAIL
1. Below is the correct address for students attending
the USMC Combatant Diver Course:
Rank/Name
ATTN: Class XXXX MCD
Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center
350 South Crag Road
Panama City, Florida, 32407-7016
NOTE: Please do not send mail the last
two weeks of the course.
M. LAUNDRY FACILITIES
1. A limited number of washers and dryers
are available on base. Commercial laundries are available
and may be used during off-duty time. Students are
encouraged to mark all their equipment.
N. BASE EXCHANGE
1. The base has a small Navy exchange.
The exchange stocks a limited number of USMC uniform
items.
O. TELEPHONE
1. Pay phones are available throughout
the base. BEQ and BOQ have phones installed in every
room. The quarterdeck phone number at the NDSTC is
DSN 436-4651 or COMM (850) 234-4651. The reservations
phone number at the BOQ (officer and enlisted) is
commercial (850) 236-2500.
P. GRADUATION
1. Commanding Officers, platoon members, relatives
and friends are invited to attend the U.S. Marine
Corps Combatant Diver Course Graduation. The graduation
is conducted in the auditorium of the Naval Diving
and Salvage Training Center. A video summary of the
USMC Combatant Diver Course is presented at the conclusion
of the ceremony. Guests may be taken on a guided tour
of the command.
SECTION IV
COURSE TRAINING REFERENCES
A. The following is a list of publications pertaining
to the Combatant Diver Course:
NAVSEA 0994-LP-001-9010 U.S. Navy Diving Manual,
Volume 1.
NAVSEA 0994-LP-001-9020 U.S. Navy Diving Manual, Volume
2.
MILPERSMAN 1410380 Military Personnel Manual
FMFM 2-2 Amphibious Reconnaissance
OPNAVINST 3150.28 Diving Reporting
TC 31-25 U.S. Army Special Forces Waterborne Operations
NAVSEA 0910-LP-234-0100 LAR V Operations and Technical
Manual
NAVSEA 4220-LL-HOT-D472 Secumar Vest Operations and
Technical Manual
MCO 3500.20 Marine Corps Parachuting and Diving Policy
and Program Administration
MCO 3501.12 Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation
MCO 3502.2 Marine Corps Special Skills Certification
Program
MCO 1510.88 Marine Corps Individual Training Standards
for Special Skills
Note: These references are not all-inclusive, however,
they are considered adequate to plan and conduct Combat
Diving Training at the unit level. Publications listed
are available through normal channels and should be
reviewed by each student prior to reporting for the
Combatant Diver Course.
SECTION V
COURSE CORE COMPETENCIES LIST
During the Combatant Diver course, each
student will perform the following tasks in accordance
with each applicable reference:
PHYSICAL TRAINING:
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PASS the entry physical
fitness test and additional physical fitness
tests, as listed in the Course Master Schedule
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PERFORM physical training
with the class as a group
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PERFORM tactical surface
swimming with and without combat equipment,
with the class as a group, while maintaining
a minimum swim speed of one (1) knot to distances
of 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 5000, and 10000
yards, arriving within 25 meters of the intended
target
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COMBAT DIVER PRINCIPLES
& FUNDAMENTALS:
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DETERMINE the effects
of a change in pressure, volume, or temperature
upon the combatant diver and his equipment
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IDENTIFY the gases,
and the gas properties that will affect the
combatant diver
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RECOGNIZE the signs
and symptoms of the injuries associated with
diving chemicals and gases
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DETERMINE the effects
of buoyancy upon a surface and subsurface
swimmer
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RECOGNIZE the signs
and symptoms of the pulmonary overinflation
syndromes
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RECOGNIZE the signs
and symptoms of decompression sickness
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RECOGNIZE the signs
and symptoms of barotrauma
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DETERMINE the effects
of the underwater environment on sound, temperature,
and visibility
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DISTINGUISH drowning
and near drowning
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RECOGNIZE the signs
and symptoms of immersion hypothermia
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PERFORM Cardio Pulmonary
Resuscitation
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PREPARE a diving casualty
for medical evacuation (MEDEVAC)
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USMC OPEN CIRCUIT
SCUBA
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APPLY without error
all terms, components, and procedures applicable
to an open circuit SCUBA dive
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PREPARE individual
diving and operational equipment for the open
circuit dive
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DON and DOFF the open
circuit diving equipment and mission essential
equipment
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EXECUTE a water entry
with open circuit SCUBA
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MAINTAIN descent and
ascent rates to a depth of 130 feet of seawater
(FSW)
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COMMUNICATE underwater
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CONDUCT buddy breathing
emergency procedures
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PERFORM buoyancy control
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CONDUCT ditch and don
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PERFORM tower phase
of submarine escape trunk lock in and lock
out operations
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CONDUCT underwater
searches
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CONDUCT operator inspection
and preventive pre and post dive maintenance
for open circuit diving equipment
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CHARGE an open circuit
dive cylinder
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USMC CLOSED CIRCUIT
OPERATIONS
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IDENTIFY the components,
capabilities, functions of the diving system
(MK-25 MOD 2)(LAR V)
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CONDUCT preventive pre
and post dive maintenance
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CHARGE a closed circuit
dive cylinder
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PREPARE individual diving
and combat equipment for the closed circuit
dive
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DON and DOFF the closed
circuit diving equipment and combat equipment
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EXECUTE a water entry
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CONDUCT a surface check
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CONDUCT closed circuit
emergency procedures
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PERFORM buoyancy control
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NAVIGATE underwater while
maintaining a swim speed of one (1) knot to
distances of 500 and 1000 yards, without breaking
the surface, arriving within 200 meters of the
intended target
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NAVIGATE underwater while
maintaining a swim speed of one (1) knot to
distances of 1500 and 2000 yards, conducting
one tactical peak, and arriving within 200 meters
of the intended target
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CONDUCT ditch and don
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NAVIGATE underwater as
a member of an infiltration team while maintaining
a swim speed of one (1) knot to a distance of
7500 yards, employing the turtleback technique
during the surface phase of the infiltration
and conducting tactical peaks as required during
the subsurface phase, while arriving within
25 yards of the intended target, remaining undetected
by observers equipped with night observation
and thermal imagery devices
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ESTABLISH radio or visual
communications with delivery vehicle
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LIST the individual weapon
and equipment preparations and steps required
to ENGAGE targets with accurate weapons fire
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SECTION VI
COURSE POINT OF CONTACT
Address questions and comments concerning
the U.S. Marine Corps Combatant Diver Course through
e-mail or phone to:
Commanding Officer
Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center
350 South Crag Road
Panama City, Florida 32407-7016
Attn: USMC Combatant Diver Course
DSN: 436-7051
Command Fax: DSN: 436-5253
COMM Numbers: (850) 230-7051 (850)235-5253
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