what do i have to do for the flight physical? someone on here told me I would need to do well on that to get to ast school. what is the physical all about?
also I was wondering if I should prepare with just swimming. I've been surfing most of my life and I fight regularly on a ji-jiutsu / muay thai fight team and was worried I don't spend enough time swimming. My freestyle stroke is mediocre and this past week I've been working to correct it. I am a really strong swimmer otherwise and run frequently. give me some tips guys

I believe the physical you get at MEPS is an entrance physical only. One of the things you need to fly is an Aircrew Candidate Physical (ACC). Everyone coming into aviation has to get one. Then every 2 years thereafter you will get another flt physical. Prior to entering the Airman Program is when you will get your first ACC flt physical.

If you want to be an AST bad enough, stick with it and you'll make it. I read your post on the other thread. It's not only swimming but being comfortable in all types/temps of water, day and night. One of the other guys can offer their expertise on the particulars and psyhcology that goes into it.

I'm an AMT but I would offer as the bottomline.....get your mind and heart right and don't ever quit. AST A school is challenging, but you can do it with the proper attitude and mindset.

Good luck!

do you know anyone I could talk to about this?
Physically, I'm very fit and work out regularly.
do you know of any books I could read to get me mentally prepared?
When it comes to this kind of stuff I'm my own worst enemy and it would be nice to get my mind right before going out for AST. I got my heart set on AST and it's the whole reason I'm joining so quitting is not an option for me.
Help me out with the mental game

quote:

Originally posted by 16509105:
do you know anyone I could talk to about this?
Physically, I'm very fit and work out regularly.
do you know of any books I could read to get me mentally prepared?
When it comes to this kind of stuff I'm my own worst enemy and it would be nice to get my mind right before going out for AST. I got my heart set on AST and it's the whole reason I'm joining so quitting is not an option for me.
Help me out with the mental game

1. Did you watch the Guardian movie? Most of those AST instructers are/were active duty. They were for real. Only one that I know of was not a Coastie.

2. First, get in the CG. Second, apply for the AST A school. While you are waiting you'll likely be sent a unit where the CG needs you. It could be a ship, boat station, ATON team, or maybe an air station. Learn to be patient while watching your name move up on the A school list. Your turn will eventually come.

3. Once you name comes up, you will receive orders to an airstation to enter the Airman Program. That's where your aviation and AST training begin. You will get a mentor assigned to you. Listen to and do exactly what you are told. You will be getting light to moderate PT and plenty of swim training. This is by design. If you over exert yourself trying to show-off and get injured, that is not good. You must report to A school in Elizabeth City without injuries. Do not try to cover them up because they will resurface in A school. If you're injured there, that can get you rephased or disenrolled. Neither are good.

4. For the mental part, we have alot of AST's on this forum. They can tell you what it takes on a personal level better than I can. Maybe one will share some wisdom on the mental requirements.

5. One last thing.....you are going to A school to learn how to be an Aviation Survival TECHNICIAN. Acquiring a Rescue Swimmer qualification is just one part of being an AST. Aside from maintaining your fitness and swim proficiency, you will be fixing/repairing survival gear/aircraft and standing duty. The same applies to the AET's and AMT's. Your aircrew qual is just one aspect of your CG job. Do not expect to be in the pool or gym 24/7. You have to fix the planes and gear first before you can use or fly on them. That's why we are all "technicians" first, swimmers and flt mechs second.

Good luck.....

thank for clearing all that up for me.
I wasn't exactly sure how the process went, I just had a vague understanding of the airman program and what follows it.
do you know how you get to be the guy jumping out of the helo?

I am pretty sure it is just a doctor's visit to make sure you don't have any underlying conditions that could become problem when flying at high altitudes when your body is under stress

The guy who jumps out of the helicopter is know as the Aviation Survival Technician (AST), or more commonly, the Rescue Swimmer.

The United States Coast Guard support and maintain personnel in the Aviation Survival Specialty. The position of Aviation Survival Rescue swimmer is the position that works to provide rescues from Coast Guard Aircraft and small boats. They often are required to venture into water to swim in order to perform rescues. They are used to provide emergency medical assistance and a variety of dangerous rescue situations. Some of these take place from dangerous places on shore, or at sea, or even from cliffs that overlook the ocean.

Members of the USCG Aviation Survivalist rating work as aviation crewmembers, and they are sometimes cross trained as Emergency Medical Technicians. By training their AST crewmembers as EMT Basic technicians the Coast Guard prepares them to perform emergency medical procedures on persons that need assistance. Many people that the Coast Guard Rescue have hypothermia, or are otherwise injured, and with medical training the AST survivalist is poised to help. Working as a Coast Guard Aviation Survivalist and Rescue Swimmer you will have the opportunity to train and assist other aviators in the swimming portion of aircrew training. You will serve as an instructor to aviators and aircrew in survival training, and training in aviation egress and water survival techniques. You will work in areas as HC-130 Dropmaster, Aviation Systems Operator, or even a Falcon HU-25A aerial Dropmaster. Serving in the Coast Guard is an exciting job, and being a member of the oldest continuous Seagoing Service gives a person the chance to deal with a wide variety of personnel. You will learn to operate and maintain parachute systems, cargo delivery systems, flotation and helicopter flotation devices, as well as oxygen systems and air sea rescue events. You will also be trained in using specialized protective clothing.

I don't mean to scare you, but if you wouldn't enjoy your time in as something other than an AST, get your flight physical before you sign or take EVERY part of the physical that you can before hand. I did fine on the ASVAB, was one of the top candidates at my office, went to MEPS, everything cleared. 20/20 vision uncorrected. But my recruiter was awesome enough to get me a flight physical before i signed everything. Well first thing on the physical is the eye test. Within 10 mins I was shown the door. I couldn't pass the depth perception test. I had no prior knowledge of this. I've played sports all my life. I couldn't believe it. There is no waiver for this test. The great irony in this is that my new job relies upon me to judge how far away I am from different docks, boats, and barges with the safety of crews and $1,000,000's of dollars of possible damages.