If they pass, then their collateral duty is to be the Swimmer for their respective vessel. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 3 How many Coast Guard rescue swimmers have died? Rescue swimmers usually are charged with the rescue, assessment, and rendering of medical aid to persons in distress in the sea, on the land, or in the air. "If I had asked any of the people I saved yesterday if they wanted to come with me even though I am unvaccinated, every single one of them would have said 'yes,'" he said. "So we fired all our current rescue swimmers and . The Coast Guard's 47-foot primary heavy-weather boat used for search and rescue as well as law enforcement and homeland security. The schooling and training is some of the most demanding you will find in any branch of the U.S. Military. On a cadet trip to Seattle on the U.S.S. Once Navy rescue swimmers have graduated 'A' School, they will go on to their respective Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS). By the time the rescue team arrived on the scene, most of the people in the . For his heroic feats during Harvey, Petty Officer 3rd Class Tyler Gantt, a Coast Guard aviation survival technician, or rescue swimmer, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross the U.S. militarys oldest aviation award for heroism in flight during a ceremony in December at the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center . The rescue swimmers for this emergency were Stuart Sterzel and Garth Eloff, both former special operators from Special Forces. Their job responsibilities are actually very similar to those that serve in the US Navy as BM's. Source: Getarchive.net. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The Coast Guard rescued a 60-year-old man who injured his back on a pleasure boat about 104 miles out at sea Sunday, flying him to Jersey Shore University Medical . PJs are an elite special operations component, engaging in combat search and rescue. Other rescue swimmers are members of the Danish Navy and operate from Westland Lynx Mk 90B helicopters based on Thetis-class ocean patrol vessels in the waters around Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and, occasionally, Iceland. I can't remember but I think he was a rescue swimmer. Crotty was captured by the Japanese and taken to Cabanatuan Prison, where he died of diphtheria. A prospective Coast Guard rescue swimmer takes off his fins after swimming laps with a 10-pound weight at the Aviation Technical Training Center on Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Dec. 18, 2019. They must meet the same intense qualifications and complete training, but there is no written rule that restricts their involvement. Rescue Swimmers with the U.S. Coast Guard must have EMT skills, and there are even higher demands for the Coast Guard Air Station in Sitka, Alaska. Its report, issued in April 2019, cited fears of sexual assault and harassment, especially in units with only one or two women assigned and units in remote, isolated environments.. Subscribe to Duffel Blog to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives. That charge of "assault . You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. An approximate 75-100 attend training for the team each year and some progress to become specialists of the unit. [8], In the JMSDF, helicopter rescue swimmers (HRS) are selected from assistant nurses and trained as both aircrew and divers. Similarly, when she prepared to deploy on a pre-Katrina Antarctic mission in late 2003, she suddenly first had to prove she could carry out equipment maintenance and repair functions. HSC-2 located in Norfolk, VA or HSC-3 located in San Diego, CA. What can you expect in terms of training and schooling to become an Aviation Survival Technician (AST)/Helicopter Rescue team member? AST2 Grant Roberts, a rescue swimmer with the Coast Guard Air Station Sitka's MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, swam up to a man clinging to a piece of debris from his sunken fishing vessel, the survivor said, "I can't believe you guys showed up. Rescue Swimmer Roster. Here is a list of 13 folks who embodied the Coast Guard ethos: 1. She was transferred to Air Station Clearwater in 2010, and by 2012, she was dealing with problems again. Qualified recruits who volunteer for rescue swimmer training are advanced to paygrade E-2 (apprentice) after successful completion of recruit training. Like Coast Guard members they perform sea-based and land-based rescues, though this portion of their duties is not assigned as frequently. There are two FRS's for AWS's. The next stop was a grunt job in 1998 at Air Station Barbers Point in Hawaii. This was attributed to their previous training and experience. A Surface Rescue Swimmer is typically attached to a United States Naval Vessel and serves as their SAR asset. Only three other women have done so since her feat in 2000. . The first female U.S. Navy rescue swimmer was HMC Catherine Elliott (Rizzo). Candidates attend a four-week Aircrew School followed by a five-week Aviation Rescue Swimming School in Pensacola, Florida. Though ASTs experience some of the most demanding schooling and training of any known U.S. Military unit, there are no reported deaths during training. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Operation Military Kids was founded to be a resource for teens and young adults who are interested in joining the military, but don't know where to begin. When she complained that she could no longer work with her rescue swim chief, she was sent for another mandated mental evaluation in 2014, on the grounds that she could not handle the stress of being a rescue swimmer. He was one of three that graduatedand for one of those guys, it was his second time . The Japanese film series Umizaru depicts the development of the main character, a coast guard officer, as a rescue swimmer. About half of prospective candidates make it to AST "A" School. You did nothing more then (sic) the people you made false accusations against, read a hostile post from a former rescue swimmer when she was honored in March 2016 by the Department of Veterans Affairs on its Facebook page. They would use her for recruiting, said Mario Vittone, a now-retired rescue swimmer who did tours in North Carolina and New Orleans and was a confidante for and mentor to Faulkner. Aviation Survival Technician (AST) is a rating or job specialty in the United States Coast Guard. When I lived in Australia in the early 80s all my neighbors and work colleagues utterly adored their In this photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer reaches a boat right before a giant wave rolled the craft at the mouth of the Columbia River in . Faulkner is retired in West Palm Beach now, volunteering at an animal rescue in Jupiter Farms. Salary Ranges for Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers The salaries of Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers in the US range from $18,477 to $485,361 , with a median salary of $88,722 . Please. The Coast Guards history is filled with ordinary men who rose to the challenges presented byextraordinary circumstances. The middle 57% of Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers makes between $88,727 and $220,646, with the top 86% making $485,361. Things got better when she returned to the West Coast in 2006 as a San Diego-based recruiter, away from the testosterone-driven command structure for rescue swimmers. The water-entry shock was reduced only by their succeeding in entering the water at an optimal entry angle despite the high wind and an unstable exit platform. The average salary for a Rescue Swimmer is $52,398 per year in United States, which is 0% lower than the average US Navy salary of $52,781 per year for this job. The success of the rescue was credited to the rescue rehearsal carried out on the day before the event, which was also televised worldwide as it happened. They are trained as combatants and paramedics, operating on air, sea, and land, and are considered, along with Air Force combat controllers, among the most elite of the U.S. military's Special Operations forces. I got bombarded by them afterwards, she said. 5 Is the Coast Guards rescue swimmer training school the highest attrition rate? Some coast-based rescue swimmers with high-speed boats are stationed around the coasts of Denmark. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers attend a one-week Advanced Helicopter Rescue School (AHRS) at Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment in Washington. Here are some frequently asked questions. That supervisor, Albert Amescua, denied the allegations. Who is the most decorated Coast Guard rescue swimmer? 160th SOAR(A) has had personnel complete the course. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Royal Canadian Air Force Search and Rescue Technicians (SAR TECHs) serve as rescue swimmers. They also serve a variety of other purposes that are not nearly as romanticized, including: Becoming a U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer is considered by many one of the hardest things one can do in the US military. They also continue to train after receiving a position on the specialist team in order to stay sharp on skills already learned, as well as develop new ones. You are nothing more then (sic) a rescue swimmer with a vagina. This Coast Guard rescue swimmer saved 9 people in disabled boat from freezing to death. Romeos and Sierras break apart during 'A' school and they begin to learn more specific parts of their jobs. On the History Channel reality show Top Shot, one of the marksmen is U.S. Navy rescue swimmer Jamie Franks. Prospective U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmers are physically conditioned to meet high physical fitness standards. In 2002, Faulkner won transfer to the Coast Guard's Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama, and she was deployed there as one of 20 swimmers involved in rescues along the Gulf of Mexico. Country music star Brad Paisley is not one to shy away from supporting the military. ELON MUSK READJUSTS STARLINK SATELLITES TO SUPPORT FLORIDA AFTER HURRICANE IAN, "President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with Lieutenant Commander Christopher Hooper and Aviation Survival Technician Second Class Zach Loesch to personally thank them for the heroic work that they and their Coast Guard colleagues have performed during search and rescue operations in response to Hurricane Ian," the press release said. During war, they rescue downed pilots, special-operations troops left behind, and other stranded military men and women. During the evacuation, he was fatally wounded, but his last words were, Did they get off?. Two women had trained at the Navys rescue swimmer program, but Faulkner was the first to pass the testing program in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. You can expect to push your body to the limits yet not fear being in danger of dying. In addition to EMT training, ASTs are required to attend a one-week Advanced Helicopter Rescue School (AHRS) at a station in Washington. It is my recommendation that a change in her work environment would be beneficial for her and aid in the improvement of her condition, wrote Dr. Ashok Patel in February 2013. This estimate is based upon 5 US Navy Rescue Swimmer salary report (s) provided by employees or estimated based upon statistical methods. After graduating from Rescue swimmer school (RSS), students go on to their respective 'A' School, also in Pensacola, Florida. It was reported that in the first five days following Katrina, Coast Guard crews performed more than 33,500 rescue and hoist operations of Katrina victims stranded on rooftops and in flood water. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. In April 2004, Bruckenthal and a teamincluding Navy and Coast Guard personnel intercepteda small dhowin the North Arabian Gulf. The Coast Guards Facebook account posted a smiling photo of Faulkner, congratulating her on hanging up her fins. There, she transitioned from land operations to airman status, learning to refuel and tow aircraft. His performances have proved that he can not only handle saving the lives of those in distress at sea, but he also has the sufficient propulsion to make it to the next distress call. However, the training sessions are still highly controlled and closely monitored. Once stationed at a Coast Guard Air Station, apprentice ASTs must complete 6 months of qualification on their respective airframe before moving on to finish their rescue swimmer syllabus and becoming journeymen. Arguably the most widely recognized team of rescue-swimmer operators, the elite United States Coast Guard Aviation Survival Technician (AST)/Helicopter Rescue Swimmer team is called upon to respond in the most extreme rescue situations. Those who have been involuntarily separated from service receive a general discharge and are still entitled to benefits, with the opportunity to rejoin the military if they get the vaccine, according to the Military Times. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Where do Coast Guard rescue swimmers get stationed? We are extremely proud of the service Ms. Faulkner provided throughout the course of her historic and heroic career., Related: The Pentagon hasnt delivered on its promises to combat sexual harassment and assault in the ranks, GAO says. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Faulkner was sent for another mental evaluation, against her will, which like the first identified her problems not as a personality disorder but rather as stemming from what she and others felt was a hostile workplace. Aug 25, 2016. Related: COAST GUARD BOOT CAMP: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW The time before getting recognized as an official member of the unit is long. The primary job of a surface rescue swimmer is whatever they enlisted as. The report found that the retention rate for female enlistees was 12 percentage points lower than the rate for males after 10 years in the Coast Guard, and only 5% of women enlistees serve 25 years and retire. (NOAA/Flickr) 5. During a summer Sea Cadets mission, a Navy youth program, she met a Coast Guard swimmer who said there were no female rescue swimmers and probably never would be. She had recently read Dr. Laura Schlessinger's Ten Stupid Things Women Do To Mess Up Their Lives, one of which, according to Karen was, "following their husbands around . They must also be able to function for 30 minutes in heavy seas. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers have been called upon in emergency situations such as natural disasters involving heavy flooding or hurricanes in the past. It was a pattern throughout her 20 years. In order to qualify to even start selection as a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, there are some basic requirements you need to consider. Senior Chief Aviation Survival Technician Benjamin "Ben" Randall, USCG (MIA, 2006) Rescue swimmer, CGAS Kodiak (2006-September 29, 2006, MIA) Kevin Costner: The Guardian Distinguished Flying Cross, w/2 gold award stars (3rd award) Coast Guard Medal Gold Lifesaving Medal Meritorious Service Medal, w/2 gold award stars (3rd award) and "O" device Air Medal, w/2 gold award stars (3rd . In a readout of Biden's call with Loesch and the other service members, the White House said, "The President thanked them for saving lives and asked for a report on the work that continues to . Navy air rescue swimmers were recently split into two separate ratings; Naval Aircrewman Helicopter (AWS) and Naval Aircrewman Tactical Helicopter (AWR). These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. [7], The first female to graduate from the Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue School was Sara Faulkner. Trainees are introduced to extreme water drills and classroom instruction. I dont know how many times he smacked my ass I cant even count them and hard in front of the guys, she recalled. In it, we see just how absurdly brave . Managed an annual food budget of $365,000. What does a Coast Guard rescue swimmer make? Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. . Most candidates spend a minimum of four to six months before progressing to AST school. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. After several different positions in the Pacific Theater, Crotty found himself attached the Marine Corps Fourth Regiment, First Battalion, as the Japanese forces attacked the last American stronghold. The CG was America's first afloat armed force. She was also one of four rescue swimmers assigned to special polar ice breakers deployed to Antarctica. In the JCG, divers (, Sensui-shi) have been conducting public safety diving. [2] Prospective U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmers are physically conditioned to meet high physical fitness standards. In late 2001, after being labeled a problem by superiors for seeking an end to what she said was sexual harassment, she was sent by the Coast Guard for a mental evaluation. I made sure I had extra gas in the tank for when they did screw with me.. The actress who played the main character in the live-action film based on the same work, Yuko Takayama, was the orphan of an Air Self-Defense Force medic who was killed in the line of duty. A rescue swimmer saves Tom Cruise's character Maverick in Top Gun. High seas, medical evacuations, downed aviators, sinking vessels, and hurricanes are some of the deadly scenarios that Coast Guard rescue swimmers are trained to handle. U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmers attracted international attention during the rescue operations following Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Louisiana, and surrounding areas. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER, "It just sucks that he thanked me, yet the vaccine mandate is what's kicking me out," he said. Swimmers will get pushed to their limits, showing survival skills while holding breath underwater and dealing with powerful water that can include waves as high as 10 to 20 feet. Aviation Survival Technicians (AST)/Helicopter Rescue Swimmers, as they are more technically called by the U.S. Coast Guard, are called upon in extreme rescue situations. Do you have more questions about joining the U.S. Coast Guard as an Aviation Survival Technicians (AST)/Helicopter Rescue Swimmer? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. As the years passed and he entered the University of Iowa as a biochemical engineering major, he also avoided the pool. How do you find the probability of union of two events if two events have no elements in common? Being retired now, this is why I stuck it out for 20 years, get to the finish line so I can go save animals!. Supervised 30 food service attendants. Faulkner eventually won that fight to remain in the Coast Guard. Who is the most decorated Coast Guard rescue swimmer? Your email address will not be published. A congressional hearing Wednesday on sexual harassment, assault and bullying in the military spotlighted how the Defense Department and the Coast Guard continue to fail to protect women service members from abuse often by superiors. Those are the kind of things she faced every day in the rescue-swimmer world, said Peterson, who retired in 2011 as a master chief, the highest enlisted rank. Rescue swimmers at Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, Alaska, must maintain the EMT-Intermediate level of proficiency due to the remoteness of their operational area and the number of medical evacuations performed by that unit each year. The White House publicized the call in a press release and Biden himself bragged about calling him. To become a Surface Rescue Swimmer you must be able to perform physically. However, there are many other benefits to serving the U.S. Military that your typical job does not cover. These animals give me a lot of joy being an EMT has transferred over to some of the emergencies weve had, Faulkner said. They are also expected to know various in-flight procedures, such as hoist-operating procedures and in-flight trouble-shooting. It helps gauge how candidates can do under very stressful circumstances. Anywhere from 50% to 80% of those tested failed. Women are allowed to join the U.S. Coast Guard as rescue swimmers. She had to find a lawyer just to stay in long enough to collect her full retirement. The U.S. Coast Guard is not the only branch of the U.S. Military that has its own rescue swimmers. For his heroic feats during Harvey, Petty Officer 3rd Class Tyler Gantt, a Coast Guard aviation survival technician, or rescue swimmer, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross the U.S. militarys oldest aviation award for heroism in flight during a ceremony in December at the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center . The first female Coast Guard rescue swimmer was Kelly Mogk Larson, who joined the Coast Guard in 1984 and later became the first woman to complete Navy Rescue Swimmer School, on May 23, 1986. Your email address will not be published. It's funny because I remember hearing news about the Coast Guard come on the television and I would always tell my family to be quiet so I could listen. "If you want to be a real rescue swimmer," they said, "join the Coast Guard." 1 Stretching thin a workforce that operates under some of the most demanding conditions is a recipe for unnecessary injury or even loss of life. AHRS is considered the premier helicopter-rescue training school of its kind by most military and civilian rescue operators.[3]. "Its been an emotional journey from being the best Olympian tha. Living by the motto, So others may live, rescue swimmers put their skills to the test for others each time they leap into the sea. Salary Ranges for Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers The salaries of Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers in the US range from $18,477 to $485,361 , with a median salary of $88,722 . These swimmers deploy only from ships and boats, and are tethered to a line handler stationed on board the vessel. Which rating a rescue swimmer attains depends on what type of helicopter they are to become qualified in. 8 Did Ashton Kutcher really swim in the Guardian? Until 'A' School, the training has been identical. Faulkner said it was well-known that the instructors at the North Carolina school were waiting to pounce on anyones slightest failure. The rescue took place in extremely dangerous conditions in the North Atlantic, with the downed pilot being located in less than 15 minutes after his ditched entry into the ocean, in an area where the average time for locating a person in the water is four hours. 6 Is it hard to become a rescue swimmer in the military? To reach . Despite the plaudits, Loesch told Breibert News that in 30-60 days, he will be removed from the military after Biden expressed his intent to approve a mandate making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for service members in August last year. In January 2021, Carlson was on duty when an alarm went off regarding a disabled panga boat more than 100 miles offshore. Related: COAST GUARD BOOT CAMP: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW Tragically, 11 died, but over 100 survived. This immediately made her a target to other rescue swimmers as a whistle blower that broke the code of silence. Reportedly, only 75100 Coast Guard personnel attend the school each year. From what I remember as a child, there was a gentleman who went to my church who was in the Coast Guard. The premier helicopter-rescue training allows ASTs to interact with rescue swimmers from the other branches of the U.S. Military. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. If a member refuses to get vaccinated, absent of a medical or religious exemption, it can result in "punitive and/or administrative action, including initiation of discharge proceedings.". This is what makes a Rescue Swimmer a part of the Special Operations force of the United States Navy. Anthony Russell, said absent a privacy waiver that Faulkner was not willing to give, he could not discuss details of Faulkners allegations. Carlson, 30, who saved the lives of nine people suffering from hypothermia in a migrant vessel off the coast of Southern California, has been selected as Military Times' 2022 Coast Guardsman of the Year. But this tiny cadre of athletes, typically numbering between 300 and 400, conduct some of the highest risk, highest-stakes rescues around the world. In the U.S. Coast Guard, more than 2,500 members are on-record for refusing . The cowards who allowed and enabled this injustice must be held to account.. The rescue of the crew of the SS Pendleton in the icy waters offshore of Chatham, Cape Cod, Mass. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. To qualify for Rescue Swimmer Training, both men and women must: Rest 10 minutes Perform at least 42 push-ups in 2 minutes, Rest 2 minutes Perform at least 50 sit-ups in 2 minutes, Rest 2 minutes Perform at least 4 pull-ups in 2 minutes, Rest 10 minutes Run 1.5 miles in 12 minutes or less. After enduring abuse for about a year, she said she complained in 2001, and from that point forward felt her career and self-esteem suffered. It is a risky and challenging job, yet also comes with the opportunity to save lives. "The President thanked them for saving lives and asked for a report on the work that continues to rescue Floridians. The Coast Guard holds a one-week Advanced Helicopter Rescue School (AHRS, formerly known as Advanced Rescue Swimmer School) at Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment, Washington, which is host to Air Force pararescuemen (PJs), Navy rescue swimmers, and foreign rescue departments as well. 2:28. It does not store any personal data. Rescue swimmer is a designation given to rescue specialists, most commonly in the service of the military. Bruckenthal later died from his injuries, the first Coast Guard war casualty since the Vietnam War. The bottom line is she shouldnt have had to hire a civilian attorney to act as her advocate to get help, said Larry Youngner, a retired Air Force colonel and lawyer who took her issue to Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Coast Guard should have been training and preparing small unit leaders to be proactive., Another colleague from Mobile, now-retired Mark Sargent, stood up for her and provided a written character reference as she fought attempts to discharge her in 2014. You may have become inspired by the heroics that are reenacted on TV or in movies. One of them rescued a guy who became incapacitated on a huge radio transmitter due to RF exposure. In this photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer reaches a boat right before a giant wave rolled the craft at the mouth of the Columbia River in . She has been through a lot in her Coast Guard career to include heroic acts that I have witnessed in which her life has been in direct danger multiple times.. What is the salary of a Coast Guard rescue swimmer? Who is the most decorated Coast Guard rescue swimmer? JUPITER, Fla. Sara Faulkner had the it factor as the first woman to graduate from the Coast Guards helicopter rescue swimmer school in North Carolina and join its elite group of swimmers. While Katrina brought domestic and international news coverage to Coast Guard rescue swimmers and their crews, their story was first shown on television in a series of 1999 specials on Discovery Channel, Coast Guard: Rescue Swimmers and Coast Guard: Helicopters to the Rescue. They jump into the water from helicopters or planes and then swim into burning ships or complicated, underwater cave systems. For this reason, one could argue the time commitment is a little more demanding than U.S. Coast Guard standards. E-8 - Master sergeants/First sergeants/Senior chief petty officers/Senior master sergeants, Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Coast Guard), Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation, Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon, Navy/Coast Guard Expert Pistol Shot Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, w/2 gold award stars (3, Meritorious Service Medal, w/2 gold award stars (3, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, w/4 gold award stars (5, Coast Guard Achievement Medal, w/2 gold award stars (3, Commandant's Letter of Commendation, w/3 gold award stars (4, Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation, w/"hurricane symbol", Coast Guard Unit Commendation, w/3 gold award stars (4, Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation, w/2 gold award stars (3, Meritorious Team Commendation, w/2 gold award stars (3, Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal, w/1 silver service star (6, National Defense Service Medal, w/1 bronze service star (2, Humanitarian Service Medal, w/3 bronze service stars (4, Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon, w/2 bronze service stars (3. I always admired him and his job. By Associated Press. It is a good baseline for what you can expect as an AST. AWS crewmen work with joint forces such as Navy SEALS, Navy EOD, MARSOC, and other special warfare units.