Wednesday, July 9, 2003
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Wednesday, July 9, 2003 |
PTC recruit still critical after injury during Marine swim qualificationBy JOHN
MUNFORD
A Marine recruit from Peachtree City was still in critical condition Tuesday, over a week after he was injured while participating in swimming qualification during training lt Parris Island, S.C. Joshua D. Issac, 19, had difficulty swimming to the side of the pool after completing one portion of the qualification Monday, June 30, according to a news release from the Marine Corps. Pool staff removed him from the water and began performing CPR, officials said. Issac was taken to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston where he is currently being treated. An investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the incident is being conducted, according to the Marine Corps. Issac is a volunteer firefighter with the Peachtree City Fire Department and participated in the department's Explorer program.He had taken a leave of absence to attend the Marine recruit training. A sign on one of the fire department's entries in the July 4th parade indicated their support for Issac, who has been called a motivated person by Sgt. John Dunlap, who worked with him through the Explorer post. "If anybody is capable of bouncing back from something like this, it's Josh," Dunlap said. News of the incident came as a shock to the Explorer troop, particularly those who know Issac, Dunlap added. "Our thoughts and prayers are with this young man and his family," said Lt. Col. Patrick J. Campbell, commanding officer of the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion. Issac began training June 3 as a member of Fox Company. Capt. Jennifer Radcliff of the Marine Corps public affairs office Radcliff said Issac was participating in a qualification called Combat Water Survival 4. According to Radcliff, the qualification has four parts, all of which are required to receive the certification including: A 25-meter shallow water swim. Jumping off a 10-foot tower into the pool and swimming directly to the side. Treading water for four minutes (recruits can inflate their blouse or float also to qualify). A 25-meter deep-water swim without gear or boots. Recruits just wear their camouflage shirts and trousers. Swim qualification for recruits takes place during the fifth week of recruit training and it must be completed for a recruit to graduate from training. All Marines must maintain a level of swim qualification as part of their annual training requirements since most Marines will be stationed aboard a Naval vessel at some point in their career.
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