NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY PANAMA CITY, Florida —
Graduates of the Air Pressure Fight Dive Course, Class 22-6, are the primary to obtain the brand new Air Pressure fight dive badge upon commencement Oct. 20, 2022.
For Class 22-6, incomes the Air Pressure Fight Dive Badge is the fruits of six weeks of rigorous work on the AFCDC however for members of the Particular Warfare Coaching Wing who designed the brand new badge, that is the fruits of greater than two years of labor.
“I’m extremely pleased with our teammates who designed the badge and labored to workers it for approval, particularly Senior Grasp Sgt. Chris Freeman, who stored this endeavor shifting ahead,” stated Maj. Jordan Nichols, 350th Particular Warfare Coaching Squadron, Detachment One commander, who oversees the AFCDC. “The brand new badge is symbolic of what Air Pressure fight divers should be able to execute within the operational atmosphere, particularly underwater tactical diving for insertion, extraction, and maritime rescue and restoration operations.”
Earlier than the AFCDC was established in 2006, Air Pressure Particular Warfare trainees attended the U.S. Army Fight Diver Qualification Course or the U.S. Marine Fight Diver Course to earn the U.S. Particular Operations Command combatant diver qualification, the place they had been awarded the Navy Scuba qualification and badge upon completion, which symbolize a special skillset from these of AF fight divers.
“The AF fight dive functionality is essential for the longer term battle,” stated Nichols. As we glance towards strategic competitors within the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command space of duty, the AF fight diver position turns into magnified as a result of big swaths of that area are coated with water.”
The AFCDC is required for all pararescue, particular reconnaissance, fight management, fight rescue officer and particular techniques officer candidates. Airmen in these profession fields typically connect to sister-service Particular Operations Forces groups and interoperate seamlessly in fight and austere diving missions.
The AFCDC teaches trainees diving fundamentals by way of open-circuit, self-contained underwater respiratory equipment and closed-circuit, underwater respiratory equipment proficiencies together with fundamental diving, superior rescue diving rules and superior fight diving fundamentals. Airmen who’ve accomplished each the open and closed-circuit parts of the AFCDC are licensed to put on the brand new Air Pressure Fight Dive Badge.
Members of the SWTW present preliminary coaching for all U.S. Air Pressure Particular Warfare coaching specialties, to incorporate fight controllers, pararescue, particular reconnaissance and tactical air management social gathering Airmen.
To study extra about AFSPECWAR Airmen or different U.S. Air Pressure Particular Operations profession alternatives, go to: https://www.airforce.com/careers/in-demand-careers/special-warfare.
