There are several reasons to consider joining the Army’s underwater army. These reasons include Da Vinci’s underwater army to the most rigorous course for combat divers of the Army. You can even train with dolphins! Here are five reasons why you should join the Army's underwater army. This is the best way for combat divers to get certified.
Da Vinci’s underwater army
Leonardo da Vinci created the diving suit. It was a device that could have helped Venice defeat the Ottoman navy around the 16th century. The Mediterranean Coast was at that time in turmoil, embroiled in a series international border disputes and even a full-scale conflict.
Leonardo da Vinci, a Renaissance artist, was fascinated by the underwater world. He envisioned a diving army to repel invasions of enemy ships. They would be equipped with diving gear to make holes in enemy ships' hulls. Although this plan didn't materialize, the underwater army that he created may have inspired the first scuba equipment.
Special Forces dive school in Florida Keys
If you're interested joining the military, and would like to learn how you can conduct covert missions under water, then you could enroll in a Special Forces combat diver school in the Florida Keys. The course teaches you how to use closed-circuit, heavy dive equipment. These equipments produce no bubbles, which makes them perfect for covert missions. During the training, students will be taught how to use a'mixed gas' system, such as a Draeger LAR-V, which recycles the'mixed gases' that a diver exhales back into the cylinder. The course will teach students about diving physics as well as physiology. They will also learn how to treat a diver's injuries if they occur while underwater.
The water around the Florida Keys is home to one of the U.S. Army's only Special Forces Underwater Operations school, or SFUWO, in the U.S. Army's Southeast Command. Since the 1960s, the facility has been operating in the Keys. Combat diving training also teaches students how the seafloor can be navigated. This training is important because a contractor once dug up munitions from the Civil War in the area. SFUWO divers were then joined by the NOAA Blue Star program which seeks to protect the marine environment against harmful materials.
Combat divers in the Army face the most difficult task
The combat diver qualification course focuses on tactical aspects of combat diving. The Mark 25 Draeger Oxygen Rebreather closed-circuit underwater breath apparatus is taught. Combat divers are also taught how to navigate the oceans, perform various extraction and insertion strategies. This course is typically the most difficult for combat divers.
Falkenstine successfully completed the seven-week Combat Diver Qualification Course and was then invited to return to the supervisor course. This allows them to supervise combat dive operations. Combat diving requires physical strength, but also mental challenges. Falkenstine states that although the training is very difficult, it is an honor to be part of such an elite club. She says she finds the camaraderie among combat divers to be unmatched.
Training with dolphins
A dolphin-powered underwater army isn't a new concept. The Soviet Union used dolphins to train their sailors. It also uses seals, and other marine mammals in its training program. Although the Soviet Union collapsed the program, the Ukrainian navy revived the training program several years ago.
Dolphins can dive and swim faster than humans. They can also dive without suffering from decompression sickness, making them excellent patrol animals. The ethical issues surrounding the use of dolphins for weapons are still present. Animal rights activists have long called to end this program.
The dangers of diving in Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico was contaminated by oil leaking into it, leaving behind brown liquid and volatile, flammable gasses. These chemicals are dangerous to marine life and the people who work on the frontlines of cleanup. Avoid oily areas when diving in the Gulf of Mexico.
Despite the fact that commercial divers are equipped with sophisticated breathing equipment, the aquatic environment is still extremely challenging. The water is extremely cold and the currents can be turbulent. Visibility is also often poor. Divers should also watch out for mud and sandy, sharks, and stinging flora. Additionally, they may be exposed to high baric pressure which can lead to death.