The Effect of a Surface Combat Swimming Training Program on Swimming Performance.

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Sports Science
• Military Training

Background:

• Military personnel require specialized aquatic skills for operational effectiveness.
• Surface combat swimming (sCS) training is a critical component of naval and special forces preparation.
• Understanding training adaptations in sCS is crucial for optimizing performance under diverse conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of a 4-week surface combat swimming (sCS) training program on freestyle swimming and sCS performance.
• To compare the effects of training with a swimsuit and fins versus training with combat uniform and equipment.
• To determine if training adaptations are specific to the activity and the operational conditions, including equipment.

Main Methods:

• Forty-five officer cadets were assigned to a control group, a swimsuit and fins (SF) group, or a uniform and equipment (UE) group.
• The SF and UE groups underwent a 60-minute sCS training program four times per week for four weeks.
• Performance was assessed pre- and post-training in freestyle swimming (4x50m, 400m) and sCS events (250m UE, 350m SF, 300m swimsuit).

Main Results:

• The UE group demonstrated significant improvements in 4x50m freestyle (p<0.01) and 250m sCS with uniform and equipment (p<0.01).
• Both SF and UE groups showed significant enhancements in 300m sCS, 350m sCS with fins, and 400m freestyle performance (p<0.05).
• Training adaptations were observed to be specific to the mode of training and the associated equipment.

Conclusions:

• Surface combat swimming training enhances both general swimming and specialized sCS capabilities.
• Training under simulated operational conditions, including combat uniform and equipment, leads to superior performance adaptations.
• Aquatic training specificity extends to the environmental and equipment factors encountered during real-world operations.