August 20, 2026: USMC Water Survival Program updates
Good Afternoon & Happy Thursday,
I'm coming to you a day late, but hopefully not a dollar short! Today I want to dig into the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Water Survival Program and the new updates coming into effect October 1, 2026. I first mentioned this in the August 5 newsletter: Marine Corps Officially Raises Swim Standards for All Marines Starting Oct. 1 This is both for new recruits and retraining existing service members to achieve one of five competency standards: Basic, Novice, Competent, Proficient, and Advanced.
The reason I find this interesting is because the USMC is the smallest service branch, but consistently has the highest number of drowning fatalities per capita, whether during official training exercises or deployments. This dates back as far as 1956 to the Ribbon Creek Incident, a 2008 acknowledgement that recruits need more "water confidence," and culminating in a horrific amphibious vehicle incident in 2020.
Here's a few sources for background:
(For your knowledge, Stars & Stripes; Military Times & Military.com publications are considered the gold standard for US armed service reporting.)
The Marine Corps has a swimming problem. Is there a plan to fix it?
Faulty Equipment, Lapsed Training, Repeated Warnings: How a Preventable Disaster Killed Six Marines
US Marine declared dead after being lost at sea during training operations in Southern California *I realize suicide cannot be ruled out.
Marine recruiter drowns in river during physical fitness training
Marine officer stripped of command after soldier drowns at Camp Pendleton
Marines order formal investigation into drowning
Families React to Verdict in Recruit Drowning
Marines aim to stem tide of drowning deaths with ocean-safety expos in Okinawa, Hawaii
Note: these are only official sources on drowning fatalities in duty work, I'm not even talking about non-fatal drownings or incidents in off-duty settings.
What makes this problem interesting to me as an aquatic professional is that marines, by their very definition "are known as amphibious warriors based on their ability to assault fortified islands by sea," so doing something differently is a long time coming. I'm not suggesting these program updates are perfect, but I do want to highlight the lengths the USMC appears to have gone to moving the conversation (if not the needle - only time will tell) in the right direction.
Check out the incredible new website (above) that includes 10 pages of embedded videos for every single skill and rescue (some up to 10 minutes in length), going far beyond the old standard document with 90s graphics. As with anything military, there's also a detailed IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE FOR MCO 1500.52E MARINE CORPS WATER SURVIVAL PROGRAM AND CANCELLATION OF MCO 1500.52D
This official chart summarizes the changes, so you can decide for yourself, but I personally love to see the variety of skills discussed including elementary backstroke (!) for weak and non-swimmers.
Here's everything else happening in the aquatic industry this week that I think you should be aware of!
New details emerge in IRONMAN Texas athlete's death in April 2026
Not clickbait - she had an enlarged heart & "minor" arterial abnormality.
Village Square’s Thunder Run slide to have goodbye party
I'll be checking this out, for sure.
Vortex and Aquatec Announce Partnership for the Cruise Industry
The great digital fatigue: How digital burnout is changing social media use
If you are responsible for social media for your aquatic facility or work unit, this is the most accurate pronouncement on the state of social media I've read in a while.
Building Canada Strong for All: The Camp Sector as Essential Infrastructure for Youth, Workforce, and Resilience.
Last week, The New York Time's Canada Newsletter spoke about summer camps (the newsletter is very hit or miss, so don't feel you have to subscribe). It gives a great primer on the role summer camp has within Canadian culture. I'm linking to a great initiative from the Canadian Camping Association (CCA) to the federal government:
"Recommendation 2: That the government amend the Child Care Expense Deduction to provide equitable access to tax exemptions for the foundational first week of overnight camp programs."
Shorewood Hills pool reopens after employee arrested on child pornography allegations
At least 2 near-drownings at Salem's Kroc Center leave parents fuming
I'm not saying it's acceptable for a swim instructor to have two incidents like this in a short time frame, but I also think it's a lot to involve the public/parents (even when their children were impacted by the employee) in the discussion or performance management.
Meta glasses banned from courts in England and Wales
Meta AI glasses face criminal complaint in Germany
Teen drowns at New York City beach after mom says he urged lifeguards to save friend
Former College Swimmer and Dad of 5 Died While Practicing Holding His Breath, Autopsy Finds
Hialeah council demands accountability, transparency from Calvo after state closes pools
‘In the heatwaves, it’s crucial’: the fight to save France’s rural swimming pools
"But France’s ageing rural swimming pools, many of which were built in 1970s, are in crisis as village mayors with shrinking budgets struggle to pay the high running costs and some pools are forced to close owing to lack of funds."
Missing Link: Chlorine-free nature pool thanks to technology
Very popular in Europe!
Rehoboth's oldest rookie lifeguard: Lawyer takes break to patrol beach at 42
Cost-benefit analysis of universal pool fencing for Texas households with young children
"With 76% fence effectiveness and 38% current fence coverage, an estimated 174 drownings could be prevented annually. The average cost per drowning is $337,435 (direct medical: $60,860; lifetime indirect: $276,575)."
$60 Million Arizona Wave Pool Wipes Out As Partner Kicks Out
Thanks for reading & see you next week.
Katie Crysdale
Lakeview Aquatic Consultants Ltd.
PS. Last week's YouTube Live chat is posted here.
No AI tools were used to research, consolidate, format or write any portion of this newsletter.