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We are nearing the end of our training! Week 25 started at Camp Grayling, the National Guard’s largest training facility in the country. Camp Grayling’s location on Lake Margrethe makes it an ideal location for marine training, which was the focus this week.
Photo caption: Recruits took turns operating through various courses that were set up with buoys.
Our first day involved mostly classroom time. We went over topics like marine safety, maintenance and inspections, navigational aids and more. As always, safety is key when it comes to boating because being on the water poses unique challenges and risks. Our marine instructors, who have decades of combined experience, were able to provide us with the knowledge we need to safely operate vessels.
The next three days were spent on Lake Margrethe, where multiple courses had been set up for the class to practice different maneuvers. Some of the courses were meant to be done at full speed, while others were intended for a slower pace, which required patience to complete. A significant portion of marine patrols involves pulling alongside other boats and docks to conduct safety inspections and fish checks, so there was an emphasis on perfecting that part of the training. The class also trained on how to rescue people who have fallen overboard, as well as how to self-rescue. For some, this part of the training involved going for a swim. As always, the class was evaluated at the end of the week and everyone passed.
Photo caption: Navigating wind and rain conditions provided recruits with good, real-life experience.
Although being on the water is enjoyable, the weather affected our training this week. The heat was significant and made for long days of training, but some of the days were also windy. The wind helped make our environment more realistic and posed challenges when docking and coming alongside boats. Our class was able to manage the challenges and gained some good experience.
Before this week I had experience operating vessels on the Great Lakes and inland lakes, so I found the training fun and exciting. I can say that even with prior recreational boating experience, I appreciated the instructors’ abundance of knowledge and unique perspectives that set the foundation for us to become safety-minded professionals on the water.
One week to go!
