What it takes to be a lifeguard

BY FAMILY & MWR AQUATIC CENTERS

Fort Bliss Aquatics is filled with experienced staff who go above and beyond for Soldiers and their Families. Aquatics spans four diverse pools, each covering numerous opportunities for training, including Combat Water Survival Test (CWST) and Border Patrol Tactical (BORTAC), to recreational swims such as Pregnancy Physical Training (PT) and swim lessons for infants, children and adults.

Fort Bliss Aquatic Centers set themselves apart by training the lifeguards to place first in regional lifeguard Olympics. Making sure the staff is certified and equipped to go the extra mile in any situation is crucial. Fort Bliss Aquatics is the only Army installation ever to engage and excel in the American Red Cross Examiner Program. As a result, they are now rallying other army installations to do the same. An element of their success is thanks to the Lifeguards, their attentiveness to detail and devotion to MWR’s mission pushes the team from exemplary to outstanding.

Fort Bliss Lifeguards train to handle any circumstances thrown at them. To sharpen this adaptive nature adequately, they cycle through all four pools, guaranteeing each guard has practiced in varied conditions limiting stagnation. While all the lifeguards exercise all skills, specific collections pull particular skills in question more frequently.

The Soldier Activity Center (SAC) pool implements lifeguards with planning, foresight, and out-of-the-box ideation. SAC pool provides opportunities to respond to weather-born distress and illnesses both to patrons and fellow lifeguards. The pool’s laid-back environment also allows for one-on-one customer service. The Fort Bliss Community pool specializes in family activities, lifeguards practice dealing with running water, slide attractions and younger patrons. Lifeguards get to practice basic first aid treating cuts and burns, and dealing one on one with children and their families.

The Replica pool specializes in physical fitness training and recreational swim for anxious swimmers, such as swim lessons for all ages and wounded warriors, a program meant to provide low-impact physical therapy. Finally, the Aquatics Training Center (ATC)- this pool endures the most commerce, hosting three separate collections within the walls. Lifeguards assigned here are taught docility and honing their talent to think on their feet. The ATC hosts many trainings and programs such as CWST and BORTAC. Such high-impact training pushes patrons to the limit, and the lifeguards need to respond effectively when required. Not all training at the ATC is as intense; for instance, the pregnancy PT and swim lessons offer unique situations, respectively. Lifeguards need to command a wide array of knowledge that allows them to respond appropriately. The cycling of lifeguards among pools enables our lifeguards to put the information taught to them into practice. Shaping their skills and techniques to discern, respond, and anticipate emergencies at all facilities as effectively as possible. While daily practicing is crucial, Fort Bliss Aquatics believe sufficient knowledge plays an equivalent if not more vital role in the success of the staff. With such high expectations put on lifeguards, developing quality of life characteristics such as responsibility, leadership skills, and learning opportunities for future careers is also heavily emphasized. Responsibility is an attribute that should be at the top of every lifeguard’s mind. By allocating important tasks to fellow lifeguards and providing personalized equipment, responsibility becomes second nature. Fort Bliss Aquatics takes pride in the work done alongside MWR and is exceptionally exultant of the lifeguards. Their unswerving array of leadership, devotion, enthusiasm to learn, and responsibility in all aspects of their job, from certifications to surveillance. These and countless other character traits that make up Fort Bliss MWR lifeguards provide the best experience for all patrons. Leading by example for other aquatic centers by going above and beyond in competitions, implementing state-of-the-art training, and providing specialized classes, for Soldiers and their Families. This is what it’s all about for the Aquatics team. To learn more about becoming a lifeguard or for more information, call 915-741-5901.