Swimming and Tactical Water Survival Coach

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, administer, evaluate, and document swimming, tactical water survival, and task-specific conditioning programs for SOF pipeline candidates and assigned personnel.

• Develop individualized and group training protocols under the supervision of the POTFF Physical Domain Manager and/or Coordinator.

• Rapidly customize training programs to meet individual, group, pipeline, and mission-specific requirements.

• Provide hands-on coaching, instruction, and mentorship through both group and individualized aquatic training.

• Demonstrate and instruct proper swimming techniques, tactical strokes, water-survival skills, exercises, and movement patterns.

• Provide instruction on injury avoidance, safe training practices, and proper exercise execution for personnel across varying skill and performance levels.

• Develop and administer remediation training for personnel who are underperforming or require additional instruction to meet established standards.

• Assess athlete and operator performance and adjust programming based on individual progress, training demands, and identified deficiencies.

• Collaborate with mental performance, performance nutrition, medical, and other POTFF personnel to provide an integrated and holistic approach to human performance.

• Develop training materials, instructional resources, and other educational products as requested by the POTFF Physical Domain Manager and/or Coordinator.

• Collect, maintain, analyze, and report program and performance data as required.

• Assist in developing and maintaining standard operating procedures, guidelines, safety standards, and training protocols for aquatic training facilities and equipment.

• Participate in periodic program reviews and staff meetings to evaluate training effectiveness and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

• Participate in professional development, in-service training, conferences, courses, and continuing education activities necessary to maintain required professional certifications.

• Perform administrative responsibilities, including maintaining utilization and workload records, supporting education programs, and participating in staff quality-assurance activities.

• Maintain 100% compliance with local mandatory command training requirements.

• Attend and participate in meetings with POTFF staff, medical personnel, leadership, and other stakeholders as requested.

• Ensure aquatic training equipment and facilities are properly organized, safely utilized, maintained, and in appropriate working condition.

• Utilize computers, software applications, data systems, and other technologies necessary to support POTFF programming and reporting requirements.

• Perform additional duties within the scope of the Swimming and Tactical Water Survival Coach position as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Exercise Science, Health Science, Physical Education, Kinesiology, or a closely related discipline.

• Master's degree preferred.

• Minimum of three (3) years of demonstrable professional experience developing and coordinating short- and long-range swimming and/or tactical water survival performance programs.

• Demonstrated experience producing measurable performance results with individual athletes and groups at one or more of the following levels:

  • NCAA collegiate athletics

  • Olympic athletics

  • Professional sports

  • Special Operations Forces

  • Continuous and sustained experience in aquatic performance coaching is strongly preferred.

  • Must possess the knowledge and practical ability to develop, administer, evaluate, and modify swimming and tactical water survival programs for high-performing tactical populations.

  • Must be physically capable of demonstrating all prescribed aquatic drills, tactical strokes, water-survival techniques, and physical exercises.

  Paid, full-time experience as a government civilian or contractor supporting U.S. Combat Arms, Air Force Special Warfare, or Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) communities may count toward the minimum experience requirement when the experience was gained during the most recent continuous three-year period as a directly embedded, on-site staff member supporting U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps organizations.

Required Aquatic Qualification

Candidates must possess at least one (1) of the following qualifications:

• USMC Water Survival Instructor – Basic (WSI-B / MOS 0918)

• U.S. Navy Swimming Instructor (NEC 805A / formerly 9510)

• U.S. Army Combat Water Survival Instructor

• U.S. Air Force Water Survival / Aquatic Instructor

• U.S. Coast Guard Swimming Instructor / Rescue Swimmer Instructor

• American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (WSI) or Lifeguard Instructor (LGI)

• Minimum of three (3) years of experience coaching NCAA Division I, Olympic, or professional swimming athletes

Advanced qualifications, including USMC Water Survival Instructor Trainer (WSIT / MOS 0919) or equivalent credentials, are highly preferred.

Required Certifications

Candidates must maintain current certifications in:

• Lifeguarding

• First Aid

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

• Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

Certifications must be issued by a recognized certifying organization such as the American Red Cross, Department of Defense, American Heart Association, or equivalent recognized authority.

Physical Requirements

This position directly supports personnel operating in physically demanding SOF training environments. Candidates must be physically capable of:

• Demonstrating prescribed swimming techniques, tactical strokes, water-survival drills, and aquatic exercises.

• Entering and operating safely in aquatic training environments for extended periods.

• Training alongside and supporting SOF personnel during physically demanding training activities.

• Hiking and moving over rough or uneven terrain.

• Operating effectively in austere and field environments.

• Observing and supporting high-stress SOF training evolutions.

• Lifting, carrying, and manipulating equipment or loads weighing up to 25 kilograms (55 pounds).

• Performing the physical demonstrations necessary to safely and effectively coach personnel across varying performance levels.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Human Performance, Physical Education, or a related discipline.

• USMC Water Survival Instructor Trainer (WSIT / MOS 0919) or comparable advanced military aquatic instructor qualification.

• Previous experience supporting SOF, Combat Arms, Air Force Special Warfare, or EOD personnel.

• Experience working as part of an interdisciplinary human-performance team.

• Experience developing remediation programs for candidates preparing for or participating in demanding military selection and training pipelines.

• Experience collecting and utilizing performance data to evaluate program effectiveness and guide training modifications.

• Familiarity with the POTFF Human Performance Program or comparable military human-performance programs.