Sink or Swim: Dover AFB Water Survival

Team Dover Airmen flip a 20-person life raft during their Water Survival Preparation course at Bowers Beach, Delaware, April 29, 2025. The Water Survival Preparation course reinforces Airmen’s knowledge and best practices for survival in the event of a downed aircraft over open water. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Trenten Walters)

Sink or Swim: Dover AFB Water Survival

Team Dover Airmen climb onto a 20-person life raft during their Water Survival Preparation course at Bowers Beach, Delaware, April 29, 2025. The Water Survival Preparation course reinforces Airmen’s knowledge and best practices for survival in the event of a downed aircraft over open water. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Trenten Walters)

Sink or Swim: Dover AFB Water Survival

A Team Dover Airman splashes water on a life raft during the Water Survival Preparation course at Bowers Beach, Delaware, April 29, 2025. The Water Survival Preparation course reinforces Airmen’s knowledge and best practices for survival in the event of a downed aircraft over open water. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Trenten Walters)

Sink or Swim: Dover AFB Water Survival

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Maldonado, 436th Operational Support Squadron Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape specialist, encourages an Airman climbing into a raft during the Water Survival Preparation course at Bowers Beach, Delaware, April 29, 2025. The Water Survival Preparation course reinforces Airmen’s knowledge and best practices for survival in the event of a downed aircraft over open water. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Trenten Walters)

Sink or Swim: Dover AFB Water Survival

Team Dover Airmen swim to a 20-person life raft during their Water Survival Preparation course at Bowers Beach, Delaware, April 29, 2025. The Water Survival Preparation course reinforces Airmen’s knowledge and best practices for survival in the event of a downed aircraft over open water. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Trenten Walters)

Sink or Swim: Dover AFB Water Survival

U.S. Air Force Capt. Cody Pelletier, 3rd Airlift Squadron pilot, loads his gear into a mesh bag during the Water Survival Preparation course at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, April 29, 2025. During the classroom portion of the WSP course Airmen learned about the different emergency devices typically aboard an aircraft and ways to mitigate sun exposure and dehydration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Trenten Walters)

Sink or Swim: Dover AFB Water Survival

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Maldonado, 436th Operational Support Squadron Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape specialist, provides gear-issue instructions during the Water Survival Preparation course at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, April 29, 2025. During the classroom portion of the WSP course Airmen learned about the different emergency devices typically aboard an aircraft and ways to mitigate sun exposure and dehydration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Trenten Walters)

Sink or Swim: Dover AFB Water Survival

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Maldonado, 436th Operational Support Squadron Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape specialist, discusses what to do in the final moments before a water landing during the Water Survival Preparation course at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, April 29, 2025. During the classroom portion of the WSP course Airmen learned about the different emergency devices typically aboard an aircraft and ways to mitigate sun exposure and dehydration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Trenten Walters)

Sink or Swim: Dover AFB Water Survival

Published May 6, 2025
By Senior Airman Trenten Walters
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Team Dover Airmen flip a 20-person life raft during their Water Survival Preparation course at Bowers Beach, Delaware, April 29, 2025. The Water Survival Preparation course reinforces Airmen’s knowledge and best practices for survival in the event of a downed aircraft over open water. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Trenten Walters)