Posted on 02/24/2012 9:15:25 AM PST by lex33
In nature, most seals are black, with relatively few white ones. The Navy's SEALs have exactly the opposite problem -- they're overwhelmingly white, with hardly any blacks. So they're trying to do something about it. It's a fundamental challenge in a democracy with an all-volunteer force: recruits may be drawn from all segments of society, but elite military units -- and none is more elite these days than the SEALs, following their dispatch of Osama bin Laden last May -- tend to draw from small pools of talent. For the SEALs, that includes athletic young men who are smart and good in the water. For whatever reason, that has led to an overwhelmingly white SEAL force. (PHOTOS: Navy SEALs in Action) Say the SEALs: Gaps exist in minority representation in both officer and enlisted ranks for Special Warfare operators. Diverse officers represent only ten percent of the officer pool (for example, African Americans represent less than 2% of SEAL officers). Diverse enlisted SEALs account for less than twenty percent of the total SEAL enlisted population. Naval Special Warfare is committed to fielding a force that represents the demographics of the nation it serves. This contract initiative seeks effective strategies to introduce high potential candidates from diverse backgrounds to the opportunities available in Naval Special Warfare. (PHOTOS: A History of Special Ops) The SEALs are considering hiring help to attract thousands of "minority males in the 16–24 year-old target age range" to become SEALs. "This contract will create a mechanism to enhance Naval Special Warfare's ability to conduct outreach, raise awareness, mentor, and increase self-selection to a career as a SEAL within minority communities," a recently-posted draft contract solicitation says. The Navy isn't seeking only black SEALs: "Challenges for minority recruitment also exist in the Hispanic, Asian Pacific Islander (API), Native
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Perhaps I was being too obtuse.
The swimming/floating issue, to cut to the point, is all mental.
It is just a fact.
Fact is that for years, negroes were 'unwelcome' at most pools. Most ghetto neighborhoods didn't have pools. Most black families didn't go to a lake and swim/ski.
Most of their 'black' heritage from Africa involved the concept of avoiding water at all costs.
As I said earlier, it's not a physical thing, it is a mental one.
Anyone can learn to swim.
I picked it up by noticing exactly where I floated if I remained perfectly still, and held my breath. One can float motionless if one breathes shallowly. You might have them try holding their breath for about 10 seconds and floating relaxed. It helps to know you don’t have to constantly fight to stay afloat. The more relaxed you are, the easier it is to swim. Like a frog or a fish.
And 'they', like 'you' , can learn to swim. It really has nothing to do with race or skin color.
All animals know how to swim. Even humans. Only humans have the ability to believe they can't, and refuse to learn, or are not given the opportunity at an early age to do it before they 'believe' they cannot.
P.S.
Fear of sinking is what causes most people’s problem with swimming. Learning that having your head/mouth under water half the time is normal can help. It is actually fairly difficult to actually ‘sink’, unless you let out the air out of your lungs and hold it.
In all seriousness - who the hell do you think you are?
You don’t know me, have never met me, know damn near nothing about me.
AND - clearly - you know absolutely nothing of the topic.
Its a wonderful piece of crap little note you wrote. Gee - I never thought to practice.
I have lived near the water my entire life, spending months at a time - every year - at the beach. Can swim perfectly fine.
The question is whether or not some people are HEAVIER THAN WATER - which makes it about 10X harder to swim. For me - swimming in the Mediterranian, or swimming with a few lbs of bouyancy - is what everyone feels as normal.
So - yes - people can learn. I passed my half hour “floating tests” - by swimming for half an hour. Which can be a bit tiring - if you haven’t been in a pool or water for 6 months, and the test is in January.
I can imagine that some kid who didn’t spend 2 months a year at his family ocean cottage, swimming hours/day - might find those endurance tests a bit daunting. I could max out a PT, run a marathon, and near flunk out - for floating.
Just so you know - for people who sink - being tired in deep water is absolutely terrifying.
Also - just so you know - I’ve had twits like you telling me “everybody floats” all my life. No. Wrong. Not everyone has the same density. Not even close. And in fresh water - where they do these tests - forget it. Some of us are not “close to” water density - at all. I sink in salt water.
Shut your trap and read - maybe you will learn something.
FAIL.
So, in nature about half the seals are female. Mark Thompson is apparently a sexist pig. ; )
Ooops! That's right. Embarrassed.
It excuses the pun, right? :o)
Well, gee... you are welcome.
To retort:
Most of my time is spent reading, very little writing, and none of it involves talking.
So why do you think most black people can’t swim, regardless to amount of fat or physical condition?
True for those who do 'not' sink, as well. Being unable to keep your head above water is a major breaking point for even the mightiest.
Fear is a big factor. That is what I was saying. It increases the panic level, which is not usually a good thing. Which takes me back to my assertion that those who have trouble swimming or say they can't, a troubled by fear, not fact.
Fact is, you can swim. You said so. If you have a fear of being in deep water and tired, that is natural.
I don't know you, so I offered general advice, based on you saying you were drowning alongside others. Be angry at me for taking your description literally, but not at me for offering helpful advice (it's free, and what can you get for free anymore?).
That's exactly what the guy I taught to swim said.
Well, it’s true that people with extremely low body fat don’t float as well as people with a little fat on their bodies, it doesn’t mean that they cannot swim as well. Just look at Michael Phelps. Do you think that he as enough body fat to easily float???
You’re exactly right, affirmative action would anathema to a Seals team. It would take way too much effort to build the cohesiveness and trust necessary to make a team if some member were allowed to pass under the bar, instead of over it.
That’s exactly what I have been saying.
Given that many young black men are extremely well muscled, especially in the upper arms, why can’t they swim?
It’s all mental.
Floating, and by how much, and for how long, and etc. is another issue.
All human mammals CAN swim.
It’s the wrong kind of muscle. Lifting weights and playing football, that kind of muscle is doesn’t work for swimming.
Have you ever watched that movie about the Coast Guard Swimmers? The movie shows guys flunking the swim test who were top high school athletes because they have the wrong kind of musculature. It takes the long sinewy kind of muscle. A tall Black track star, maybe, but not a football player.
Ummmm.... don't think so.
However, that is not what I was debating.
You are talking about the most extreme endurance tests. I am talking about the ability to swim, and avoid drowning.
Not every one is good at the long jump, but everyone can do it. Same with swimming. Fear is the only thing that makes people believe they 'cannot' swim.
True. Swimming and floating are two different things.
But this discussion was rooted in swimming requirement for Navy Seals.
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