Swimming Background Helps Former Swimmers in the Military

Feature by Emily Sampl and Kristen Heiss

BOULDER, Colorado, October 24. A few weeks ago, Swimming World caught up with former National Team member Ben Michaelson, who is currently training to become a combat medic.

While Ben may be the most recognizable former swimmer in the military, he certainly isn't the only one. Dozens of swimmers who competed collegiately at the U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Military Academy at West Point are now scattered across the world serving our country. Many of them are finding that the life lessons they learned in swimming are paying dividends in their military careers.

A common thread found throughout all the interviewees responses to questions was the unparalleled bond these swimmers formed with teammates at the military academies. Ben Michaelson's younger brother, Andrew Michaelson, is a Medical Officer for the 3-4 Cavalry, 3rd IBCT, 25th Infantry Division.

"The classmates I graduated with in 2007 are my best friends to this day," said Andrew, who was recently deployed to Iraq. Indeed, when asked what he misses most about swimming for the Army, Andrew says "I miss the camaraderie and training environment the most."

Although Andrew concedes that swimming for the Army was the hardest work he has ever done, it was also the most enjoyable because of the "teammates and coaches that surrounded me."

Andrew, who was deployed last week to Iraq, has been able to retain a link to his past as an Army swimmer by sharing a house to this day with another former Army swimmer.

Julia Carier, a 2007 West Point graduate currently deployed in Afghanistan, has also found that the bonds she made with her swimming buddies has carried over to her military life. Sharing space in a crowded locker room and struggling through a tough practice together has prepared her well for her new role.

"One of the many things I took away from Army Swimming was the team building. I have 12 soldiers in my S1 shop, and very similarly to the women's swimming team, we eat, sleep, breathe and work together," she said. "We work seven days a week, eight of us live in the same small B-hut, and there is only one chow hall close to the office. We have our ups and downs, but we have learned to all get along and get the job done. Guess sharing locker rooms, bus rides, and hotel rooms with other girls on the team prepared me well for the joys of deploying overseas."

The friendships and bonds that are formed at the military academy remain with these former swimmers when they are deployed overseas. Ian Getzler, a 2006 graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Lieutenant Junior Grade Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician, works with an underwater force that disposes of sea mines. Ian has not only kept in contact with former teammates, who include fellow distance swimmer Jake Keefe, but has worked with them outside of the pool. He attended EOD school with nine other former swimmers or divers from the USNA. Later when Ian was deployed to Iraq, he worked with two former teammates.

"It was great to work with them in a completely different atmosphere," he said.

For many swimmers, the bonds they formed with their fellow swimmers were more than just friendships; their teammates proved to be inspirational and motivational as well.

"In addition to family and coaches, my brothers and sisters on the team helped strengthen my determination and motivation to succeed in the sport," said Second Lieutenant Jake Mentele, a four-year letter winner for Army and a competitor at the recent U.S. Olympic Trials. "Competing at the national level for Army Swimming is my most admirable accomplishment. I was so proud to represent the team, the academy, and the country in such a way."

Not only have these swimmers formed lasting friendships while representing and serving the United States of America, they have all found that swimming has aided them with skills necessary to be successful in the work they currently do. Mentele has already noticed several connections between swimming and the military.

"Planning, preparation, strategy, and allocating time and resources for performance all impact the level of success one achieves in attaining goals," he said. "This has direct applicability in how the military functions. Both give mutual aspects that complement each other. Swimming takes a lot of commitment; it takes a special person to put that much time into something they love, especially when the margin of error is so small. Attention to detail is crucial in both swimming and the military."

Jake Keefe is a Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) and a Platoon Commander for EODMU SIX, or Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Six, and is preparing for deployment to Iraq. Like Mentele, Keefe has found that many skills useful in the pool have been just as useful in the military.

"Everyone who has dipped his or her feet into a freezing pool at 5:30 a.m. knows a little something about motivation. Swimming competitively grows that sense of motivation as well as a certain selflessness for team benefit. Those who swim in high school and college surely know what it's like to show up at a meet to swim the occasional 1650 as a sprinter or a 100 breast as a backstroker. It's all for the team. Though our current theaters of operation find us far from the water, the skills learned in the pool still resonate with former swimmers in the military."

Jake Keefe

Jake Mentele

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