MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR -- As the day grew weary and extended past daylight hours, Sgt. Stephen R. Crahan, staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Marine Corps Water Survival Training Center (MCWSTC), knew that as long as he stuck with it he could accomplish his goal--the goal of becoming a Marine Corps Instructor of Water Survival (MCIWS). "Becoming a MCIWS instructor is no easy task," said Crahan, who has been a MCIWS instructor since August here. To attend the training to become a MCIWS instructor, there are many prerequisites that must be accomplished first. An individual must hold the swim qualification of Water Survival Qualified (WSQ) and also a current American Red Cross Community First Aid and Adult Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation certification. As well as obtaining the swim qualification, he or she must go through a pre-screening process which includes a 500-meter swim using any one of the three combat survival strokes: sidestroke, elementary backstroke or breaststroke. A 50-meter brick swim is also part of the pre-screening process, as well as, a 25-meter underwater swim. An applicant must also be nominated to attend MCIWS training by his or her instructor. He or she must also be the rank of cpl. or lance cpl. with an approval from their commanding officer. "If you have confidence in the water, you should be fine," said Cpl. R. Nick Maus, training noncommissioned officer, MCWSTC. After being nominated by the instructor, an individual will attend the formal school at Camp Lejeune, N.C. or Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, San Diego. There is also a Mobile Training Team that provides training at any Marine Corps base or reserve unit. During the school the applicants endure a 17-day training cycle. In these 17 days, the Marines spend seven hours a day in the water and three in the classroom. The water instruction has many different aspects involved. Water aerobics, combat survival rescue skills, aquatic confidence skills and aquatic conditioning are basic skills that are taught during the course. "The best part of the course is the last couple of days when you're testing and know that graduation is near," said Crahan. After completion of the course, a Marine is rewarded with an additional Military Occupational Specialty of 8563. The certification is valid for three years and re-certification is obtainable through a Marine Combat Instructor Trainer of Water Survival. "Not enough units put emphasis on swim qualifications," said Crahan.