Navy OCS Swim Test: The 3rd Class Swim Qualification

Last updated: June 24, 2026

Do you need to know how to swim before Navy OCS? No — but it is strongly recommended that you can swim before you arrive. To move forward at OCS you must pass the third class swim qualification, and this post walks through exactly what that test involves and how to prepare for it.

Officer Candidate School is run by the U.S. Navy in Newport, Rhode Island. The 12-week course is designed to teach candidates about the Navy on land and at sea, and it is incredibly physically demanding — physical training starts the moment you arrive on base. PT includes running, calisthenics, and swimming, so arriving at OCS in good physical condition contributes directly to your success. If you want the full story, you can read my OCS journey series here.

Navy OCS candidates during swim qualification training

The U.S. Navy believes a sharp mind and a strong body are essential for a naval officer. The purpose of physical training during OCS is to improve endurance, stamina, and overall conditioning. To take part in training you must be within the required body-fat levels: 22 percent for men and 33 percent for women under 40. In the first two days you will complete a physical fitness assessment (PFA): height and weight measurements, sit-and-reach, curl-ups, push-ups, and a 1.5-mile run.

There are two swim qualifications: one right after the initial physical assessment, and the other around the second week of the program. Either way, there are plenty of practice sessions and lessons beforehand.

OCS swim qualification practice in the pool

Before you can begin OCS as an indoctrination candidate, you must meet or exceed the “Probationary” performance standards for your age range and gender, so the chart varies by age.

The third class swim test

The 3rd Class Swim Test takes place during the first weeks of OCS and is repeated until you pass. It consists of four distinct parts:

The abandon-ship jump: you leap from a 12-foot tower to simulate abandoning ship.
A 50-yard swim using any combination of strokes — crawl, breaststroke, sidestroke, or elementary backstroke.
A five-minute prone float, floating face-down using survival-floating techniques.
A shirt-and-trouser inflation, filling a shirt and a pair of pants with air to stay afloat.

These tests are relatively simple in my opinion, even for people who are uncomfortable in the water. If you follow the advice to hold your nose and cross your arms as you leap, it keeps water out of your nose and makes it easier to surface. For the floating tests, back-float if you can — you will float either way. The one rule: do not panic!

1. The abandon-ship jump

Candidate jumping from the 12-foot tower for the abandon-ship test — Jumping from 12 ft

Correct body position when jumping from the 12-foot tower — Jumping from 12 ft — hold the correct position

2. The 50-yard swim

Swimming 50 yards using any stroke during the OCS swim test — Swim 50 yards using any stroke

3. The five-minute face-down float

Five-minute face-down survival float during OCS swim test — 5 minutes floating

Switching to a back float during the swim test — Then back float

4. Shirt-and-trouser flotation

Inflating trousers to use as a flotation device — Inflate your trousers as a flotation device

Floating using inflated clothing during the swim test — Floating

Navy swim qualification classes: 3rd, 2nd, and 1st class

OCS only requires the third class swim qualification — but the Navy recognizes three swimmer levels, and candidates often ask how they differ. Here is how the U.S. Navy defines each one.

Third class swimmer (the OCS requirement)

This is the minimum, entry-level qualification for every Sailor. It proves you can survive a man-overboard situation without a life jacket long enough to be rescued — exactly the test described above: a deep-water jump, a 50-yard swim using any stroke, a five-minute prone (face-down) float, and staying afloat by inflating your shirt and trousers. Passing the third class swim test is all an OCS candidate needs.

Second class swimmer

A more demanding qualification used for jobs that spend real time in the water — small-boat operators, naval aircrew, and rescue swimmers. It adds a 100-yard swim covering 25 yards each of the crawl stroke, breaststroke, sidestroke, and elementary backstroke. Immediately after the swim, and without leaving the water, you prone float for five minutes and transition to a back float before exiting.

First class swimmer

The highest level, required for roles such as a certified Navy swimming instructor. Candidates must first hold a Red Cross or YMCA lifeguard or life-saving certificate, demonstrate proficiency in all four strokes, and complete a 25-yard underwater swim, surfacing no more than twice.

Bottom line: to get through Officer Candidate School you only need the third class swim qualification. The second and first class levels come later, and only if your designator or career path calls for them.

Note: I went through OCS back in the 2010s, so some details may have changed since then — this is shared for educational purposes only. Photo credit: the Navy OCS page. (Candidates cannot use phones or electronic devices during OCS, so there is no way for a candidate to take photos there.)

This post is part of my full Navy OCS Journey series — follow it week by week from the start.