Helo Dunker

[pilot1214]

I have always wanted to become a pilot since i was 3 years old. I dont really care who or what I fly for as long as i get to fly for the military. I want to fly for either teh Navy or the Air Force. There is only one problem. Even though I am a really good swimmer, I really start to panic and totally loose it when I get trapped or forced underwater. I have heard on of the training exersices called teh Dilbert Dunker. That is the only thing holding me back from becoming a Naval Aviator. I still really want to fly for the Navy. Is there any advice that someone could get. Also, Could you share your experiences with the Dilbert Dunker. Thanks.
Kevin

 

[jg5343]

As an ex diver I can tell you that no matter how scary the dunker seems, it is very safe. As far as i know, no one has ever drowned in one. The divers that work there are very well trained and teach you exactly what to do before you ever get in the water. It's more of a training deal than a test. Don't let this scare you away from the Navy, its a piece of cake.

 

[jdfairman]

Dude seriously... the dunker's a joke. Don't let it scare you.

 

[webmaster]

The dunker is a piece of cake, nothing like what is shown in "Officer and a Gentleman" or whatever the movie was called. Plus the helo dunker is just plain fun, mind you, I am an ex navy diver also, so that was just an all-round fun day for me. Even when my classmates in API ratted me out to the divers there as I was getting into the dunker. So I got all sorts of "special" attention, lol.

 

[Fly Navy]

The dunker is awesome, it's a really fun evolution. There isn't anything to be afraid of. We had one person kind of lose their cool, but they were fine on their next dunk. Don't let it scare you.

 

[Jaxs170]

The dunker is awesome, it's a really fun evolution. There isn't anything to be afraid of. We had one person kind of lose their cool, but they were fine on their next dunk. Don't let it scare you.

I still have nightmares from it...sorry if that isin't what you want to hear
:shake_125

 

[rare21]

i was THE horrible swimmer of the class and i passed it and actually thought it was easy. Still we had one Foreign dude take one look and DOR. Still i doubt he was out all together i bet he made other arrangements.

 

[46Driver]

I freakin' HATE the dunker more than anything else in the military. However, I have made it through 4 times already and just one more to go in 2007. I will say that the new Dunker is easier than the old one - the exits are bigger and the ends are not solid mesh screens.

 

[bch]

I had done great in all the pool evolutions up to the dunker! I hate the dunker more than anything and dread the day when I have to go back.... that being said, I passed. As long as you listen to what they teach you and go slow, you will be fine. Your first instinct will be to jam out of your seat as fast as possible and make a mad break for the exit. Just slow down. let it settle, get a good hand hold, then release your seatbelt and go HAND OVER HAND (you let go of a reference point and you are screwed!) to the exit.
you'll do fine, and if you don't, you will get to do it every day for a week, at which point you will be an expert.

 

[Gatordev]

<Shudder> Yeah, I hate that thing as well. The Dilbert Dunker is okay, but you only have to do that once in API. The helo dunker is just plain annoying. It's a bit better when you have a HABD, but not much. Actually, what I find worse than the Helo dunker is the damn SWEAT trainer. At least in the dunker, you have a wall to grab. In the SWEAT trainer, if you miss one of the bars, you're out of the damn thing, and end up running into someone else.

 

[Fly Navy]

No more Dilbert Dunker in API.

 

[Fly Navy]

Hey gatordev, where do they station you in Hawaii? I know Barber's Point is closed, are you at Kaneohe?

 

[phrogdriver]

No more Dilbert Dunker? Has API completely done away with the legendary motivational events that made it cool, a kind of a unifying force in naval aviation? I mean, they canceled boxing before I got there. After I left, they made the sand O-course a non-graded event, then they took it away. Last time I was at mainside, it looked as though they eliminated the hard parts of the cross-country PRT, i.e. the sand and the somewhat hilly area by the pool. Now they're ditching the Dunker? What are they replacing it with? A class on safe homosexual relations?

 

[Fly Navy]

A class on safe homosexual relations?

LMAO!

HAHAHHAHHA

 

[rare21]

The way it was explained to me was that if someone drives a jet into the water the way the dilbert dunker is supposed to simulate then the guy is dead anyways. Therefore no need for the dilbert dunker.