Too many people tell me that because they are short that they cannot swim as fast as a taller person. Well here is proof to the contrary. Optimally speaking taller people have an advantage in pulling more water / kicking with more power BUT I have seen many guys well below 6ft in height swim 6-8 min zone on the 500yd combat swimmer stroke / side stroke. ALL TECHNIQUE and CONDITIONING...

We are NOT trying to make Olympians - we are trying to get people proficient in the water for Spec Ops jobs

Combat Swimmer Stroke - breakdown. Kick off the wall, double arm pull, CSS stroke cycle of Pull, breathe, kick, glide.

Related article: Pull - Breathe - Kick - Glide (1 Mississippi - 2 Mississippi) Repeat...

Top arm pull is a freestyle arm pull.

Bottom arm is more similar to a breast stroke scull (not a full stroke to your side) BREATHE during the bottom arm pull.

Turn to breathe - do not lift your head up to breathe.

Kick can either be a scissor kick or a breast stroke kick BUT when swimming with fins you need to learn scissor / flutterkicks.

Kick hard / pull hard = glide fast.

Related article: The Challenges of Passing Military Swimming Tests

You don't have to be a competitive swimmer to ace Spec Ops Training, you just need to be good and comfortable in the water.