Swimming in the Desert

Published Sept. 17, 2009
By Senior Airman Stephen Linch
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- By day, Tech. Sgt. Micale Fritz, 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, is an explosive ordnance disposal technician, ensuring the safety of Airmen and Soldiers by identifying, disarming, neutralizing and recovering, or disposing of hazardous explosives.

By night, she is a certified swimming instructor, teaching U.S. servicemembers how to swim.

"I love teaching," said Sergeant Fritz. "Whether for enjoyment, competition or exercise, I believe swimming is an important skill to have."

The classes are Tuesday through Friday, and cover everything from basic techniques, such as floating, to advanced techniques, such as different strokes and breathing refinement.

Although all of her downrange students come to learn how to swim since the class started in June, they come to the class for different reasons.

Staff Sgt. Maurice Miller, 964th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron, said he signed up for lessons to spend time with his family once he returns home.

"My son turned one while I was over here," he said. "My wife has been taking him to the pool, and he is just a water bug now.

"I just never developed an affinity for being in the water," he said. "I started taking lessons because I didn't want to give up family time every time they went to the pool."

Sergeant Fritz collects no payment for her classes, other than know she helped her students improve, she said.

"You can see the pride in her face when people like me who were horrified of the water four months ago, get comfortable with it," Sergeant Miller said. "She gets her payment by seeing those progressions.

"She loves swimming, and she loves people," Sergeant Miller added.