United States Marine Corps Combatant Diver Badge

Criteria: Issued to United States Marine Corps personnel who have completed the 35-day Combatant Diver Course in Panama City, Florida. The course teaches Marines how to use SCUBA gear. During the 35 days, the students complete 15 surface swims and swim more than 60,000 meters. The course begins with a 500-yard introductory swim to familiarize the students with open-circuit scuba gear. Individual Marine recon units hold an intense two-week, pre-qualification course prior to attending the course in Eastern Florida. The course ends with a 6.2 mile open-water swim in a team buddy line, a rope attaching two divers together within an arm’s reach of each other. The lead man steers the team with the use of a compass towards their final destination and completion.