SASEBO NAVAL BASE, Japan — With outdoor pools here and at other Pacific bases to open in a few days, “Oscar” is giving a workout to lifeguards training for the summer crush.

Oscar is a 5-foot 6-inch, 160-pound splash-test dummy lifeguards must “rescue” from the bottom of the pool, under 13 feet of water.

“That’s no simple task; sometimes it takes more than one lifeguard. But it’s about as close to reality as it gets in training,” said Miki Gilbert, a Morale, Welfare and Recreation aquatics and fitness official at Sasebo.

She needs five or six qualified lifeguards to fill the summer schedule at each of the base’s two pools and has about 15 people interested in the job.

“They certainly aren’t in the lifeguard business for the money, or for glory,” Gilbert said. “Our lifeguards tend to be teenagers out of school for the summer break, and it’s not an easy job to do, contrary to what some people may think.”

All bases require lifeguards to have up-to-date certification and additional training each week. They must be at least 15 years old, able to swim 500 meters with ease, and complete the Oscar drill as well as other training. Sasebo’s MWR pays them $6.50 per hour.

Although most applicants are teens, Gilbert said pools also hire “off-duty servicemembers, spouses and other dependents who want to be lifeguards.”

Gilbert described a workday as “far tougher than sitting high up there on the lifeguard’s lookout, blowing a whistle on occasion and soaking up the sun.”

Lifeguards also are responsible for keeping up appearances of the swimming pools and surrounding decks. Each week they must attend in-service training sessions and swim at least 1,500 meters to stay in top physical condition.

The regimen has paid off. There have been no drownings and only a few close calls at Sasebo over the past five years or more, Gilbert said.

Strict enforcement of pool rules has contributed to that record of safety.

Ashleigh Pipes, Community Services marketing director at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, cited rules common to many base pools. Among them are bans on glassware, smoking and alcohol in pool areas.

In addition, most pools require close supervision of children. At Iwakuni, for instance:

Children 9 years and younger must have a parent in the water with them if they have not passed a swim test administered by a water safety instructor. If the child has passed the test, a parent must be in the pool area.Ten- to 15-year-olds who haven’t passed the test can be in the pool if a parent is in the water with them, or if they are wearing a life jacket. They can be at the pool unaccompanied only if they’ve passed the test.If the coming outdoor swimming season is like those in the past, Gilbert said, people “start coming to the pools every summer day, with crowds becoming heavier starting about 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. and on weekends and holidays.”

“We’re going to keep it fun,” she added, “but not at the expense of safety.”

Ready to take a dip?

Japan

Yokota Air Base: Call DSN 225-7246 for more information about Yokota’s pool. The Sakana Outdoor Pool on the west side of the base opens May 28.

Naval Air Facility Atsugi: Call DSN 264-4455 for more information about Atsugi’s pool. The Atsugi pool opens May 31.

Yokosuka Naval Base (and housing areas): Call DSN 243-5620 for more information about Yokosuka pools.

Green Beach Pool opens June 4 for weekends only, then June 18 for full-time hours.The Officers’ Club pool opens May 28 for weekends only through the summer. The Officers’ Club pool will be open to all ranks May 28-May 30.The Bachelor Officers Quarters pool opens May 28 for reservations or private parties.The Seaside Club is open. Starting June 18, it will only be available for swim lessons and private parties.Ikego’s pool opens May 28 for weekends, then full time June 18.Negishi’s pool opens June 18 for the summer.Camp Zama: Call DSN 263-5656 for more information about Camp Zama pools.

The Sagamihara Housing Area pool opens May 28 weekends only, then June 20 full-time.The pool at Sagami Depot opens June 18.Camp Zama’s Yano pool is indoors and open year-round.Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni: Call DSN 253-4966 for more information about Iwakuni pools.

All-ranks Club Iwakuni Pool opens May 28.All-ranks Main Pool, across from Marine Corps Community Services, opens May 28.Sasebo Naval Base: Call Miki Gilbert at DSN 252-3588 for more information about Sasebo pools. The Main Base and Hario Housing Village pools open May 28 with modified hours through June 18.

Okinawa

Kadena Air Base: Call the Aquatics Office at DSN 634-2811 for more information about Kadena pools.

The Hagerstrom Pool opens Memorial Day. Call 634-2903.Chibana Pool opens Memorial Day weekend. It will be closed on Mondays. Call 632-4165.Overton Pool will open July 4. Call 634-5911.Kadena High School pool (DSN 634-3334) is open for lap swimming, lessons and water fitness programsCamp Foster: Call DSN 645-9190 for more information about Kubasaki pool and DSN 645-7554 for more information about Camp Foster pool.

Kubasaki Pool is open but closes on Mondays.Camp Foster Pool is open.Other Okinawa MCCS pools: Call Okinawa’s Marine Corps Community Services Aquatics Office at DSN 645-3180 for more information about pools at Okinawa Marine posts. Okinawa’s MSSC outdoor swimming pools on other Marine posts open Memorial Day weekend.

South Korea

Camp Casey: Pool opens Memorial Day weekend. Call DSN 730-3424 for more information.

Camp Essayons: Pool opens Memorial Day weekend. Call DSN 732-6276 for more information.

Kunsan Air Base: Pool opens May 31. Call DSN 782-4026 for more information.

Chinhae Naval Base: Pool opens May 25. Call DSN 762-5529 for more information.

Osan Air Base: Pool opens May 28. Call DSN 784-4007 for more information.

Area 2: Pools at all facilities with pools open May 28. Call DSN 738-8608 for more information.

Area 3: Pools at all Area 3 locations, including Camp Humphreys and Camp Long, open May 28. Call DSN 753-8807 or DSN 753-8810 for more information.

Area 4: Bases with outdoor pools, such as Camps Walker and Carroll, open pools May 28. Camp Hialeah’s pool is already open on weekends until school ends for summer break, thereafter opening daily. Call the individual base recreation office for more information.

— Stars and Stripes