Can remember that swimming test thing, it was a pathetically short distance though, so short that I couldn't really swim and just thrashed around but passed, 25 yards indeed, most people go further than that drowning...
As for maintaining your fitness, it is important, but you have to remember as military aircrew you are a coiled spring ready to go and defend the homeland from marauding invaders. So unfortunately it's illegal under AF law to waste energy turning beer into sweat (except in a curry house)
