Noem Praises Coast Guard Swimmer
In a remarkable first mission that has already become the stuff of legend, U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin is being hailed as a national hero after personally saving 165 victims during the catastrophic flash floods that swept through central Texas this weekend.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem highlighted Ruskin’s heroism in a Saturday post on X, praising his selfless actions and extraordinary composure under pressure.
“United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin, directly saved an astonishing 165 victims in the devastating flooding in central Texas,” Noem wrote. “This was the first rescue mission of his career and he was the only triage coordinator at the scene. Scott Ruskin is an American hero. His selfless courage embodies the spirit and mission of the @USCG.”
United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin, directly saved an astonishing 165 victims in the devastating flooding in central Texas.
This was the first rescue mission of his career and he was the only triage coordinator at the scene.
Scott Ruskin is…
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) July 6, 2025
Ruskin, a newly deployed rescue swimmer, was not only participating in his first live mission but served as the sole triage lead on site — an overwhelming responsibility even for the most seasoned of emergency responders.
Rescue swimmers, officially classified as Aviation Survival Technicians, are among the most rigorously trained specialists in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Their nearly year-long training regimen includes advanced water rescue, aviation survival, and National Registry EMT certification. The program carries one of the highest attrition rates in the U.S. military — with roughly 80% of candidates failing to complete it.
In addition to classroom instruction and field training, aspiring rescue swimmers must regularly complete physical evaluations, including four 25-yard underwater swims, a 500-yard timed surface swim, a one-and-a-half-mile run, and various strength endurance drills. Only a select few graduate — and fewer still perform at the level Ruskin did on his first assignment.
His actions come at a time when the nation is still counting the cost of the flash floods that have claimed dozens of lives and displaced thousands in Texas. As rescue efforts continue and federal agencies coordinate relief efforts, stories like Ruskin’s offer a powerful reminder of the dedication and resolve that define America’s frontline responders.