‘An American Hero’: Kristi Noem Praises Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer For Braving Texas Floodwaters

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared the story of a Coast Guard rescue swimmer on Saturday, praising him for his efforts and crediting him with saving 165 victims of the devastating flash floods that tore through central Texas.

Noem said in a post to X that Petty Officer Scott Ruskan was “directly responsible” for an incredible number of saves, and noted that Saturday was Ruskin’s first-ever rescue mission.

“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 posted. “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

Coast Guard rescue swimmers, formally known as Aviation Survival Technicians, are trained and must earn National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) certification in addition to intense physical training and water rescue techniques in a number of different scenarios. The grueling training lasts approximately one year and has one of the highest attrition rates in the United States military — nearly an 80% fail rate.

The Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer program has been in existence since 1984, and requires trainees to undergo a series of tests monthly that include: push=ups, pull-ups, chin-ups, a one-and-a-half mile run, four 25-yard underwater swims, a 200 yard swim towing a survivor, and a 500 yard timed swim.

Rescue swimmers have been integral to numerous missions since the scchool’s creation, and saved dozens during the devastating flooding in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.