Navy Rescue Swimmer | Off-Duty Water Rescue That Made National Headlines | Jeremy Way

Navy Rescue Swimmer | Off-Duty Water Rescue That Made National Headlines | Jeremy Way

Author: Brian Dickinson January 27, 2026 Duration: 1:01:50

Jeremy Way has spent 17 years as an active-duty U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer, responding to high-risk rescues where seconds matter and hesitation costs lives.

Recently, Jeremy found himself in the headlines for a rescue that happened off duty. While eating lunch, he witnessed a woman drive her car into the water. Without waiting for responders, Jeremy and others entered the water and reached her just seconds before the vehicle sank, pulling her to safety.

In this episode of Calm in the Chaos, we talk about what makes moments like that possible—not luck, not adrenaline, but years of training, discipline, and readiness that never shuts off.

This conversation goes beyond the headlines and into the mindset of someone who lives prepared—on duty or not.


In this episode:

  • 17 years as an active-duty Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer
  • What real rescue swimmer training builds into decision-making
  • The off-duty water rescue that made national headlines
  • Why instinct takes over when time runs out
  • Service, responsibility, and staying ready when no one’s watching


👉 Subscribe, share, and review — it helps more veterans, first responders, and families find hope through these stories.


CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST Episode 48


So Others May Live! 🫡🇺🇸


Keep Calm in the Chaos Merch

(Link in bio or https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com)

Military and First Responders get 10% discount with code: SARRESCUE10 applied at checkout

100% of proceeds go to support the podcast!


#NavyRescueSwimmer #AviationRescueSwimmer #USNavy #SearchAndRescue #WaterRescue #OffDutyHero #RealLifeRescue #MilitaryMindset #csar #NavyAviation #FirstResponder #RescueSwimmer #CalmintheChaos #DecisionMakingUnderPressure #JeremyWay #virginiabeach


There’s a moment in every rescue when training meets turbulence, and a person must decide to step into the storm. Calm in the Chaos-U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer Podcast is built around those moments, sharing firsthand accounts from the men and women who have lived them. Host Brian Dickinson, drawing from his own experience as a former Navy Rescue Swimmer and an author who has faced extreme environments, guides these conversations with a rare understanding. Each episode unfolds a real mission, but the focus often settles on what happens between the orders-the split-second decisions, the managed fear, and the profound humanity required to save a life in perilous conditions. This isn't just about historical operations; it's an intimate exploration of the grit, mindset, and quiet faith that define these individuals. The podcast has found a dedicated audience, ranking in the top tier of podcasts globally, precisely because it goes beyond the heroics to examine the tangible calm forged in chaos. While not affiliated with the U.S. Navy or Department of Defense, the stories offer an authentic window into a world where running toward danger is the job description. Listeners will hear voices often reserved for debrief rooms, sharing narratives of loss, survival, and the weight of the helmet, all framed by Dickinson’s grounded perspective.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 55

Calm in the Chaos - U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer Podcast
Podcast Episodes
10 Years as a Navy Rescue Swimmer to Reptile Storyteller [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:04
For ten years, Tommy Maxwell served as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer, operating under pressure, saving lives, and learning from some of the best — including the late Master Chief Tony DiCenso, a legend in the SAR c…
Navy Rescue Swimmer’s Life-or-Limb Decision During Hurricane Katrina [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:45
When Hurricane Katrina unleashed chaos across the Gulf Coast, Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer Tim Hawkins was sent into the storm. In the middle of the devastation, he faced an unthinkable decision — save a life or risk los…