You're watching NBC Five news. Well, you probably remember this video of *** Vermont State trooper wading into frigid water late last year to pluck an elementary schooler out of *** pond and get her safely to an ambulance after the girl and her little sister fell through thin ice. You might think the quick actions by that trooper were all thanks to instincts and bravery, but the trooper involved says her formal training was certainly *** component too. In this story, you'll see only here on NBC five, we have an up close look at *** class meant to expose recruits to one of the life saving realities. They may have to confront once they're in the field, they're suiting up and jumping in Vermont State. Police recruits diving into lessons in water rescues as part of pre basic training before they head to the police academy. It adds *** sense of realism. Ryan Underhill will be *** second generation trooper. Now getting his first glimpse at how fabric would get heavy and cling to him if he ever has to rush into water during an emergency without pausing to peel off layers, we need to get used to wearing it as if it were *** real situation while it may look strange to be fully clothed doing this work in *** pool state police training. Experts view it as really, really valuable. And here is *** big reason why from *** body worn camera shows trooper Michelle Archer heading right into *** frigid pond in Cambridge last December. After two Children fell through thin ice, she was in not just her uniform but also her duty vest and footwear. The one thing I thought about was of course my belt, you can see in the video that I take that off. Uh It's one thing they teach. You never go into the water with your belt, your duty belt on. Archer took the same pre basic training in the same pool at Middlebury College that NBC five witnessed before she joined the force. There wasn't one time during this call that I didn't think I'd be able to swim if I needed to. She says coupled with confidence gained growing up swimming in Lake Champlain, the formal training helped prepare her mentally for the possibility she could one day have to take courageous action like this with no time to spare. You ask any one of us when we start *** lot of people say, why did you start the job? And it's well, I want to help people that successful rescue of the little girl and her younger sibling by Archer and another trooper with critical support from civilians and an crew should make lessons like this all the more tangible to recruits. VSP says our training regiment has to mirror what they could potentially see in the real world. Lieutenant Rob mckenna heads recruitment and training for the agency. It's easier to train towards *** goal. If you know that the potential is, there are some day, you may have to actually take on those responsibilities or do job every day is *** new day to learn. Try your best recruit Katherine Gulo who's also in the Vermont Air National Guard says she was well aware of the caught on camera call for help that made headlines worldwide. It makes all of this training more meaningful, being able to see the troopers before you go out and do amazing things. Knowing that they want the exact same steps that I'm taking just allows for us to really take in everything that we're learning, knowing that one day you could be saving people's lives. It's an experience. No one here hopes to ever need to put into practice. But if they do, they'll have had some exposure to what it may feel like to take the plunge trying to make *** difference. That group learned how to turn their clothes into makeshift flotation devices. Their pre basic training includes an introduction to backcountry rescues and other hands on experiences as well. They still have several months at the academy in Pittsford before they're in the field as troopers in the studio. I'm Jack Thurston NBC. Five News.