Wet drill: what actually happens in the pool?

Typical sequence: jump in wearing the flight suit (or clothes) and life jacket, swim to the raft, 25 to 50 metres depending on the airline, board the raft (this is the hard bit; use the boarding ladder or strap and kick), then righting the raft if it's inverted, canopy drill, then helping an "incapacitated" classmate. Some airlines add a survival swim of a few minutes treading water. It's tiring and genuinely fun; the instructors are on the poolside the whole time.

Tip: don't fight the life jacket. Lean back, let it hold you, and move your arms like you're sweeping. The people who struggle are the ones swimming as if they have no jacket.