A process for forming a fiber optical cable assembly comprises the steps of (a) subjecting a first high tenacity reinforcement yarn such as para-aramid that is coated with a water-impermeable thermally reversible cross-linked polymeric coating to a temperature of from 45 to 200 ° C. for sufficient time to convert the protective coating via bond cleavage into a water-swellable super absorbent polymer, (b) combining one or more of the first reinforcement yarns from step (a) with one or more optical glass fiber transmission media and (c) applying a protective sleeve over at least one assembly of step (b).