Camp Pendleton Marine AAV's Back In Water After Deadly Accident

OCEANSIDE, CA — Camp Pendleton Marine's returned to the ocean in amphibious assault vehicles for the first time since a deadly training exercise last year.

The Marine Corps’ fleet of the 3rd Amphibian Assault Battalion was suspended from all water training following the deadly accident on July 30, 2020, when nine men died during a training exercise off of San Clemente Island.

Marines underwent extensive training before being approved to return to the ocean on Friday, according to a report by The Orange County Register that Marines from Camp Pendleton last week resumed exercises in water recovery and troop transfers – without troops. After showing they were proficient in the exercises, Marines drove into the open ocean in the tracked, armored vehicles.

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