Marine killed in land-based ACV training incident

A Marine was killed after an Amphibious Combat Vehicle rolled over during land-based training at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA, on Tuesday evening, according to a service announcement.

Fourteen other embarked Marines -- all members of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit -- were taken to hospitals for evaluation and treatment following the accident. As of Thursday evening, one Marine was still in the hospital but was in “good condition,” according to an update from I Marine Expeditionary Force.

The accident, which occurred as the vehicle was “making a ground movement,” is under investigation, the announcements state.

A series of past ACV accidents that occurred during waterborne training prompted the Marine Corps to suspend all exercises involving surf zone transit in October 2022. But unlike these prior incidents, this week’s ACV rollover occurred on land rather than in the water.

In April 2023, the service announced it would establish a new training program within its Assault Amphibian School to retrain and recertify ACV operators, citing operational differences between the legacy Assault Amphibious Vehicle and the newer ACV.

The Marine Corps’ fiscal year 2024 budget request includes $557.5 million for 80 more ACVs and forecasts that procurement will climb to over 100 vehicles in FY-25.

The initial ACV mission role variant, a personnel carrier that can transport 13 embarked Marines, achieved initial operational capability in FY-20. A second ACV variant, designed for command and control, is expected to achieve IOC in the second quarter of FY-24.