Course Mission: provides the student the necessary skills to lead and manage an AAV platoon tactically and administratively. Students will learn the fundamentals of AAV operation on land and water, and also how to conduct direct fire gunnery; through mastering fundamental concepts, they will then develop skills to maintain and account for their equipment, train their personnel, and employ an AAV platoon in combat. Students will have gained an understanding of the Assault Amphibian role during planning, embarkation, and execution of amphibious operations. Graduates of this course will be competent advisors to supported unit commanders conducting amphibious operations and/or mechanized operations ashore, while leading, equipping, and training their personnel and maintaining readiness of their assault amphibian unit.
Instructional areas shall focus specifically on: Assault Amphibian Officer (AAO) Course is designed to develop the Assault Amphibian Officer skills required to lead and manage an AAV platoon, and advise supported commanders on the employment of their AA unit. Instructional areas shall focus specifically on: operating fundamentals of the AAV, unit management, AAV gunnery, operational planning, amphibious operations, and tactical operations. Students will receive instruction and conduct actions expected of an Assault Amphibian Officer throughout the course. Students will develop training plans and exercises, lead peers through various tactical scenarios, and work within a staff to develop the situation and plan courses of action. Students must demonstrate mastery of all instructional areas via written and performance examinations, and display sound leadership throughout the course to meet graduation requirements. In order for students to graduate they must be WSI, SVET, GST, and MSPS qualified.
The 59 Training Day Course includes the following (some weekends):
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Lecture/Demonstration = 105 Hrs
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Practical Application = 224 Hrs
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Performance Evaluations= 66 Hrs
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Written Exams = 10 Hrs
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Field Exercise = 3-4 Field Exercises
Course Details:
Basic Schedule:
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T-Day 1-6 Welcome Aboard Briefs, AAV History and Organization, Marine Corps Physical Fitness (PT), Intermediate Water Survival, AAV Egress, Submerged Vehicle Egress Trainer (SVET), AAV Safety, AAV Data & Description, Preventative Maintenance and services (PMCS), MOS Specific Physical Standards (MSPS), AAV Communications suite, Ground guiding, AAV Operator Fundamentals, Land Driving the AAV, Troubleshooting the AAV, Land Towing Procedures, Risk Management
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T-Day 7-8 Land Driving the AAV (Field)
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T-Day 9-29 Armored Forces Vehicle Identification (AFVID), M240 Machine Gun, MK 19 40mm Machine Gun, Browning M2 Caliber .50 Machine Gun, Upgunned Weapons Station (UGWS) Data & Description, Gunnery Skills, UGWS Operation, Bore sighting, Ammo Identification, Manage Unit Training, Maintenance Management, Engagement Process, Reports, AAVC7A1, Planning Considerations, Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace, Combined Arms Integration, Waterborne Preparation for the AAV, Water Driving the AAV, Emergency Procedures afloat, Amphibious Planning, Embarkation & Movement, Ship to Shore Operations, Emergency Procedures afloat, Amphibious Operations,
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T-Day 30-34 AAV Amphibious Operations (Field)
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T-Day 35-41 Mechanized Operations in the Defense/Offense, Amphibious Boat Control Training, Amphibious ship tour, Operating the AAV in Unique environments, Recovery operations
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T-Day 42-55 PALMFEX: Tactical Operations, Operate the AAV in Unique environment, Mech in the Offense/Defense, Operational Planning (Field)
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T-Day 56-59 AAV PMCS, AAV Inspection, Fitness Reports, End of Course administration, Final inspection, Graduation
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*Testing will be both Written and Practical Application in the field and in the classroom
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PT will be done throughout the training
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Students must pass the Intermediate Water Survival Qualification, the AAV Egress, and SVET in order to continue in the class
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PT will be done throughout the training
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Students must have all Pre-Requisites complete upon check in, in order to continue in the class
Note:
1. Government billeting is not provided through the command.
2. Government messing is available for all students.
3. Students will report to the command deck in the Service Alpha uniform.
The standard uniform of the day will be the seasonal Marine pattern (MARPAT) Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform (MCCUU). The physical training standard uniform and cold weather uniform is required for the appropriate season. All field evolutions will be in the required safety nomex uniform with steel-toe boots. The basic issue of field gear is available at AAS Supply for students not stationed at Camp Pendleton.
4. The student is required to have their medical and dental records in their possession.
5. The parent command must complete a "TD" fitness report.
6. The student must be free of personal and medical problems that would interfere with their ability to complete the course.
7. Marines must be within the height and weight standards and will conduct an inventory physical fitness test within the first week of training.
8. Students are required to complete the following MarineNET course prior to attending the first training day with completion certificate in hand: Range Safety Officer course.
9. Possess a copy of command screening checklist per MCO P1553.4A.
10. Duty Phone #: Commercial (760) 763-6082, DSN 361-6082.
Prerequisite:
Rank: 2NDLT, 1STLT, CAPT;
(1) Must have correctable 20/20 vision.
(2) Must have normal color vision.
(3) Must have completed MarineNet course: