Staff Reports
Tragedy struck at Camp Pendleton in California, as one Marine lost their life in a training accident involving an Amphibious Combat Vehicle. The Orange County Register reports that fourteen other members of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit were injured in the incident. The names of the Marines involved have not been released.
Marine Killed, 14 Others Hospitalized After Accident at Camp Pendleton https://t.co/OP9uQ67g9M
— IJR (@TheIJR) December 14, 2023
The accident occurred near Camp Horno on the northern end of the base. According to KSND-TV, the vehicle was engaged in training when it rolled over on steep terrain around 6 p.m. Surely, even the most meticulous of drivers would have difficulty navigating such treacherous conditions.
This incident highlights the checkered history of Amphibious Combat Vehicles. After their initial deployment in 2020, concerns with their towing mechanism led to a pause in their use. Then, in July 2022, two accidents during waterborne operations prompted another stoppage in their usage. It’s unsettling to think that the very vehicles designed to protect our Marines could potentially put them in harm’s way.
Sadly, accidents like this are all too common within the military. According to a 2022 congressional report, more U.S. troops have been killed by accidents than combat. Shockingly, between 2006 and 2021, 32 percent of active-duty military fatalities were the result of accidents, while only 14 percent occurred in combat. Vehicles, such as the Amphibious Combat Vehicle, have played a significant role in these accidents. A Government Accountability Office investigation revealed that over 120 soldiers and Marines lost their lives between 2011 and July of 2021 in accidents involving non-combat tactical vehicles.
The consequences of such accidents are devastating. In 2020, Marine 1st Lt. Hugh Conor McDowell, just 24 years old, lost his life when the light armored vehicle he was traveling in rolled over and fell into a ravine. The senseless loss of life has prompted calls for improved safety measures. McDowell’s parents penned an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times, pleading for better range safety and training for drivers. “It is time for change,” they wrote. And they’re absolutely right. Our Marines deserve better.
