The U.S. Marine Corps officially retired its last Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) during an emotional ceremony at Camp Pendleton, ending over five decades of storied military service.
According to Task & Purpose, first introduced in 1972, the AAV's decommissioning on September 26, 2025, marks a major step in the Marine Corps’ move to modernize its amphibious capabilities with the new Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV).
Held at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California, the event was referred to as a sundown ceremony. Marines in attendance paid tribute to a vehicle that had transported generations of personnel from the seas to battlefields, often under intense conditions. The ceremony also served as a moment of reflection for those who worked closely with the AAV throughout their military careers.
The AAV, a nearly 30-ton tracked vehicle equipped with buoyant armored panels, entered service more than 50 years ago. It was capable of carrying Marines from ship to shore and supporting them in combat zones. During its lifetime, it saw action in conflicts ranging from Grenada to Iraq and played a crucial role in domestic humanitarian efforts, including during the recovery operations following Hurricane Katrina. At its peak, the Marine Corps operated over 1,200 of these vehicles. Generations of service members learned to operate and rely on the AAV, making it deeply embedded in the culture of Marine amphibious operations.
Vehicle Had Steady Record but Not Without Risk
Despite being affectionately referred to as a reliable "workhorse," the vehicle's long tenure was not without loss. A tragic training accident off the coast of California in 2020 claimed the lives of eight Marines and one sailor. Investigations later cited issues with training, logistics, and vehicle upkeep as contributing factors.
Col. Lynn W. Berendsen, the commanding officer of the Assault Amphibious School, who began his service in 1995, recounted his experience with the vehicle. He remembered times during combat in Fallujah when bullets bounced off the AAV's armor, and he relied on it to carry out critical missions under fire. “It was just one of those things that I was very comfortable operating in,” he said, expressing his gratitude for the safety it provided him over the years.
Berendsen also emphasized the importance of learning from past failures, particularly in light of the 2020 incident. “If you’re not doing what you’re supposed to by learning the lessons that come out of things like that, I think you’re failing your Marines of the future," he said. He added that remembering those who lost their lives is a crucial part of ensuring similar mistakes are not made again.
Final Graduates Signal the End of an Era
The last class of Marines specializing in AAV operations graduated in August 2025. While the active duty components of the Marine Corps have ended their use, a limited number will continue to be used by Marine Corps Reserve units for about another year.
Master Sgt. Jorge Mejia, an instructor who attended the ceremony, called the day "bittersweet." Having operated AAVs himself, he noted the pride he felt in the vehicle’s legacy. “Having it has saved my life on more than one occasion in combat, I have a great deal of pride and a great deal of respect for the vehicle,” Mejia said. The decommissioning is not just about retiring old hardware; it symbolizes a broader modernization effort within the Corps. The aging AAV faced increasing challenges with repair and maintenance, as sourcing parts became harder and its analog systems grew outdated in a digital battlefield.
New ACV Aims to Enhance Safety and Efficiency
The Amphibious Combat Vehicle, or ACV, is now positioned to carry forward the legacy of the AAV, but with updated features and technology. This eight-wheeled vehicle fills the same role, transporting Marines from ship to shore and into combat while offering modular designs and improved protection systems.
The ACV has experienced its own growing pains. In 2022, two separate rollovers in waterborne training exercises prompted a temporary halt to those operations. In response, the Marine Corps implemented official safety and training standards in 2024 to ensure better oversight moving forward. The ACV comes in four configurations: a troop carrier, transport and recovery unit, communications hub, and a variant fitted with a 30mm cannon. The Marine Corps intends to deploy 400 ACV troop carriers to form the backbone of its amphibious vehicle fleet in the near future.
Educators Pass On Hard-Earned Lessons
Leaders like Mejia and Berendsen see their role as crucial in ensuring the ACV benefits from historical lessons with the AAV. “There’s been a lot of programs that have been implemented,” Mejia noted, referring to safety procedures designed to avoid repeating past errors. “We've got to make sure that things like that don’t happen,” he added, speaking of the tragic losses associated with the old platform.
Though the AAV’s time has ended, its contributions are not forgotten. Berendsen said the vehicle “It was a bittersweet moment, mixed with pride and a little sadness,” though retiring it brought a sense of both pride and sorrow. The sunsetting ceremony was a moment to take pride in the past while looking ahead to safer, more capable platforms.
The retirement marks not just the end of a machine, but of a chapter in Marine Corps history, shaped by dedication, bravery, and continuous learning. While the AAV will disappear from active duty, the experiences and memories made within its armor will continue to influence doctrine, training, and the culture of the U.S. Marine Corps.
