The Assault Amphibious Vehicle and Amphibious Combat Vehicle occupational field includes operation, employment, maneuver, and maintenance of tracked vehicles in the combined arms environment during both amphibious assaults and subsequent land operations ashore. The duties involved are incident to the operation, employment, maneuver, and maintenance of tanks and assault amphibious vehicles.
What is an 1803?
Assault Amphibious Vehicle Officers command, or assist in commanding, assault amphibian units and provide recommendations to the supported unit commander for the tactical employment of assault amphibian units. They also direct assault amphibian units on maneuvers, tactical problems, and in combat. In conjunction with the U.S. Navy units, they control the ship to shore movement of AAVs. The AAV Officers are responsible for the assault amphibian unit’s personnel and equipment readiness, operational employment, and the identification and coordination of required logistics support.
Are there any prerequisites to becoming a Assault Amphibious Vehicle
Officer
(1) Must have vision correctable to 20/20.
(2) Must have normal color vision.
(3) Must have a WS-B Water Survival.
(4) Officers must meet the Ground Combat Arms MOS Classifications Standards. For the Physical Fitness Test, officers must perform at least 6 pull-ups and run 3-miles in 24:51 or less. For the Combat Fitness Test, officers must perform at least 60 ammo can lifts, run the movement to contact in 3:26 or less, and navigate the maneuver under fire in 3:12 or less.
Where do I go after TBS?
After TBS, officers must complete the 77 day Assault Amphibian Officer Course (AAOC) at the Assault Amphibian School Battalion aboard MCB Camp Pendleton, CA. The purpose of the course is to provide 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.
What is it like being a Assault Amphibious Vehicle Officer?
A typical first tour assignment for an AAV Officer is as a Platoon Commander within an O-5 (Lieutenant Colonel) command at an assault amphibian Battalion within the MARDIV as part of the GCE of the MAGTF. There is one assault amphibian Battalion subordinate to both 1st and 2nd MARDIVs as well to 4th MARDIV as part of MARFORRES: 3rd AA Battalion aboard MCB Camp Pendleton, CA (1st MARDIV); 2nd AA Battalion aboard MCB Camp Lejeune, NC (2nd MARDIV); and 4th Tank Battalion in Tampa, FL (4th MARDIV). The AAV Platoon Commander is responsible for the tactical employment, collective training, administration, personnel management, and logistics of a platoon of 15 Marines and 12 AAVs.
Recommended reading for Assault Amphibious Vehicle Officers
Across the Reef: The Marine Assault of Tarawa. Col Joseph H. Alexander
Alligators, Buffaloes, and Bushmasters: The History of the Development of the
LVT through World War I. Alfred D. Bailey
Gallipoli. Peter Hart
Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual. Jocko Willink
Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do. Claude M.
Steele
Related occupations
- 1802, Tank Officer (I) (LtCol to 2ndLt) PMOS
- 1812, Armor Marine (MGySgt to Pvt) PMOS
- 1833, Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) Crewmember (MGySgt to Pvt) PMOS
- 1834, Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) Crewmember (MGySgt to Pvt) PMOS
- 1867, M1A1 Tank Master Gunner (MGySgt to Sgt) NMOS (1812)
Sources/Credits: Please note that the information above was derived from and in most cases taken directly from the "Marine Officer MOS Assignment Handbook". The Basic School. Camp Barrett. March 3, 2019. All credit goes to the great staff at TBS for putting this together.
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