Naval officer blames misinformation for AAV sinking tragedy

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CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. A Marine Corps battalion commander said on Friday that in retrospect he would have stopped the exercise that killed nine of his Marines whose amphibious assault vehicle sank off the coast of southern California, but at the time he did not have precise information to make such a decision.

Lt. Col. Michael J. Regner said his decisions were based in part on what other commanders told him, including that all the Marines had obtained their swim certification and that the aging vehicles they were in had were repaired and were ready for the mission.

He said he was also unaware that the Navy had changed their plans that day and had not launched a safety boat.

If I had known that at the time, I would have said No, I wouldn’t be going into the ocean without a safety boat, Regner said.

Regner gave his story to a panel of three agents during a board of inquiry hearing. This panel will make a recommendation to the Regners unit commanding general as to whether the decorated officer, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, should be considered dismissed from his post just before his 20s and be denied benefits. of retirement.

However, a decision is not expected until later in January and will follow ongoing commissions of inquiry for other officers, including one scheduled for next Tuesday.

A Marine Corps investigation found that inadequate training, lousy maintenance and poor judgment on the part of the leadership led on July 30, 2020, to the sinking of the amphibious assault vehicle in one of the crashes in deadliest sea training in decades.

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The vehicle had 16 people on board when it sank rapidly in 385 feet of water off the coast of San Clemente Island, California. Seven Marines were rescued as the ship returned to a Navy vessel for a training exercise.

Regner was relieved of command of the Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, shortly after the sinking. A Marine Corps statement at the time said his withdrawal was based on a substantial amount of information and data and cited a loss of confidence.

The government argued during Friday’s hearing that while Regner is not alone to blame for the tragedy, his substandard leadership laid the groundwork for things to turn out as badly as they did. did.

Lt. Col. Michael McDonald said in the military’s closing statement that Regner decided to risk sending his inexperienced Marines who have not completed their training, including how to escape vehicles, into the ocean.

It was just an absolute comedy of errors, McDonald said. It did not come out of nowhere.

Regners’ attorney said the task of the panels is to determine whether Regner is useful to the Marine Corps and has potential for future service, which he argued his client has clearly demonstrated.

Hes never shied away from his responsibilities, said Regners attorney Major Cory Carver.

Regner became moved when he explained how he had served his country throughout his adult life, becoming a Marine as the United States went to war after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

He said he has excelled throughout his career, including the past 18 months after being relieved of his command and assigned to another job.

Damn, I grew up in this, Regner said, wiping away a tear. My father was a Marine. I was brought up by the Marine Corps.

Regner said he was aware that 12 of the 13 amphibious assault vehicles his Marines would use for training were having problems, but another battalion commander who overseas the vehicles assured him they would be repaired before exercise.

He said he had tried to get additional training from his Marines in the water and warned senior officials that his troops had never done this type of exercise.

He said he was limited by a number of factors, including the fact that the Marines had to cut back on their preparations after being deployed to the US-Mexico border under the Trump administration and then faced restrictions. due to the coronavirus pandemic which interrupted their training.

But he said he was led to believe by a company commander that all were certified as swimmers, although two of the soldiers had not.

Other Marines are expected to face a possible discharge. Col. Christopher J. Bronzi, who oversaw Regner, was relieved of command of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2021.

Panel was to review 6,000 pages of investigative reports and evidence before making its decision

The Marines use the vehicles to transport troops and their equipment from Navy ships to land. Armored vehicles equipped with machine guns and grenade launchers resemble tanks as they land ashore for beach attacks, with Marines coming out to take up position.

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