PUBLICATION OF THE ASSAULT AMPHIBIAN TRAINING AND OPERATING PROCEDURES STANDARDIZATION MANUAL

MARADMINS : 427/24

R 201620Z SEP 24
MARADMIN 427/24
MSGID/GENADMIN/CG TECOM QUANTICO VA//
SUBJ/PUBLICATION OF THE ASSAULT AMPHIBIAN TRAINING AND
OPERATING PROCEDURES STANDARDIZATION MANUAL//
REF/A/DOC/AATOPS/6SEP2024//
REF/B/DOC/RESUMPTION OF WATER OPERATIONS MESSAGE/9APR2021//
REF/C/DOC/TECHNICAL MANUAL 13133A‐10/1rev2/31JUL23//
REF/D/DOC/PRELIMINARY AATOPS/12DEC2023//
POC/J. W. CRITZ/LTCOL/TECOM G‐3/QUANTICO/EMAIL: [email protected]//
POC/F. D. LUDLOW/LTCOL/TRNGCMD TTU/CAMP PENDLETON/EMAIL:
[email protected]//
NARR/ REF A IS THE ASSAULT AMPHIBIAN TRAINING AND OPERATING
PROCEDURES STANDARDIZATION MANUAL SIGNED 6 SEPTEMBER 2024. REF B IS
THE PP&O MESSAGE WHICH DIRECTED THE AA COMMON SOP TO TRANSITION TO AN
APPLICABLE DIRECTIVE. REF C IS THE TECHNICAL MANUAL PROVIDING
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ACV PERSONNEL. REF D IS THE
PRELIMINARY AATOPS MANUAL SIGNED ESTABLISHED ON 12 DECEMBER 2023
PENDING FURTHER REFINEMENTS.
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. This MARADMIN announces the establishment of the
Assault Amphibian Training and Operating Procedures Standardization
(AATOPS) Program and the availability of the AATOPS manual,
reference (a). Effective immediately, reference (a), in conjunction
with procedures outlined in the Technical Manual (TM), reference (c),
are Service policy for the operation of the Assault Amphibian Mission
Role Variants (MRVs) which includes all current and future Amphibious
Combat Vehicle (ACV) MRVs and the Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV)
family of vehicles (FoV) that remain in service. A Marine Corps Order
(MCO) with further details and requirements governing the AATOPS
program is forthcoming; interim guidance on program execution is
provided in this message.
2. Background. The 9 April 2021 Resumption of Water Operations
Message, reference (b), directed the transition of the Assault
Amphibian (AA) Common Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) into an
applicable directive. Since August 2021, increased Amphibious Combat
Vehicle (ACV) operations highlighted the necessity for standardized
training and operating procedures to ensure effective employment.
Training and Education Command (TECOM) published the Preliminary
AATOPS on 12 December 2023, reference (d), to codify those
standardized training and operating procedures. During the
utilization period of the Preliminary AATOPS manual, the AA Community
accumulated numerous lessons and best practices from further testing
and increased ACV operations across the Service. Those lessons are
captured in reference (a).
3. Relation to other programs and manuals. The AA community derived
the AATOPS program and reference (a) from applicable portions of the
Naval Aviation Training and Operating Procedures Standardization
(NATOPS) program. Unlike the aviation model, ground equipment
technical operating procedures are governed by operator‐level
technical manuals (TMs) published and updated under the authority
of Marine Corps Systems Command or Program Executive Office - Land
Systems. Reference (c) remains the authoritative document for
technical procedures regarding the operation of the AA MRVs.
Reference (a) will complement but does not replicate or duplicate
instructions or procedures covered in applicable AA MRV TMs. Along
with the AA Training and Readiness Manual, the references (a) and (c)
form the base of authoritative documents relating to AA training and
operations. The AATOPS program will govern process knowledge testing,
instruction, individual and crew qualification procedures and
requirements, quality assurance, and community standardization.
4. Authorities. The AATOPS program is directed by the Commanding
General TECOM to support Marine Corps AA operations. The Commanding
Officer, Assault Amphibian Center of Excellence (AA CoE) is delegated
authority to approve interim changes (ICs) to reference (a) and
will ensure those changes are so annotated in the document.
Commanding Officer, AA CoE will manage an IC recommendation,
adjudication, and dissemination process. The Commanding General,
Training Command will conduct an annual review of all (ICs). Upon
approval of interim changes, those changes will become permanent and
IC indicators removed. Both interim and permanent changes are
binding. Reference (a) supersedes any training and operating
procedures found in local SOPs.
5. Department of Safety and Standardization. Effective with this
message, the Commanding Officer, AA CoE will designate a Director
of Safety and Standardization (DSS) who will serve as the AA
Community DSS. The AA Community DSS will oversee the AA CoE
Department of Safety and Standardization (DOSS) and provide
oversight and guidance to battalion‐level DOSS programs. Ideally,
the AA DSS is a field grade officer. AA O‐5 commanders are encouraged
to designate an individual within their commands to serve as the
battalion‐level DSS. The AATOPS MCO will detail further requirements
and methods for resourcing the DOSS program. The Community DSS will
ensure compliance with AATOPS manual requirements and the
implementation of standardized AATOPS and technical procedure
evaluations across all AA units. These evaluations will cover, among
other key items in the AATOPS manual, those procedures outlined in
the appropriate TM relating to the safe use of AA MRVs and emergency
procedures, emphasizing those steps designated as critical memory
items. Additionally, the AA CoE DOSS will track and manage the
incident, hazard, and mishap reporting process to ensure the thorough
collection and widest dissemination of lessons learned as well as the
identification of trends that might negatively affect safe operation.
6. Qualification, Certification, and Quality Assurance. A critical
element of the AATOPS program will be the qualification and
certification standardization within the Assault Amphibian community
as well as quality assurance related to corrective maintenance
actions. Standard processes tracked and managed in the Marine Corps
Training Information Management System (MCTIMS) will aid commanders
in ensuring only those Marines and crews who are current and
proficient in a linked or requisite requirement are asked to perform
more challenging tasks. TECOM and the AA CoE are developing these
processes now. All AA stakeholders, including MARFOR, MEF, and
Division commanders are encouraged to provide feedback or
recommendations via TECOM G‐3.
7. Access to the AATOPS manual. The most updated version of the
AATOPS will be posted on the Program Manager Advanced Amphibious
Assault (PM AAA) AA Community Website at
https:(slash)(slash)usmc.sharepoint‐mil.us.mcas ov.us(slash)
sites(slash)MCSC_MCTSSA_AAA(slash)Pages(slash)Home.aspx#(slash)
8. This MARADMIN is applicable to the Marine Corps Total Force.
9. Release authorized by Lieutenant General Benjamin T. Watson,
Commanding General, TECOM.//