By ERIKA I. RITCHIE | The Orange County Register | Published: April 18, 2021 CAMP PENDLETON (Tribune News Service) — Marines at Camp Pendleton were back in the ocean this week training in amphibious assault vehicles for the first time since nine men died when one of the troop carriers sank on July 30 during a training exercise off of San Clemente Island. The Marine Corps' fleet of the seafaring vehicles was suspended from all water training immediately following the deadly accident. Using the armored vehicles to transport troops from a ship to shore and back — what the AAV that sank last summer was doing — is still prohibited and the directive issued April 9 allowing some training with the vehicles comes with a checklist of tasks that have to be completed to confirm training, inspections and other preparation protocols are met, said Capt. Andrew Wood, a Marine Corps spokesman. It also details the higher levels of leadership that have to sign off on the completion and requires the use of safety boats.