Col Walt Yates, USMC (ret) (walt.yates@gmail.com) is a former artillery officer and a graduate of Naval Post-Graduate School in Monterey where he received an advanced degree simulation analysis. His “Post” Naval Post-Graduate Degree career then took him into the world of training systems and evaluations.  In this capacity he was involved in the review of the 31st MEU Osprey Crash of 2017 that killed three Marines off of the eastern coast of Australia. Walt’s experience with that investigation prompted him to reach out after the 15th MEU’s AAV incident that killed eight Marines and one Sailor because the recommendations that came out of the 2017 Osprey crash had not been adopted.

HERE is the link to MARADMIN 293/18: ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERIM SERVICE LEVEL UNDERWATER EGRESS TRAINING REQUIREMENTS > United States Marine Corps Flagship > Messages Display (marines.mil)

Extracts from the Marine Corps investigation into the 31st MEU Osprey Crash (August 2017) provided by Col Yates, USMC (ret):

Image #1: Findings of Fact #341 (Untrained Passengers)

 

Image #2: Portions of the interview of the Aviation Component Commander, 31st MEU

Image #3:  Portions of the interview of the Aviation Component Commander:  31st MEU

Image #4:  Portions of the interview of the Aviation Component Commander:  31st MEU

Image #6:  Portions of the interview of the Aviation Component Commander:  31st MEU