The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge’s (LHD 3) deck department had the opportunity to conduct training with an amphibious vehicle July 23 not normally found aboard. During the daylong training evolution, boatswain’s mates (BM) from the ship’s 2nd division learned how to safely guide nine individual Marine Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV) into the ship’s well deck. AAVs are full-tracked landing vehicles used to transport Marines during amphibious ship-to-shore operations. AAVs have the capacity to carry 21 combat-equipped Marines and 10,000 pounds of cargo. They can travel at speeds up to 30 miles per hour on land, yet moves only six miles per hour in the water.