Is the Marine Corps becoming reactionary/risk averse?

Lt. Commander Timothy Ringo (left), aeromedical safety officer, and Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit receive instruction for proper underwater breathing during egress training Nov. 7. Approximately 200 Marines and sailors with Company L, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, made the Corps’ first egresses from a simulated amphibious assault vehicle, which was dunked in a Pendleton pool Nov. 7-11. The Marines embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego Nov. 14 beginning a seven-month deployment to the western Pacific and Middle East regions.  Photo by Cpl. Chad Pulliam

Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit practice evacuating a sinking amphibious assault vehicle Nov. 7. Approximately 200 Marines and sailors with Company L, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, made the Corps’ first egresses from a simulated amphibious assault vehicle, which was dunked in a Pendleton pool Nov. 7-11. The Marines embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego Nov. 14 beginning a seven-month deployment to the western Pacific and Middle East regions.  Photo by Cpl. Chad Pulliam

Sgt W. J. Rice was killed when his AAV sank at Camp Pendleton.  Lt. Commander Ringo then decided to dabble in the ground side of things and develop another egress training evolution.

Problem is this.  We've had this training for ever and a day.  The only difference is that it hasn't been done with a "designed" training aid.

My question is this.  Has the Marine Corps become risk averse?  Was there some type of finding that an experienced AAV crewman didn't know how to properly egress from his vehicle?  

I find that hard to believe.

I don't know what caused the tragedy that took Sgt Rice's life but something tells me that he didn't die because he didn't know how to properly escape from a sinking AAV.

And since this isn't the first time that a crewman has died in a vehicle incident then why have we decided that this type of training is necessary?

Why is an aeromedical safety officer dabbling in ground vehicle safety?  Doesn't he have enough work to do on the wing side?

Is this type of training even realistic?  Does it help?

I've been extremely impressed from the outside looking in at what the 11th MEU has been doing.  This smacks of political correctness so bad that it reeks.

Being in the military is inherently dangerous.  Developing training routines like this don't lessen the danger.

Besides, the more I look at this the more it looks like the dunk chamber that pilots go through for their water survival training.

The Marine Corps seems to be losing its way in small ways...

Polls being taken of the troops to decide on a uniform issue and then ignoring the polls (rolled sleeves vs. sleeves down).  Unique weapons buys (IAR).  Buying gear items year after year and not getting it right (boots, ruck sacks, holster).  Ditching useful uniform items and instead buying boutique, one use specific items instead (new PT uniform).

And now this.

I'm not impressed.