A basic combat recruit has been found dead at a Fort Jackson base in South Carolina.
Officials announced in a Facebook post that the 29-year-old training soldier was found dead in his barracks on Saturday morning.
The soldier’s identity has not been revealed, but he was from Wisconsin, and the exact cause of death is currently under investigation.
Officials did confirm that his death was not related to COVID-19 or to a field training exercise.
“A loss of a loved one and teammate is never easy,” said Fort Jackson Commander Brig. Gen. Milford H. Beagle, Jr. “We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends. Know we are providing comfort and assistance to all who knew him.”
This makes it the fourth death at the base in the last year.
Less than a year ago, on September 21, 2019, an 18-year-old soldier from North Carolina died after experiencing a “medical emergency” while he was “preparing to do physical training in his battalion area,” officials said.
Then in January of this year, Pvt. Connor J. McGurran, a 19-year-old Army National Guard soldier from Minnesota, was found unresponsive at a field location at Fort Jackson and later died.
And in March, 29-year-old Pvt. Angel Cortes of the Army National Guard died after suffering a medical emergency during a “non-strenuous activity.” Cortes was from Connecticut.
The investigation into the latest soldier’s death is ongoing.
