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Army Sergeant died on land navigation course
The lifeless body of 40-year-old Army Staff Sergeant Jaime Contreras was discovered after he failed to return from a land navigation course. In a tragic incident at Fort Jackson near Columbia, it took approximately 11 hours for search crews to locate Contreras, who was expected to complete the three-hour training on Monday.
Contreras was found approximately 50 meters (164 feet) away from the designated course, encountering the challenging and rugged terrain. Major John Farrell, the director of Emergency Services at Fort Jackson, highlighted the harsh conditions Contreras faced.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fort Jackson soldier dies during land navigation training<a href="https://t.co/tJyan1MPfZ">https://t.co/tJyan1MPfZ</a></p>— Military Times (@MilitaryTimes) <a href="https://twitter.com/MilitaryTimes/status/1669053262845075483?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Brigadier General Jason Kelly, the commander of Fort Jackson, provided limited details about the incident, mentioning that the investigation had just begun. The cause of Contreras’ deviation from the course and the circumstances surrounding his death remain undisclosed.
Contreras, who was a member of the esteemed 82nd Airborne Division and resided in Las Vegas, had the support of Brigadier General Kelly, who assured that both Contreras’ family and fellow soldiers would receive assistance during this challenging period.
Land navigation training is an integral aspect of military instruction, involving the utilization of tools such as maps, compasses, and other instruments to locate specific points within a 2.3-square mile (607-hectare) area. Contreras engaged in a training course alongside a partner on Friday. Subsequently, on Monday, more than 90 drill sergeant trainees embarked on individual missions.
The designated course was intended to be conducted between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. However, as Contreras did not return by 2 p.m., Fort Jackson launched an extensive search effort. The involvement of local and state law enforcement agencies was enlisted to aid in the operation, as authorities were resolute in their determination to locate Contreras.
Search teams, consisting of both aircraft and ground crews, located Contreras’ body at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Monday after receiving a cellular signal from him. Major Farrell acknowledged the challenge of determining the precise degree to which Contreras veered off the intended course due to the limited information available regarding his target locations. Major Farrell clarified that Contreras had strayed only a short distance beyond the course boundaries, providing insight into his proximity to the designated area.
