At Fort Jackson, South Carolina, a 40-year-old Army Staff Sergeant was found deceased after failing to return from a land navigation course.
The military officer was discovered nearly 11 hours after he was expected to conclude the three-hour training session on Monday, June 12.
Sgt. Jaime Contreras was found 164 feet off the planned course, and the difficult nature of the terrain was a significant factor, according to Maj. John Farrell, the Director of Emergency Services at Fort Jackson. Brig. Gen. Jason Kelly, the base commander, provided minimal information regarding the circumstances of Contreras’ premature death, emphasizing that the investigation was still in its early stages.
“At this time, we are not aware of any diversion he may have taken on the course or the cause of his death,” Kelly said during a news conference on Wednesday, June 13. Contreras, a native of Las Vegas, was a respected member of the renowned 82nd Airborne Division.
Kelly promised that support was being offered to Contreras’ family and colleagues, with a pledge to continue providing assistance as needed. Land navigation training, a crucial part of military instruction, involves the use of maps, compasses, and other tools to identify specific locations within a 2.3-square-mile grid.
Contreras had embarked on the training course with a partner on Friday, June 9, but on Monday, more than 90 drill sergeant trainees were given individual assignments. The course was scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. When Contreras did not return by 2 p.m., Fort Jackson initiated a search effort, involving local and state law enforcement.
Eventually, Contreras’ cellphone signal was detected, which enabled search teams to locate his body around 11:30 p.m. on Monday, June 12. Farrell explained that the extent of his deviation from the course is still unclear due to the lack of specific information about the points Contreras was supposed to reach.
“He had not strayed far from the course boundaries,” Farrell clarified, providing insight into Contreras’ location relative to the designated area.
