An 18-year-old U.S. Army Soldier from California was killed Friday, September 5, during a training event on a rifle range at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. The Soldier was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 48th Infantry Regiment, a unit responsible for conducting Basic Combat Training (BCT) for new recruits.
The fatal incident occurred during a scheduled weapons training event. According to law enforcement officials, the Soldier was pronounced dead on site at 10:33 a.m. by emergency medical personnel from General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital. No other Soldiers or cadre were injured.
The Soldier’s identity has not been released, pending notification of next of kin. The circumstances surrounding the death are under active investigation by Fort Leonard Wood law enforcement and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID).
The 1st Battalion, 48th Infantry Regiment unit conducts gender-integrated Basic Combat Training and is led by Lieutenant Colonel James C. Taylor and Command Sergeant Major Cory M. Plunk.
Located in the Missouri Ozarks, Fort Leonard Wood is home to the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence (MSCoE) and serves as the Army’s hub for training Soldiers in the Engineer, Chemical, and Military Police branches. In addition to specialized schools, the post hosts numerous Basic Combat Training battalions, where new recruits begin their transformation into Soldiers.
The installation is one of the busiest training centers in the U.S. Army.
The Salty Soldier will continue to report on this developing story.
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