FORT BENNING, GA — The U.S. Army and Southern California surf community are mourning the loss of Private First Class Jake Chandler, a 20-year-old Army Ranger and former professional surfer who died in a skydiving accident on October 26, 2025.
Chandler had recently graduated from Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP) Class 05-25, officially earning his place in the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. The accident occurred just weeks after his graduation while conducting a recreational jump near Fort Benning, Georgia.
Born and raised in South Bay, Los Angeles, Jake’s life was a blend of courage, grit, and pure California energy. Before he ever put on a uniform, he was chasing waves along the Pacific, earning recognition on the Rip Curl North American Surf Team and ranking among California’s top young surfers.
By age ten, Chandler was competing in surf contests across the state and had sponsors like Mission Surfboards, Rider Shack Surf Shop, Rip Curl, and Waxtrak. In 2017, he placed sixth in the Rip Curl Gromsearch National Championships and by 2018 was part of Rip Curl’s elite roster of surf and snow athletes.
“He was a young surfer with a lot of power for his size,” read his early Rip Curl bio. “An outgoing kid, Jake frequents the Huntington Pier—and when it’s small, he makes sure he stays active in the lineup.”
That same drive carried into his military career.
Chandler grew up surfing Huntington and Topanga, competing with the same intensity he would later bring to the Rangers. Lifeguards from Huntington State Beach, where Jake once worked, remembered him as someone who lived to protect others.
“Jake dedicated his life to protecting others through his service at the beach and continued on to serve our country in the Army,” the Huntington State Lifeguards wrote on Instagram. “His commitment to safety, boundless enthusiasm, and passion impacted everyone around him.”
Jake began training with SOCOM Athlete, a Special Operations mentorship and preparation program, when he was just sixteen. He attended multiple “Hell Day” events in San Clemente, pushing himself to exhaustion alongside future Green Berets, SEALs, and Rangers.
“Jake found faith as a lifeguard and he wrapped himself in God’s armor going into the Rangers,” said his father, Jared, himself a former soldier. “We traded Psalms and TTPs. He was gregarious and charming, but a humble friend to anyone he could help.”
Friends and teammates described Chandler as the kind of guy who made hard days bearable. “He was more than just a Ranger,” one post read. “He loved skydiving, surfing, and lighting up a cigar when there was something to celebrate. If he was relaxing, you’d find him on the beach with country music playing and an energy drink in hand. That was his version of peace.”
Those who trained beside him said his work ethic stood out — always pushing harder, lifting heavier, and studying longer to perfect his craft. “He was grounded, strong, stubborn, and always willing to pull more than his share of the weight,” wrote a friend.
Jake Chandler is survived by his mother, father, and sister — and by the brothers in arms who will carry his memory forever.
The 75th Ranger Regiment is planning a formal memorial, and his family is organizing a celebration of life in Southern California, where he first learned to ride waves and chase his passions.
SOCOM Athlete founder Jason Sweet called Jake’s loss a tragedy for both the Special Operations and surf communities. “He had a personality larger than life, with a powerful energy that uplifted everyone around him,” he wrote. “Seeing Jake develop from a teenager to an Army Ranger was a privilege and blessing. He will forever be loved and missed.”
Jake Chandler lived fast, trained hard, and chased excellence on both land and sea. His story is a reminder that warriors come in all forms — some with rifles, some with surfboards — and the best ones carry the same fire in both worlds.
Rest easy, Ranger. Sua Sponte. RLTW.
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