A 3rd Infantry Division Soldier was killed during a training exercise at the National Training Center in California after being struck by an M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, according to Army officials.
Spc. Adrian Bonsey, 29, of New York, died on June 10 while participating in training operations at Fort Irwin, California. The Army said the incident occurred at approximately 4:30 a.m. while Bonsey was on foot in the training area during hours of limited visibility.
Bonsey was assigned as a combat engineer with the 9th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.
According to a press release issued by Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, Bonsey was struck and killed by an M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle during the exercise. The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.
The National Training Center at Fort Irwin is one of the Army’s premier combat training sites, where brigade combat teams conduct large-scale force-on-force exercises designed to prepare units for combat operations.
“This is a devastating loss for our entire division,” Maj. Gen. John Lubas, commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division, said in a statement.
“Adrian was an exceptional Soldier who was committed to our mission and proudly serving our Nation. We are heartbroken and will wrap our arms around his family, loved ones and fellow Soldiers during this difficult time.”
The 3rd Infantry Division later released a separate statement mourning Bonsey’s death and highlighting his service to the unit.
“Today, the Dogface Soldier family mourns the loss of Spc. Adrian Bonsey,” the division wrote. “Though he had only recently arrived at Fort Stewart, he had already made an impact on those around him.”
A native of New York, Bonsey joined the Army in 2023 as a 12B Combat Engineer. Public recruiting posts from October 2023 show Bonsey being welcomed into the Army through the West Seneca Recruiting Station in New York after graduating from Amherst Central High School. The recruiting announcement stated that he enlisted with a $40,000 bonus.
Social media posts associated with Bonsey documented portions of his early military career, including updates from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where Army combat engineers attend initial entry training.
Army officials said Bonsey previously served at Fort Carson, Colorado, before deploying to Poland in 2024. He had been assigned to Fort Stewart for approximately two months before his death.
According to the division, Bonsey dedicated himself to supporting his fellow Soldiers and accomplishing the mission during his military career. His service earned him two Army Achievement Medals.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family, friends, teammates, and all those who had the privilege of serving alongside him,” the division stated. “The loss of a Soldier is felt across our entire formation, and we stand together in honoring Adrian’s life, service, and sacrifice.”
The Army said the incident is being investigated by the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, and the U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command.
No additional details regarding the circumstances of the accident have been released.
As of publication, Army officials have not announced when the investigation will be completed or whether investigators have identified any contributing factors in the fatal training accident.
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