Marine Raider Dies During Airborne Training at Fort Benning

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U.S. Marine Corps Raiders take a break during training at Eglin Range, Fla., May 22, 2018. (U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Joseph Pick)
FILE -- U.S. Marine Corps Raiders take a break during training May 22, 2018. (U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Joseph Pick)

A Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command critical skills operator died on Tuesday from injuries sustained during a training accident at a Georgia Army base, officials said on Wednesday.

The Raider was participating in the Army's Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning. The special operator's name has not been released, pending family notification.

The Marine was assigned to the Marine Raider Training Center, officials with MARSOC said in a statement."Our sincere thoughts are with the family during this difficult time," the statement adds.

"MARSOC is providing care and support to them as they grieve this tremendous loss."

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The incident is under investigation. No other details about the incident were immediately available.

Basic Airborne Course includes three training phases: ground, tower and jump. Students learn how to execute parachute jumps from 34-foot and 250-foot towers before the airborne jump week, according to Fort Benning. That portion of the course involves five parachute jumps from 1,250 feet from a C-130 or C-17 aircraft.

Maj. Kristin Tortorici, a MARSOC spokeswoman, said additional details about the accident are pending family notification.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

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