Obituaries
XVIII Airborne Corps Soldier Died in Parachute Accident
This is the second parachute related death in two years at Fort Bragg.
Fort Bragg officials reported a death at Fort Bragg on Monday during a routine training jump exercise.
The XVIII Airborne Corps soldier's identity is expected to be announced on Tuesday after his family is notified.
"Our prayers are with the soldier's family as they begin to work through this terrible tragedy," Fort Bragg officials said in a media release.
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The last Fort Bragg soldier to die in a parachute training accident occurred on June 25, 2011.
Staff Sgt. Jamal Clay of the 82ndAirborne Paratrooper Division died when his parachute malfunctioned during a routine static line night jump at Fort Bragg's Sicily Drop Zone.
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During these standard jumps, soldiers are equipped with full gear that includes a gun and rucksack to assimilate a combat jump. During his third jump, totaling 25, Clay was wearing the Army's new T-11 parachute that is a square-shaped canopy, rather than the traditional round-shaped parachutes. It was not released if the XVIII Airborne Corps soldier was using the T-11 parachute.
The new shape is supposed to reduce injuries by creating a slower, more controlled descent.
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