Young marine killed in live-fire training tragedy at Camp Pendleton, officials
Students at the School of Infantry-West were conducting live-fire drills when one of the marines was accidentally killed.
A US Marine Corps student was killed while participating in a live-fire training exercise overnight on Thursday.
Officials said the student was part of the School of Infantry-West aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California.
Major Joshua J. Pena said an investigation into the accident has now been launched to assess how the Marine Corps student died.
Pena said: "The command is fully cooperating with the investigation efforts.
"SOI-W is providing support to the family and peers of the deceased during this difficult time. There is no additional information available at this time."
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Pena said the school is now providing support to the student's family as well as their peers.
He also confirmed details about the Marine's identity will not be released until 24 hours after the family was notified of the death.
According to the school, live-fire drills are part of routine training.
Camp Pendleton's School of Infantry-West is one of two institutions where Marines are dispatched to receive additional training after boot camp.
The other school, School of Infantry-East is in Camp Geiger in North Carolina.
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According to the Marine Corps website, both infantry Marines and non-infantry Marines receive combat training to "ensure that every marine is a fighting Marine."
A Marine spokesperson said students at the school undertake basic reconnaissance training to perfect their reconnaissance skills.
The website added: "At SOI, recently graduated enlisted Marines continue their education and training to become more proficient in the fundamentals of being a rifleman.
"Marines with a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of infantry are trained at the Infantry Training Battalion (ITB), while all non-infantry Marines are trained at the Marine Combat Training Battalion (MCT)."
