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Marine Shot And Killed At California Training Range

Marines

An unidentified Marine was confirmed dead at California’s Camp Pendleton early Monday morning. The body was found at the camp’s shooting range, and cause of death appears to have been a gunshot wound to the head.

Camp Pendleton officials told The LA Times that the Marine partook in regular training exercises that did involve live rounds, although the exact nature of the death has yet to be determined.

A full investigation into these tragic circumstances is underway, and Marine Corps officials assure the public that no other soldiers were injured in the incident. According to military policy, the name of the fallen Marine must be withheld for a full 24 hours, pending notification of his family.

The training range at Camp Pendleton is governed by strict safety regulations in order to minimize the risk of shooting with live rounds. All personnel must remain on clearly defined catwalks, well out of range of any live fire, and firing positions are carefully mapped out along the field.

That being said, training with live rounds incurs a certain amount of danger for any participants. Becoming a Marine is notoriously strenuous, both physically and mentally; like their Army Ranger counterparts, Marines are trained to withstand incredibly stressful situations with grace under pressure.

Over the years, there have been several instances of Marines killed during training exercises, due to everything from extreme conditions to unforeseen accidents. The loss of life during training exercises is, thankfully, hardly an expectation, and military officials note that while each loss is a tragedy, live training is necessary to best prepare soldiers for the intensity and rigor of battle.

Using live rounds best prepares soldiers for the intensity and rigor of battle.

Today, while the investigation into the circumstances of his death continues, Camp Pendleton’s prayers go out to the fallen Marine and his loved ones.

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