An Army paratrooper was killed in Alaska after his vehicle rolled over Friday, the latest in a series of accidents that has killed or injured more than 50 troops and cadets since April.
Spc. Marquise Elliott, 25, crashed the armored Humvee he was driving at 3 p.m. on June 14 in Alaska’s Yukon Training Area. Elliott was transferred to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead at 3:23 p.m. Another soldier suffered injuries to his “lower extremities” and was treated by medics at the scene. Both were members of the Alaska-based 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Artillery Regiment.
“Spc. Elliot was a gifted and intelligent paratrooper,” Lt. Col. Tobias Bennett, the regiment’s commander, said in a statement. “His reserved and thoughtful demeanor, disciplined work ethic, and commitment to his fellow paratroopers endeared him to all fortunate enough to share time with him.”
Elliott, a native of Charlotte, N.C., joined the Army in October 2015. He trained at Fort Sill, Okla., and Fort Benning, Ga., prior to being stationed in Alaska. He was deployed to Afghanistan between September 2017 and May 2018.
Sgt. Maj. Michael Grinston, the incoming sergeant major of Army, addressed the increasing number of vehicle accidents in a video message to troops earlier this month. As the soon-to-be highest-ranking enlisted soldier, Grinston encouraged fellow soldiers to make sure drivers are properly trained on the vehicles they are tasked to operate.
“Regardless of the echelon of command you serve, demand accountability in yourself and others,” said Grinston. “Ensure operators are adequately trained and licensed on every piece of equipment every time.”
Commanders at all levels are required to certify that all military vehicle operators are properly trained in wheeled vehicle operations. Last year, Secretary of the Army Mark Esper issued a memo canceling the online Accident Avoidance Course, which current and former Army officials say was an outdated legacy program.
The accidents are taking a toll on multiple units and involve a wide range of vehicles. A rollover accident involving a Light Medium Tactical Vehicle on June 6 killed West Point cadet Christopher Morgan, 22, and injured 21 others. Three days prior, Army Staff Sgt. David Gallagher, 51, was killed and three others were injured when their M1 Abrams tank rolled over at Fort Irwin, Calif., as they were conducting a month-long exercise.
The Marine Corps has suffered similar accidents and casualties. Most recently, 21-year-old Lance Cpl. Hans Sandoval-Pereyra was killed on May 28 when his Humvee ran off the road and turned over in northern Australia. First Lt. Conor McDowell, 24, died and six Marines were injured on May 9 after their LAV-25 light armored vehicle rolled over during a training event at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
