A U.S. Marine, identified as Lance Cpl. Devin J. Hernandez, 25, died following injuries sustained during a fast-rope training exercise at Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Japan. The incident occurred on Tuesday, and Hernandez received medical treatment but succumbed to his injuries, the 3rd Marine Division announced Thursday.
Marine Corps officials have not disclosed the specific injuries Hernandez suffered or the details of his treatment. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation by the division.
Hernandez, a combat engineer attached to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, was deployed to Japan as part of the Unit Deployment Program with the 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. He was noted for earning the Navy Arctic Service Ribbon.
"The Marines and Sailors of 3rd Marine Division mourn the loss of one of our own," said Maj. Gen. Kyle Ellison, the division’s commanding general. "We extend our deepest condolences to Lance Cpl. Hernandez’s family, friends, and fellow Marines. Our focus remains on supporting them while we fully investigate the circumstances of this tragic incident."
Fast-roping, a technique involving descending a rope without a harness, often from a hovering helicopter, is an advanced skill taught to Marines. Training at Camp Schwab typically involves practice on a rappel tower before progressing to air operations. Approximately 18,000 Marines, sailors, and their families are stationed on Okinawa, which hosts a significant portion of the roughly 55,000 active-duty U.S. troops stationed in Japan.