Marine Recruit Collapses, Dies During Training

The Marines are investigating the death of an 18-year-old recruit who collapsed during training at Camp Pendleton in California last month. The Sept. 27 death of Javier Pong was announced after an unusual 11-day delay, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Training deaths are normally announced within 24 hours, with the name of the service member usually disclosed after another 24 hours. Marine spokesman Capt. Joshua Collins said the announcement was delayed "out of a desire to provide the family with time to grieve." The Marines said Pong "became unconscious and unresponsive" during training and died at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton.

"We are committed to honoring his memory, supporting those with whom he served, and investigating the cause of his death to ensure we can safely transform civilians into Marines and retain the trust of the American people," Collins said in a statement, per CBS. Collins said Pong's unit was in its eighth week of training. The Union-Tribune reports that, according to the Marines' recruit training matrix, Week 8 is "Basic Warrior Training," including exercises in "marksmanship, land navigation, and maneuvering under enemy fire." (More Marine Corps stories.)