FORT BRAGG, N.C. — After the death of a second paratrooper this month, the Army has suspended Airborne training at Fort Bragg until units in the 18th Airborne Corps complete a refresher course at the Advanced Airborne School.
Base officials made the announcement Thursday, following the death earlier in the day in a training jump of 27-year-old Spc. Nicholas Roberts of Longwood, Florida.
In December, Roberts joined the 82nd Airborne Division as a paratrooper, but first joined the Army reserve in 2010 as a military police officer.
Roberts served in Afghanistan from March 2011 to January 2012.
On April 16, 19-year-old Pvt. Joshua D. Phillips, 19, died during a training exercise at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
The Fayetteville Observer reports both soldiers were using T-11 parachutes, associated with at least four deaths at Fort Bragg since 2011.
Maj. Thomas Campbell, a spokesman for the 82nd Airborne Division, said since January 2014, division paratroopers completed more than 63,000 jumps. They resulted in three fatalities and 105 incidents such as entanglements.
The refresher training does not affect special operations troops.
WFTV
