A 26-year-old Marine staff sergeant died earlier this week in Twentynine Palms, California after a military training mishap.
Jerry L. Betzold died from injuries he sustained in the accident involving a Humvee rollover on July 27 during a Service Level Training Exercise. He was training at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center.
Betzold joined the force in 2016 and was assigned to a Tactical Training Exercise Control Group. He trained as an infantry Marine and was promoted to staff sergeant in March 2024.
“Staff Sgt. Jerry Betzold represents all that is good and pure in our nation and Corps,” said TTECG Director Col. David Hart in a release. “He tragically lost his life while working to ensure our combat formations remain ready when the nation needs them.”
His decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Sea Service Deployment Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Armed Forces Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and National Service Medal.
Betzold initially received treatment at Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital, Twentynine Palms, and was then medically transported to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, CA, where he was pronounced dead. No other Marines were injured in the accident.
Captain Jonathon Huizar explained to Newsweek Tactical Training Exercise Control Group are Marines assigned with designing, enabling, and overseeing Service Level Training Exercises for the Marine Air Ground Task Force.
This group ensures exercises are conducted effectively and safely, often overseeing large-scale or complex training scenarios to prepare Marines for operational readiness.
“They sustain and evolve live-fire and maneuver combined arms TTPs [tactics, techniques and procedures]; simulate combat conditions that improve the rapid decision-making cycle; and integrate emergent friendly and threat capabilities in order to improve the MAGTF’s ability to adapt and accomplish missions across the full range of military operations,” Huizar said.
Huizar also stated they extend their deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the Marine during this difficult time.
Military Training Mishaps
This is not the only military training mishap. The United States Air Force marked its second death this year during mishaps on bases in Texas and Alaska.
In May, Air Force instructor pilot Captain John Robertson died when the ejection seat of a T-6 Texan II activated during ground operations at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita County, Texas.
Robertson was a member of the 80th Operations Support Squadron and a highly valued airman and instructor pilot.
Just eight weeks before that accident, the first Air Force fatality was reported in March.
Staff Sergeant Charles A. Crumlett, 25, was fatally injured while performing maintenance on an F-22 fighter jet at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska Crumlett was weapons lead crew chief with the 90th Fighter Generation Squadron.
In total, the Air Force reported 75 major non-combat mishaps, up 67 from the previous year.
Both the Marine Corps and Air Force are investigating these mishaps.
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