Pfc. found dead did not use emergency gear

[unhappycamper]

Pfc. found dead did not use emergency gear
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Jun 13, 2008 6:02:03 EDT

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — The Army Special Forces candidate who died during a training exercise had water in two of his canteens and had used none of his emergency equipment, officials said Thursday.

Pfc. Norman Michael Murburg didn’t return following a 10-hour land-navigation test that ended at 1 a.m. Monday in the Hoffman Training Area, about 50 miles west of Fort Bragg. About 475 soldiers searched for him until his body was found Tuesday morning.

All soldiers in taking part in the test carry more than nine quarts of water and safety equipment, including a whistle, a strobe light and a reflective belt attached to their pack. Murburg did not activate his tracking device nor use his flares, said Maj. Sonny Leggett, a spokesman for the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg.

His death is under investigation.

During the test, soldiers are required to find several points in the pine forest that surrounds the base using only a map and a compass. The test is part of the Army’s Special Forces Assessment and Selection training, the first step in becoming a Green Beret. Officials said Murburg, 20, located his first point but failed to locate the remaining points or assembly areas.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/06/ap_braggdead_061108/