The Army has identified a soldier who died Thursday during a training exercise at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Staff Sgt. Alexander Dalida, 32, was enrolled in the Special Forces Qualification Course at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.
Seven others were injured in the Thursday morning incident, which happened during demolitions training, according to U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
Lt. Col. Robert Bockholt, a spokesman for USASOC, pushed back against media reports that four soldiers had died in the incident, calling those reports “incorrect.”
USASOC continues to investigate what happened, Bockholt said.
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Dalida was a student in the Special Forces Engineer Course. He was assigned to 1st Special Warfare Training Group.
“Our primary focus right now is to care for his loved ones. We will honor Staff Sgt. Dalida and help his family in their time of need,” said Col. Michael Kornburger, commander of 1st Special Warfare Training Group, in a statement.
Every student who enters the Special Warfare Center and School is considered a part of the SWCS family, said Maj. Gen. Kurt Sonntag, the SWCS commander, in a statement.
“Staff Sgt. Dalida’s death is a reminder that a soldier’s job is inherently dangerous,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Staff Sgt. Dalida’s family and friends.”
Dalida, of Dunstable, Massachusetts, enlisted in the Army in September 2006. After completing training, he served in aviation units before attending Special Forces Assessment and Selection.
His awards and decorations include the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Combat Action Badge, the Aviation Badge, the Parachutist’s Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.
Michelle Tan is the editor of Army Times and Air Force Times. She has covered the military for Military Times since 2005, and has embedded with U.S. troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Haiti, Gabon and the Horn of Africa.
