This might be a bit OT, but let's see what lessons we can glean
from this unfortunate accident.RIP to the Marine recruit.
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Marines suspend drill instructors after recruit drowns.
Saturday, March 5, 2005 Posted: 0842 GMT (1642 HKT)
(CNN) -- Three additional drill instructors were suspended
following the death last month of a Marine recruit, who drowned in
a training pool the day after he allegedly was struck and grabbed
during a training session, Marine Corps officials said
Friday.
Five Marines, including the platoon's senior drill instructor, had
already been suspended and a sixth put on administrative duty as
the February 8 death of Jason Tharp was investigated. The three
latest drill instructors suspended were members of Tharp's platoon,
the Marines said in a statement.
Tharp died in a training pool at Parris Island, South Carolina,
from what the Marines described as "complications in the water,"
the day after a camera crew from WIS-TV in Columbia -- at Parris
Island to shoot a story on basic training -- shot video showing a
drill instructor grabbing and striking him.
Another instructor told the crew that Tharp had been refusing to
train.
Tharp's parents told WIS their son joined the Marines to get money
for college, but was miserable in boot camp and wanted to quit.
While they said they were not certain there was any connection
between Tharp's death and what happened on the tape, they were
upset by the way their son -- who they said did not swim well --
was being treated.
A Marine spokesman at the Pentagon said the actions by the drill
instructors seen in the video appear to violate regulations for
dealing with recruits.
"The latest suspensions are based upon statements made to
investigators by other members of Tharp's platoon, and alleged
improper contact by the three drill instructors during previous
training," Friday's Marine statement said.
"If the allegations are substantiated, the drill instructors will
be held accountable for their actions as directed under the
applicable laws and regulations."